What Ingredients Are In The Best Weight Loss Smoothies
Healthy smoothies for weight loss are made with the right blend of weight loss foods that are scientifically proven to decrease body fat. Some of the common ingredients we include in these smoothies for weight loss are:
- Protein powder for weight loss: these powders are low in sugar or other sweeteners, low in calories, and rich in high-quality protein that, in combination with strength exercises, will help build metabolism-boosting muscle mass
- Healthy fats: healthy fats like nut butters, avocado, and MCT oil will help to slow digestion to keep you fuller longer to prevent overeating
- Fiber: consuming fiber-rich ingredients like chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, leafy greens, and oats can help prevent spikes in blood sugar that can lead to the storage of carbs as fat
- Low sugar: fruit is the base of all smoothies, and because fruit naturally contains sugar, there’s no need to add extra sweeteners like honey, orange juice, or frozen yogurt that only serve to add empty calories
Meal Replacement Smoothie Faqs
When is the best time to drink a meal replacement smoothie?
Any time is the right time for a smoothie! Personally, we love drinking ours in the morning for a great start to the day. But besides drinking a smoothie as breakfast, lots of rawkstars drink their smoothie for lunch or dinner, as an afternoon snack, or as a healthy dessert.In case youre planning on having your smoothie in the evening–most of our smoothies provide a great energy boost similar to a cup of coffee. So if you’re looking for a pre-bedtime green smoothie recipe, we’ve got you covered: Sleep Well Smoothie.
Is replacing a meal with a smoothie healthy?
The MOST important thing when blending any meal replacement smoothie recipe is to include healthy fats AND proteins. This combo will keep you feeling full and give you the energy you need to cruise right through til your next meal or snack.
Do smoothies help you lose weight?
Ways To Make Smoothies More Filling
Drinking vitamin-rich smoothies can be a terrific, wholesome way to start to the day. Ive learned that the key to making them solid breakfast material is always adding an extra key ingredient or two. These are my five favorite ways to guarantee I blend up a super-satisfying smoothie that will fill me up and wont leave me hungry in an hour.
Recommended Reading: Best Blender For Fruit Smoothies
Detox Green Smoothie With Chia Seeds From Allys Cooking
Why We Love It: Start the day with this super nutritious smoothie recipe. I love a recipe where literally every single ingredient supports stabilized energy, hunger, and overall high vibes. Spinach, pineapple, chia seeds, and more? Theres nothing not to love.
Hero Ingredient: The chia seeds are an incredible source of fiber and will keep you full until lunchtime.
Super Berry Weight Loss Smoothie
The combination of the antioxidant-rich strawberries and blackberries pack a fiber-punch while making this smoothie delightfully sweet and refreshing. The unexpected superstar weight-loss ingredient is the protein-packed pea protein Like all pulses, they can aid in weight loss even when you arent restricting calories. They have also been found to be more effective than whey protein at fighting against hunger, says The Nutrition Twins, Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT.
Recommended Reading: Natural Fruit Smoothies For Weight Loss
Why Use Protein Powders In Smoothies
While its not necessary to use protein powders to make smoothies, many people feel better on a higher protein diet, and its an easy option. Sometimes, you want something filling to last you hours. Or a high-protein smoothie is great before or after a workout.
Simply add a scoop, along with healthy fats like our sprouted seed products to your smoothie, and youve just created a filling, incredibly nutritious meal.
However, many of the protein powders youll find arent the best. Like whey protein, which is downright bad for you. Its a highly processed dairy byproduct.
Use Coconut Water Or Hemp Milk
Fruit juice may sound healthy because it has the fruit in it, but in reality, fruit juices, especially artificial ones, often cause more harm than good for our health. For one, fruit juices often have high sugar content. Also, these fruit juices are usually stripped off of their fiber, riding the fruit of one of their main benefits.
So instead of using fruit juice, you can use coconut water instead. Here are some benefits of coconut water it has a hint of sweetness , it is a great source of electrolytes and oftentimes, coconut water has lower sugar content compared to fruit juices.
You can also try hemp milk which actually has more calcium than dairy milk, protein, and the benefits of omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids in the ideal 1:3 ratio.
Read Also: Smoothie King Center Seat Map
Your Choice Fresh Fruit
If youd like more fruit and sweetness than berries, go for bananas, apples, kiwis, and pears. Avoid adding too many fruits, however, so you can maintain healthy blood sugar levels. A good ratio to remember is three cups of greens to one cup of fruit.
Now, lets talk about what NOT to use in your green smoothies..
Read Also: How To Make Homemade Smoothies With Fresh Fruit
Can Smoothies Make You Gain Weight
If you arenât careful, yes, smoothies can undermine even the best weight loss plan. Large portion sizes and added ingredients like sugar, honey, and maple syrup can ratchet up the calorie count quickly.
Keep your smoothie portion to 8 – 10 ounces and aim for between 350-500 calories if using it as a meal replacement. Stick to around 150-200 calories for a snack.
What kinds of smoothies to avoid if you’re trying to lose weight
If you are drinking smoothies as part of your weight loss plan, itâs best to choose smoothies with balanced protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Drinking a fruit smoothie with fruit juice as the base plus fruits and added sugars may not fill you up for long and add a lot of extra calories, not to mention the effects it may have on your blood sugar.
Read the label on premade smoothies and avoid any that use sugar, honey, or maple syrup as a sweetener. Most of the time a smoothie can be sweetened naturally by using fruit or even some spices. But if you need a little more sweetness, try using a liquid form of monk fruit or monk fruit with stevia to give it a sweet boost.
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Read Also: Does Mcdonald’s Still Sell Smoothies
How To Make Meal Replacement Shakes:
Special Tip: You can find these directions, along with measurements, nutrition and more in the sharable recipe card in the next section!
Up next, a sharable recipe card for the best meal replacement smoothie for weight loss
Green Weight Loss Smoothies
Popping into a juice bar for a cold cup of extruded kale juice may be all the rage, but when it comes to both nutritional impact and weight-loss power, juices can’t hold a candle to smoothies.
- First, most commercial juices use apple juice, which is a high-sugar, low-nutrient base.
- Second, juicing strips all the natural fiber out of produce: the rough stuff is what makes it good.
- And third, juices lack fat and protein without these crucial elements, you’re getting no fat-burning, metabolism-boosting benefits.
Next time you want to drink your veggies, blend up one of these seriously nutritious recipes from the book Zero Belly Smoothies.
All recipes make one serving.
Also Check: Best Fat Burning Powder For Smoothies
Why Make Breakfast Smoothies
Best flavor combo: The combination of strawberries and bananas + protein powder + oatmeal + peanut butter is just the perfect mix to kick-start your day.
Healthy breakfast idea: this healthy breakfast is high protein, made with real fruit, and packed with healthy fats.
High protein: 12g protein/serving. Yes, please!
Ginger Mango Spinach Smoothie From Alaska From Scratch
Why We Love It: When youre looking to eat healthy with little fresh, in-season options available, making the most of your freezer is a good route to go. Thats exactly the approach this smoothie takes, using frozen mango to get the fruity flavor you crave minus the hassle of trying to find it at the store. The Greek yogurt in this smoothie recipe will definitely keep you full, too.
Hero Ingredient: I love adding ginger to my smoothies for all of the health benefits and the killer flavor.
Recommended Reading: Green Smoothie Diet Recipes For Weight Loss
Almond Butter Spinach Smoothie From Whats Gabby Cooking
Why We Love It: What do I love about smoothies? Let me count the ways. Theyre endlessly easy to make and customize, can pack all the supportive nutrients your body and brain need, and are best consumed with one hand free and the other attending to, well everything your day requires. This green smoothie makes it happen, deliciously.
Hero Ingredient: Almond butter is my favorite healthy smoothie ingredient. It truly adds so much flavor and keeps me full for so much longer.
Nutritionists’ Favorite Weight Loss Smoothies
For this selection, I asked the country’s top nutritionists to share with me their favorite weight loss smoothies, keeping the best weight loss foods in mind, and the results are all delicious and nutritious. Pay attention to the protein countsâif it’s under 25 grams, you don’t want them as a meal replacement, but rather paired with a meal.
All recipes serve one unless otherwise indicated.
“I really love this weight loss smoothie because it tastes super-decadent, but in reality is just loaded with a ton of natural, unprocessed, and healthful ingredients. The cocoa powder is a good source of flavonoids that are both brain and heart-healthy, and also makes the smoothie taste like I’ve added a ton of chocolate. In addition to the healthy cocoa, this smoothie also has other healthy ingredients like raspberries that are a source of immune-boosting vitamin C, and the spinach that’s a source of energizing B vitamins. If I have this smoothie post-workout, I’ll also add a plant-based protein like sprouted rice or pea protein to help my muscles recover more quickly.”
by Kristin Reisinger, MS, RD, CSSD, founder and owner of IronPlate Studios
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries
- Handful of spinach
- 8 oz unsweetened Silk almond milk
- 1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder
NUTRITION: 230 calories / 2.5 g fat / 20 g carbs / 5 g fiber / 7 g sugar / 26 g protein
by Cassie Bjork, RD, LD of Redefined Weight Loss
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Is There An Ideal Time Of Day To Have A Smoothie
You can enjoy a smoothie anytime, but many people find them to be especially helpful to have in place of breakfast or as a post-workout snack.
In the morning, a fruit smoothie can be pulled together in 2 – 3 minutes and is a great option for people who are on the go but need something filling for the day. A breakfast like the Matcha Green Smoothie below can provide a little caffeine boost along with the fruits, veggies, and protein that will keep you going throughout the morning.
Smoothies can be a good source of protein, which is both filling and helps preserve and rebuild muscle glycogen stores following intense exercise. Dairy products and some protein powders that contain whey protein are good to include post-workout. Whey is a fast-digesting protein that contains amino acids, including branched-chain amino acids that support muscle protein synthesis.10
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Smoothies also work well as an afternoon snack to tide you over until dinner. Keep your serving small, but most importantly make sure it has some protein and fat to help fill you up.
Weight Loss Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipe
This vegan Weight Loss Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipe is just 317 calories, and it has 26.5g of protein!
These are the perfect breakfast meal replacement smoothies, but theyre also great for lunches and dinners!
No matter what time of day you want to make a healthy smoothie meal replacement, this one will fill you up and keep you full for hours.
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Plus, with fat burning ingredients like berries, almond milk, and spinach, this meal replacement drink will help boost your metabolism!
This vegan Weight Loss Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipe is just 317 calories, and it has 26.5g of protein!
Recommended Reading: Recipes How To Make Smoothies
Lemon Smoothie From Real Food Whole Life
Why We Love It: Sipping on a smoothie that looks and tastes like sunshine? Yes, please. Theres something endlessly joyful about blending up and drinking something bright and summery in the AM. This recipe is the perfect mix of tangy and sweet, with no shortage of superfoods to boot.
Hero Ingredient: Suspicious of the cauliflower rice? Dont be! Not only does it pack your smoothie full of fiber, but it also makes the final result super creamy.
Ingredients For Healthy Smoothies
In addition to fruit and vegetables, there are other healthy ingredients that can be added to smoothies for extra nutrition.
Yogurt or Kefir – Whether dairy or plant-based, yogurt and kefir make a good base for a healthy smoothie. They are rich in probiotics that are important for keeping your GI tract healthy and a good source of calcium. Some types of kefir are also fortified with vitamin D.
Probiotics add healthy bacteria to our GI tract and help keep bad bacteria at bay. They feed on fibrous food in our GI tract which keeps the lining of our gastrointestinal tract strong and helps us digest and absorbs nutrients from our food. Probiotics also support our immune system and may help reduce inflammation.
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Milk, Almond, or Soy Milk – Dairy milk and non-dairy plant-based beverages provide the base for a rich smoothie. They also provide essential calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. If you are using a plant-based product, check the label for one enriched with calcium and vitamin D.
Seeds – Adding chia, flax, or hemp seedswill add some healthy fats and plant-based omega-3s that are important for heart and brain health. They also add much-needed fiber and prebiotics that help feed your GI tract.
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Best Vegetables To Use For Smoothies
Anything you like! Frozen is best to give you a refreshing smoothie you will love, and here are some tasty ideas you can get at the grocery store
- Spinach and kale for lots of iron
- Avocado for healthy fats and creaminess
- Broccoli for fiber and vitamin C
- Cucumber and celery for hydration and something fresh!
- Tomatoes for beta-carotene and Vitamin C
Overnight Oats And Berry Smoothie Bowl
If you are someone who prefers to sit and eat your meal, this smoothie bowl may be the perfect fit. With a healthy dose of oatmeal, along with fruit, chia seeds, and yogurt, itâs thick and creamy and a great way to start your day. Youâll definitely need a spoon for this smoothie!
Prepare the night before, just as you would with overnight oats, and itâs ready to go when you are in the morning. The oats have beta-glucan which will help fill you up and keep your blood sugar from spiking.
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup dry rolled oats
- ¼ cup low-fat milk
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
- ¼ tsp. monk fruit sweetener
Directions:
Nutritional information:
Calories 430, 14 g fat, 50 g carbs, 9 g fiber, 29 g protein, 345 mg calcium, 620 mg potassium
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Also Check: 30 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse Jj Smith
Include A Protein Source In Your Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to get your daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals, but they can be lacking in protein. Include a protein source in your smoothie to help you feel fuller and for an extra boost after having one, and get endless health benefits from that too.
Protein is essential for restoring muscles, regulating metabolism and energy levels, keeping organs strong, reducing cravings or unhealthy foods like sugar or carbs , burning fat more quickly the list goes on!
Including a protein source in your smoothie will not only make you feel fuller faster so that you dont crave junk food later on but will also give you all these amazing health benefits! Here are some great sources of protein for smoothies:
Easy healthy options to include are almond or peanut butter , Greek yogurt, milk-based products such as kefir, or probiotics like Activia brand drinks that will give you great gut health!
Blend up this protein-packed smoothie to power through your day. Add a scoop of egg white powder, and unsweetened almond milk for the perfect breakfast on the go.
A well-formulated meal replacement smoothie is also made by blending up favorite fruit such as bananas, strawberries, and blueberries with low-fat yogurt or silken tofu and adding in a packet of protein powder which typically would also contain a nutrient-rich array of vitamins and minerals that might be difficult to get from other foods sources.