Smoothies can be a great tool in losing weight. They make for a quick and easy meal that you can take with you. When preparing a diet smoothie, you must take note of the items that you’re adding to it–all those calories add up. If you are including high calorie items, like peanut butter and juice, you may need to cut back a bit to make your smoothie have fewer calories.
Fruit Smoothies
Fruit smoothies are simple to make, and you could potentially have a different smoothie every day. Start with water or 100 percent fruit juice as the base. Then, add bits of whatever frozen fruits you like best. Berries, peaches, mangoes and cherries all make for a delicious smoothie. If you want to thicken it up, add a banana. Using water or half water and half juice will significantly decrease the amount of calories in the smoothie.
Protein Smoothies
After a workout, a protein smoothie is what your body needs. Add a scoop of protein powder to a fruit or milk smoothie. You can also add other high protein items, like yogurt, cottage cheese or tofu.
Creamy Smoothies
If you want a creamy smoothie, try using milk as the base. This could be skim milk, or you can choose a soy, almond or rice milk base. Blend this along with fruits for a sweet treat. Chocolate soy milk with strawberries is one option; skim milk and peaches is another combination.
Milkshakes
You can be on a diet and still enjoy a milkshake–just leave out the ice cream. Instead, start with 1 cup of skim milk, and then add a half a package of sugar-free instant pudding mix and five to 10 cubes of ice. The pudding thickens up and the ice cools it down, creating a “milkshake” that’s only around 100 calories.
Green Smoothies
Green smoothies include a combination of vegetables and fruits, which can be a smart way to eat your veggies if you don’t usually like them. The flavor of the fruits hides the flavor of the veggies, even in a 50-to-50 ratio. Use water as the base, then add 1 cup of your favorite fruits and fill up the blender with leafy greens, like spinach.
