Want to lose weight but ain’t wishing to give up on your favorite smoothies? I know you love them and that is why I am not even telling you to give up on them(because even I enjoy them, giggles).
What you need to do is to replace your unhealthy smoothies with the healthy weight loss smoothies which are equally delicious. Yes, you read that right. Smoothies can help you in losing weight.
Wait, get back to the unhealthy and healthy smoothies part. What is this healthy and unhealthy smoothie?
The smoothies generally available in the market contain preservatives and chemicals, very less nutritional value and merely empty calories, making them unhealthy.
Whereas, these weight loss smoothies contain various nutrients such as proteins, healthy fats and certain even some vitamins and minerals required by the body on a daily basis and also for weight loss. Moreover, these smoothies do not contain any added preservatives or chemicals.
Being delicious as well as healthy, now I know it is difficult for you to resist these weight loss smoothies. So here are the recipes of the tasty smoothies that you will regret missing out!
Note: In the recipes given below, you can use fresh or frozen fruits. All the quantities for fruits are according to the fruits in chopped or pieces form. Also, you can use any type of milk for the recipes- almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk.
1. Banana Smoothie
Banana smoothies have always been one of my favorites because these are creamy along with being delicious. Not only that banana is a nutrient-packed fruit rich in potassium that is beneficial for your cardiovascular system, manganese, sodium and a lot of other vitamins and minerals and fibers that aid in digestion as well.
The non-fat greek yogurt and almond milk add up to the protein and some fat content of the smoothie along with various other vitamins. So add this smoothie in your breakfast for a nutrient-rich morning meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 large banana
- ½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Ice as desired
Blend all the ingredients together and serve.
Nutritional value(per serving of 1 cup):
- Calories: 212
- Fats: 2.2g
- Protein: 8.1g
2. Creamy Avocado Smoothie
If you need healthy fats, then all you require is this creamy avocado smoothie to fulfill that requirement as avocados are rich in healthy fats. When you are following the keto diet, your diet requires you to eat healthy fats, the most, or even otherwise as eating foods rich in healthy fats help in weight loss.
This smoothie contains banana which means it also provides you with all the nutritional value of banana.
Now being rich in healthy fats doesn’t mean that this smoothie lacks in protein. It contains 4.7g protein and to boost it even further, I have added a scoop of protein powder which takes the total protein to a whopping 27g from just a glass of this smoothie.
For additional flavor and making the smoothie micronutrient rich, flaxseeds have been added. So check out the recipe of this nutrient-packed smoothie which makes an amazing drink with your meals or a great post-workout fuel.
Ingredients:
- ½ avocado
- 1 medium sized banana
- ¾ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tsp ground flaxseed
- 1 scoop protein powder(optional)
- Ice
The process for making most of the smoothies is similar, that is blending all the ingredients together.
Nutritional value per serving(without protein powder):
- Calories: 230
- Fats: 22.2g(of which 18g is unsaturated fat, the healthiest ones)
- Protein: 4.7g
A scoop of protein powder provides additional 22.1g protein and about 120 calories.
3. The Berry Banana Smoothie
As you know banana provides a wonderful set of nutrients and thickens the smoothie, the berries add up to it. This is an antioxidant booster drink as the berries and chia seeds(yes, chia seeds are a part of this drink) both are rich in antioxidants. These seeds also boast in high-quality protein and omega 3 fatty acids(the healthy unsaturated fats). So, no doubt this smoothie is very healthy for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chopped strawberries or raspberries
- 1 medium sized banana
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 1-2 tsp chia seeds
- Ice
First blend banana, almond milk, and chia seeds together. Then add the berry fruit, ice and blend again.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 235
- Fats: 6g
- Protein: 5.2g
4. Blueberry Smoothie
We all love blueberries, don’t we? Okay, by chance if you don’t like it as a fruit, you can’t deny that it improves the taste of many of our dishes a lot. Just like that, blueberries make a perfect smoothie when combined with yogurt and coconut milk.
All of these ingredients very healthy, you don’t have to worry about your health. Berries are rich in antioxidants, while coconut milk makes this smoothie rich in fats. If you don’t know, let me tell you that the saturated fats in coconut are very healthy. Don’t miss out this recipe if blueberries are one of your favorites.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup of coconut milk
- A few blueberry slices for garnish
- 1-2 Tbsp honey or few drops of stevia(optional)
- Ice as required
Run all the ingredients together in a blender. While serving, garnish with a few blueberry slices.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 424
- Fats: 29.1g(the saturated fat contained in coconut is healthy)
- Protein: 9.9g
5. Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie
Are you confused about this combination? Like “chocolate and strawberry in a smoothie? Seriously?”
Yes, pal. Chocolate and strawberry, when mixed together, make an amazing smoothie which you won’t give up on after trying once.
Ingredients:
- 1½ cup strawberry
- 2 Tbsp cacao powder
- 1 Tbsp choco chips
- 1 cup almond milk
- Ice
Add cacao powder to the almond milk and run it in a blender. Then add strawberries to it and blend again. Top with choco chips and enjoy.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 330
- Fats: 15.2g
- Protein: 11.7g
6. Body Cleansing Smoothie (oats, honey, and yogurt)
Well, all the smoothie in this list are healthy and help in weight loss. But this is a special one, the best smoothie for detox which is tasty as well. If you aren’t familiar with detox, detox helps in weight loss as it frees the body from toxic substances mainly carbs.
This is a detox smoothie with the fact that the ingredients in this drink including oats, beetroot, and banana are all responsible for detox. You can definitely include this drink in your 3-day detox diet plan for weight loss.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oats
- 3 Tbsp honey
- ¼ cup vanilla greek yogurt
- 2 Tsp chia seeds
- ½ beetroot
- ½ medium sized banana
- ½ cup almond milk, unsweetened
- Ice
First, blend oats, beet and greek yogurt together. Then add chia seed, honey, banana, and almond milk to it and blend again. Make sure the beetroot is blended properly, otherwise the smoothie will lose its respective texture.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 425
- Fats: 6.2g
- Protein: 13.6g
7. Green Smoothie (spinach, avocado, cucumber, banana)
If you are a fan of the greens, you must try this recipe. We have added this weight loss smoothie in the list just for you. Even if you are among the ones, who are not comfortable with the greens(like me), you should still try it out. I absolutely loved it due to the creamy flavor of avocado along with coconut milk. Although the banana makes it better too! So it won’t actually feel like you are being punished with something green that is not tasty. One good reason to drink is its too good protein and fat content making it too nutritious.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup spinach
- ½ cup chopped avocado
- ½ cup sliced cucumber
- 1 medium sized banana
- ½ cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup of coconut milk
- 1 scoop protein powder (optional)
- Ice as required
Blend spinach and coconut milk together. Then add rest of the ingredients to it and blend again. Enjoy!
Nutritional value per serving(without protein powder):
- Calories:471
- Fats: 29.3g
- Protein: 16.6g
A scoop of protein powder adds 22.1g protein and about 12 calories.
8. Kiwi Apple Ginger Smoothie
Apple and ginger was always a combination of mocktails and juices. Well, what about its smoothie with kiwi added in it? I think instead you should try it out and tell me about its taste.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup kiwi
- ½ cup apple
- 1-inch ginger root
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 Tbsp honey (optional)
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- Ice as desired
In this smoothie recipe, apple, ginger and chia seeds should be blended first. Then add kiwi, almond milk, and rest of the flavors to it. Run the blender again, and make sure your smoothie is blended properly leaving no particles or residues.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 217
- Fats: 4.2g
- Protein: 2.4g
9. Mango Smoothie
In India, mango shake is so popular that most of the people drink it every day during summer(because that’s the only season mangoes are available there). Now mango smoothie is nothing less in terms of taste, being healthy is the second thing(although it needs to the first…haha).
Mango contains many vital vitamins and minerals and when combined with yogurt and almond milk, you get a good amount of protein and healthy fats too.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mango
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup almond milk, unsweetened
- Few mint leaves for additional flavor
- Ice for chilling
Blend all the ingredients together and your smoothie for your afternoon refreshment is ready.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 272
- Fats: 11.8g
- Protein: 8.4g
10. Pomegranate and Orange Smoothie
I don’t like pomegranate at all, but I think that when it’s combined with orange, milk, and yogurt for a smoothie, the overall result is much better. Now what the need to include pomegranate? Because it has various health benefits for you and another reason being the recipe of the smoothie requires us to do so.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup pomegranate
- ¾ cup orange
- ½ large banana
- ¾ cup vanilla flavored almond milk
- ¼ cup vanilla flavored or plain greek yogurt
- Ice
The first step is to blend banana, greek yogurt, and milk. Then add rest of the fruits and ice followed by another blending cycle.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 219
- Fats: 2.6g
- Protein: 8g
11. Spirulina Smoothie
The smoothie of blue-green algae called spirulina that is highly nutritious. Its high nutrition can be cleared by the fact that it contains a lot of minerals and just a single tablespoon of its powder contains 4g of protein(because 60% of spirulina is just protein). The protein in it contains all the essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Being so high in nutrients we have added just one tablespoon in this smoothie which is sufficient. The other ingredients of this smoothie including banana, kiwi and chia seeds add up to the nutritional value that this smoothie provides.
Spirulina has similar benefits for the body just like any other healthy food.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tsp spirulina powder
- 1 medium sized banana
- ½ cup kiwi
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 Tsp chia seeds
- A handful of mint leaves
- 1 scoop protein powder (optional)
- Ice cubes
Blend kiwi and chia seeds together, followed by the addition of rest of the ingredients(spirulina, banana, milk, mint leaves, and protein powder) to it. Blend again and serve. You can garnish it with mint leaves and lemon.
Nutritional value per serving (without protein powder):
- Calories: 212
- Fats: 4.5g
- Protein: 4.6g
A scoop of protein powder adds 22.1g protein and about 12 calories.
12. Watermelon Smoothie
I think this would make a perfect drink to cool you down in the hot summer afternoons. Watermelon is a too popular fruit in the summer and combining it with berries and yogurt with mint leaves at the top goes onto another level. And this last one too keeps in mind your weight loss goals.
Ingredients:
- 1½ cup watermelon
- ½ cup raspberry or strawberries
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- A pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp flax seeds
- Mint leaves for garnish
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Blend together watermelon, flax seeds and the berry of your choice amongst the two. If you want you can even add both the berries, adding a ¼th cup of each berry. Add yogurt and run another cycle of the blender. You can even add cinnamon and maple syrup and garnish with mint leaves.
Nutritional value per serving:
- Calories: 317
- Fats: 4.3g
- Protein: 25.3g
So combine these weight loss smoothies with other factors required for weight loss, such as exercising, proper sleep and healthy eating to lose weight fast.