Tips To Turn A Smoothie Into A Meal
The best way to replace meals with smoothies is by including proteins and healthy fats in your diet. It is essential to add proteins and healthy fats, so power up with a meal replacement green smoothie.
Heres how you can turn a smoothie into a meal that makes you feel full and gives you the energy you need to work through the day.
PLANT-BASED PROTEIN:
Make sure to include a plant-based protein in your daily diet, or in the meal replacement smoothie. Plant-based proteins help you feel full and provide you with tons of energy. They also help repair your muscles, so they are a perfect post-workout drink.
Here are some of the plant-based proteins you can include in your diet or meal replacement smoothies:
- Plant-based protein powder.
HEALTHY FATS:
Apart from including plant-based protein, it is essential to include healthy fats to your diet. Healthy fats help keep up your energy levels and protect your heart. They also help to lower bad cholesterol levels and boost metabolism.
Here are some of the healthy fats you can include in your meal replacement smoothies to kickstart your fitness journey:
Lets now dive into the details and learn about some of the best meal replacement smoothies.
Dark Chocolate Banana Nut Smoothie
Four words that combine to sound like a jam session at Ben & Jerry’s house. The density of the banana will have you convinced you’re drinking a milkshake, while the omega-3s in the walnuts will keep your mind sharp and your belly lean.
- 1 teaspoon dark chocolate morsels
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- cup chopped walnuts
Who Should Buy Kaged Muscle Clean Meal
- Anybody who wants a shake thats both filling and low calorie will appreciate that this product is only 240 calories per serving.
- Folks who like a wide variety of potently dosed vitamins and minerals this supplement has a solid 40 percent of most of your micronutrients.
- For those who like cookie or cake flavors, this product comes in Snickerdoodle and Vanilla Cake.
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Meal Replacement Superfood Smoothie
Hey yall! Todays recipe post is part 5 of a healthy lunch box meal prep series Im doing with Monbento where Im sharing 5 Make-Ahead Healthy Lunch Box Ideas using their popular Bento Boxes, MB Jars, and MB Water Bottle. In this post, Im sharing a Meal Replacement Superfood Smoothie.
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This Superfood Smoothie can be used as a meal replacement to help boost your weight loss results naturally. Its packed with the perfect ratio of healthy carbs, fats, and fiber to keep you full for hours and to keep your energy levels steady.
Feel free to use this smoothie as a meal replacement for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If if youre not seeking to lose weight, you can have this superfood smoothie as a healthy snack to boost nutrition and energy levels naturally.
Banana Chocolate Protein Smoothie Shake
This delicious chocolate banana protein smoothie recipe has a total of 290 Calories per serving, with 5.5 grams of fat, 35 grams of carbohydrates, and 28 grams of protein. This is a great meal replacement smoothie or a great healthy snack. I like to drink my protein shake as a mid-morning snack.
1 medium banana
1 1/2 cup Almond milk
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp cocoa powder
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High Protein Smoothies For Meal Replacements
Making homemade protein shakes can be easy and convenient. When looking for a lean protein shake or meal replacement shakes, you want to make sure it is filling, healthy, convenient and nutritious! Its also important to focus at the fiber and protein content. Calories should be low, while protein should be high so you can stay full between meals. Remember, whichever protein powder you choose really makes a difference. Whether its whey protein powder or pea protein powder, they have different amounts of protein content per scoop. Keep in mind, always read the nutrition label to look at the protein, fiber, and calorie content and of course the ingredients. Some great tips especially with bananas is freezing fruit whenever they are getting overripe. That way you can toss everything in a blender and enjoy.
Here are 5 High Protein Replacement Smoothies Recipes that can be enjoyed post workout or for breakfast:
Range of when providing high protein and low calorie shakes:
Calories: 300-500
Fiber: 2g or higher
Protein: 20g or higher,
Additional ingredients you could add to your daily smoothies to increase protein, fiber and omega 3 content:
Chia Seeds
Did you know an average medium banana is 3% of your daily value of protein? This high protein shake is filled with banana and the best flavors. The combination of greek yogurt and whey protein powder will keep you full for hours!
Calories 362 calories, 32g protein per serving
Paleo And Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
A smoothie so decadent, it’s just ad if you’re drinking a pumpkin pie. Even more, it’s hard to believe that it’s healthy. This checks off all the boxes for both paleo and vegan dieters, so everyone can enjoy this seasonal healthy treat. A dollop of coconut yogurt on top resembles the whipped cream of a pie, it’s very festive!
- 6 Tbsp canned pumpkin, frozen overnight in an ice cube tray
- 3/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 Medjool date, pitted
“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 which are a source of immune-boosting vitamin C, and 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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Why This Weight Loss Smoothie Will Help You Lose Weight Fast
To better understand how this weight loss spinach smoothie can help you shed weight quickly, you should basically know the ingredients that make up this drink.
As you can see, Ive only used whole, fresh ingredients so you can do away with processed foods or those with artificial additives.
This already qualifies green smoothies as an effective weight loss activator.
The calories in this weight loss smoothie will also help you lose weight, because it has low calories for a complete meal.
You might think the calories, 355, are high for a smoothie. But bear in mind that this is a full meal. So if you replaced two of your meals with this smoothie each day and ate one low calorie healthy dinner, this would be the perfect number of calories to help you lose weight each day.
Obviously, each of us needs different calories to lose weight, and if you want to know how many calories you need, you can check out my weight loss calculator here.
But Id say that 355 is probably the lowest number of calories that anyone should be consuming per meal to still keep the nutrients needed to help your body stay healthy.
But to see how each individual ingredient contributes to your weight loss efforts, lets check out the nutrition content of the items that I have used for this recipe.
Greens To Add To Your Shakes
Always make sure youre adding in some greens such as a big handful spinach to every smoothie.
This will help to give your body a lot of powerful nutrients by simply adding in these superfood greens. It also helps to keep your stomach feeling fuller for longer so you dont get any hunger pains.
Make sure you add in a healthy fat such as coconut oil or avocados to your smoothies to make them a true meal replacement.
You can check out more of my favorite healthy fats that actually help you burn fat .
I love adding frozen berries to my smoothies to help sweeten things up. Theyll also give your body a good dose of powerful antioxidants.
Ill usually pick up some organic blueberries at the grocery store and stick them in the freezer. Theyll last a lot longer than buying them fresh.
Then Ill mix up the berries into my smoothies. Since they are frozen they all help to make your meal replacement smoothie colder.
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What Cycle Is This Dinner Smoothie Approved For
As I mention above, this dinner smoothie is part of the Transitional Day Fast when you drink three smoothies a day .
The Transitional Day Fast can be used in between each cycle or when you have a bad few days and want to jump back onto the diet and need a quick boost in weight loss.
If you decide to drink this dinner smoothie outside of a Transitional Day Fast, then it would be appropriate for Cycle 3.
Use Natural Boosters For Heavy Green Smoothie Recipes
To make a more filling meal, add SmoothieBox Protein powders that are 100% natural and organic. Our protein boosters are great for weight loss they include
- Vanilla Vegan Protein
- Chocolate Vegan Protein
- Collagen Peptides
In addition to your 100% natural and organic frozen fruits and vegetables, you can add organic nutritional boosters from SmoothieBox to increase your nutrients intake.
Also Check: Vegetarian Keto Meal Plan Recipes
/7advantages Of Consuming Meal Replacement Shakes
1.These smoothies are full of nutrients and are save time for those who have a busy schedule.
2.When trying to lose weight, these shakes are a good addition to your diet. They are very low in calories and good for health.
3.They have added fibre that keeps the stomach full for a longer duration. They are also good for digestion and prevent the body from bloating or constipation.
How To Turn A Smoothie Into A Meal
The key to replacing meals with smoothies is including healthy fats AND proteins. Healthy fats and proteins are the way to go if you want to power up with a green smoothie meal replacement. This combo will keep you feeling full and give you the energy you need to cruise right through ’til your next snack or meal. Below are our favorite options for smoothie meal replacement boosters:
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How To Blend The Perfect Smoothie
If you have a high-quality blender, achieving a perfectly blended smoothie probably isnt too tricky. But if youre working with an older or budget-friendly model, you may need to use a few tricks.
If youre freezing fruit for smoothies, chop it into small pieces and freeze it on a baking sheet in a single layer. Then transfer the frozen pieces to a freezer bag. This helps prevent the fruit from sticking together and the smaller pieces will be easier to blend.
If youre adding protein powder or greens, such as spinach or kale, blend the powder and/or greens with the liquid before adding the frozen ingredients. This will give you the smoothest texture.
Meal Replacement Smoothie Recipes
The good news with these meal replacement smoothies is you dont have to drink raw eggs like Rocky.
Most people think smoothies have to taste gross in order to be healthy for you. But I can tell you with absolute certainty thats not the truth.
Below youll find some healthy meal replacement smoothies thatll help you lose weight but are also quite delicious.
Whens the best time to have your meal replacement smoothie?
If youre most likely to skip breakfast first thing in the morning then its a good idea to have your meal replacement smoothie then.
Making sure you have an adequate amount of protein in your meal replacement smoothie to keep you feeling full until lunchtime.
Of course, if youre intermittent fasting then you dont need to have a meal replacement smoothie.
I can be a little harder replacing your dinner with a smoothie.
Dinner is usually a time when youre eating with your family. It can be hard to skip out on it to just drink a smoothie instead.
Lunchtime or an early evening snack also makes a great time to have your meal replacement smoothie.
As an early evening snack youll be able to fill up your stomach more so youll be less hungry at dinner time.
Lunchtime works especially well if youre busy during the day. It can be difficult trying to get out to find something to eat.
This is when most people end up snacking on junk food but its a much better idea to have a meal replacement shake instead.
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Will Having A Smoothie For Lunch Help Me Lose Weight
It will really depend on the number of calories the smoothie contains, and how many calories you end up consuming overall for the whole day.Remember, weight loss occurs only due to a calorie deficit.
Some smoothies can be quite high in calories, which can do exactly the opposite of what you are trying to achieve weight gain!However, some smoothies can be quite low on calories, and quite filling, which can bring the total amount of calories consumed for the day within a calorie deficit.
Weight Loss Spinach Smoothie
This low calorie weight loss spinach smoothie is not only delicious but it is the perfect replacement for an actual sit-down meal that you eat with a spoon.
If theres any diet craze that deserves its time in the limelight, Im sure its the one that involves drinking glasses of weight loss spinach smoothie as a replacement for actual sit-down meals.
And why not?
For a while now, spinach has successfully claimed its spot in the superfoods list after being hyped by dieters and bodybuilders alike.
But the trend that these individuals have started has a good basis.
Spinach does wonders for the body, especially in terms of weight loss.
I have met some friends who were at first reluctant to try green smoothies, which I consider the best thing that has ever happened to me on my journey towards a healthy body and wellbeing.
I understand that they may have issues with smoothies replacing an entire meal, so I walked them through the basics of the green smoothie dietwhat its all about and how effective it is for losing excess weight.
Convinced by the impressive results of my own dieting, they asked me how, despite the notion that blending greens will only make consumption more difficult, the flavor of these smoothies can be enhanced to make them more enjoyable.
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Foods To Boost Metabolism
Our bodies need proper fuel to keep up with the demands of daily activities. It’s important that the calories we consume, especially if we’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or just improve our performance, are quality calories.
A protein bar may be high in calories and full of nutrition, but it won’t fill you up in the same way a plate of salmon, brown rice and steamed veggies will. But a high-quality vegan protein bar can give you the energy you need to power through a workout or recover from one.
What does that mean? It means that recipes need to tick off several boxes: healthy fats, protein, complex carbs, vitamins and minerals and/or a combination of all of the above. The above fat-burning smoothies have all that and more!
Want to skip a step and add protein and healthy fats to your smoothie in one step?Check out my Protein Smoothie Boost! Clean protein? Check. Healthy fat? Check. Helpful fiber? Check. No sweetness or artificial nonsense? Check! Protein Smoothie Boost is a great partner in your fight to burn fat with this smoothie!
How To Store Avocados
I know you feel me on this one. You buy a bag of unripe avocados and it seems like they never ripen, until BAM! they ripen all at once. Its more than you can eat at once. What to do? Avocados are a fruit that freezes exceptionally well, probably due to the healthy fats.
Freeze the avocados on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then transfer to freezer-proof bags or other airtight containers. The frozen avocados will keep up to six months or more in a deep freezer, or several months in a regular freezer.
Once avocados have ripened sufficiently, they can also be placed directly in the fridge where they will stay good for a few days longer. Unripe avocados can also be refrigerated and brought out to the counter to ripen at room temperature. While room temp avocados can be used in this avocado banana smoothie, I think frozen ones add a little bit extra to this blend.
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Meal Replacement Smoothie Tips And Tricks
Now that weve gone over some of the best ingredients for meal replacement smoothies, lets talk about some tips and tricks for making them!
1. Add fat for staying power: Including healthy fats in your smoothie will help to keep you full longer. This is especially important if you are using a smoothie as a meal replacement.
2. Add protein for staying power: Protein is also important for making sure you are satisfied after drinking a smoothie. If you are looking to use a smoothie as a meal replacement, make sure it has at least 15-20 grams of protein.
3. Use frozen fruit and vegetables: Frozen fruit and vegetables will help to thicken your smoothie and make it more satisfying. If you use all frozen ingredients you might need a bit more liquid to blend properly. You can also use a mix of fresh and frozen, like a frozen banana with fresh pineapple. Yum!
4. Dont forget the fiber: Fiber is important for keeping you regular, but it can also help to keep you full after drinking a smoothie. Add oats, quinoa, or flaxseed meal to your smoothie for an extra fiber boost, or choose fruits and vegetables that are naturally high in fiber.
5. Drink your smoothie slowly: This may seem like a strange tip, but it can really help! If you drink your smoothie too quickly, you may not realize how full you are until its too late. Drinking your smoothie slowly will help you to feel satisfied sooner.