Reach the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables with these recipes.
Meeting the daily 5 a Day recommendation for fruit and vegetable intake can sometimes feel a bit impossible – especially when you hear that the five should actually be more like seven or eight a day! These smoothie recipes to help you slim down and avoid snacking will come to your rescue. With the increasing recognition that smoothies aren’t always tropical-tasting and sweet, we created a ton of breakfast and snack options that are satisfying enough to fuel you for hours, even on the busiest days.
Smoothies are not only the easiest way to pack in real portions of the green stuff, but they’re also easy to fill with protein, healthy fats, and superfoods. Now that popular smoothie recipes are moving away from the old, tired formula of high-sugar pineapple and orange blends, it’s easier and easier to find smoothies packed with nut butters, seeds, fresh herbs, and even grains!
Just put the ingredients in your blender, blend, and voila! You have the perfect breakfast or post-workout snack ready in minutes. If you are just starting your adventure with smoothies, be sure to read The Blender is Your New Best Friend to make the most of this handy device.
8 Smoothie Recipes to Help You Slim Down
Get inspired with these inventive recipes that use spices, yogurts, and veggies to keep you satisfied and away from the snack cupboard. I know that I often suffer from boredom and a 3 pm caffeine crash. These eight quick and easy smoothie ideas keep me sane; they’re filling and — dare I say it —give you the energy of two espresso shots.
1. Pumpkin Meal Replacement Shake
Pumpkin is an incredibly healthy ingredient to add to any meal. It’s loaded with vitamin A, and it’s a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamin E. Adding cinnamon also makes this smoothie taste like fall.
Almond milk adds healthy fats, along with a good amount of calcium, and whey powder provides lean protein. While bananas are considered a natural energy bar because they’re rich in potassium, a cup of pumpkin pulp has even more potassium than a banana!
2. Clean Coconut Protein Shake
When compiling a list of smoothie recipes to help you slim down, we just had to include coconut. Coconut milk has electrolytes, which makes it ideal as a post-workout snack. It’s also a great way to replenishing liquids if you’re sick or hungover.
Our Clean Coconut Protein Shake starts with a vanilla protein powder and coconut milk. Banana adds sweetness and potassium, while spinach packs a nutritious punch of vitamins and fiber. This creamy smoothie has all the healthy fats you need.
3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Paradise Smoothie
Yup, you heard that right: Chocolate and peanut butter. You wouldn’t think a list of smoothie recipes to help you slim down would include such a decadent sounding suggestion! If you use high-quality cocoa powder and nut butter, this recipe is way more than just a crowd-pleaser.
It’s high in protein, and we added banana and Greek yogurt to up the protein and potassium of this sweet, satisfying, and nutritious smoothie. Even the youngest members of the family will devour this one.
4. Wild Blueberry, Mint, and Flax Seed Smoothie
Another simple and clean smoothie, we based this one on antioxidant-rich blueberries and flaxseed, which is filled with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. The mint adds an energizing, refreshing touch to this cooling drink.
With just five ingredients, all of them whole and nutritious, this quenching smoothie is an inventive treat. You’ll want to sip on it any time you need an alternative smoothie idea.
5. Kale and Orange Smoothie
This sweet kale and orange drink is an obvious choice for our list of smoothie recipes to help you slim down. Kale is one of the best foods for your body because it’s bursting with vitamins and minerals.
Admittedly, kale may not be everybody’s favorite food. However, this recipe cleverly uses a blend of orange, banana, and honey to add a sweetness that completely disguises the entire cup of kale. It really is a tasty treat!
6. Coconut Banana Green Smoothie
This Coconut Banana Green Smoothie brings the flavor of the tropics right to your blender, all without adding extra calories or fats. If you’ve never tried blending quinoa into your morning smoothie, then you have to give this a try. You won’t believe how much delicious, earthy flavor it brings to the drink (not to mention all that plant-based protein, too).
Quinoa is super high in protein, and bananas help increase brainpower. Not to mention that spinach assists with fighting cancer while also giving this smoothie its attractive green color.
7. Chia Seed Berry Yogurt Smoothie
Looking for a smoothie to prepare in bulk for this weeks’ breakfasts? Our Chia Seed Berry Yogurt Smoothie is another one of our favorite smoothie recipes to help you slim down. Because this protein-packed take on the classic berry-banana smoothie is so easy to make and stores so well, you’ll avoid the temptation of quick breakfast fixes like muffins.
We threw in a ton of fruit in this one: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, orange juice, and banana. To balanced all those natural sugars, we added chia seeds for fiber and antioxidants and Greek yogurt for extra protein.
8. Cinnamon Apple Smoothie
A great alternative to sugar-packed cakes or pastries, this thick and naturally sweetened Cinnamon Apple Smoothie is another fantastic way to start your day. Believe it or not, cinnamon is considered to be one of the healthiest spices out there!
And don’t forget the apples: They’re a powerful source of antioxidants and fiber. This smoothie is a low-calorie choice that’s packed with nutrients, and its warm and comforting flavor makes it a fall favorite.
With all their vibrant colors, we LOVE taking pictures of smoothies. What about you? If you make any of these smoothie recipes, tag us in your beautiful snaps on Instagram.
