Smoothie Mania!

SMOOTHies!

What is a smoothie diet?

To answer a frequently asked question, a smoothie diet is a diet that consists solely of smoothies. Smoothie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can have an artificial smoothie like Slim Fast or you can make your own smoothie at home using both fruits and vegetables.

Do smoothie diets work?

Smoothie diets, using caution, do work because you are simply reducing your calorie and carbohydrate intake. The beauty of a smoothie is that you can make any combination taste good! For breakfast, you can make a chocolate smoothie, for lunch, you can make a banana smoothie, and for dinner, you can make a green smoothie.

Are they healthy?

After reading numerous articles on green smoothies and smoothie diets in general, smoothie diets should be used for fast weight loss. This website suggested that you should not continue a smoothie diet for any more than 10 days. Imagine eating 200 calories per meal making 600 calories a day. Compared to the average person's diet when their calorie intake should be around 1400. 

The main goal of weight loss is to make it last and to build healthy habits. It is impossible to live your whole life drinking smoothies! Losing weight is about becoming healthy and remaining healthy in the midst of tempting situations like a huge piece of cake in a restaurant etc. 

The most iconic celebrity known for having used a smoothie diet effectively is Jessica Simpson. She lost 60 pounds in 4 months (which is really shocking!) But, if you’re interested in reading/learning more about it, check out this website.

I decided to write this blog post not because I’m dieting but because I know that in college, we don’t have the time to wait 10 minutes for the pan to heat up, nor do we have the time to make pancakes! A smoothie is super quick and easy.

Here are three smoothies that I have had for breakfast each day:

Green Smoothie Recipe #1

Inspiration: Kitchen Treaty

Ingredients

·         1 cup fresh spinach

·         1 cup fresh mango

·         1 banana

·         1 cup almond milk

·         ½ cup orange juice

·         ½ cup ice cubes

·         1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (these add some more fiber plus omega-3 fatty acids and a little protein)

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw.

Summer Mango Smoothie

Inspiration: Prevention Magazine

Ingredients:

·         1 c mango chunks

·         1 banana

·         2 tsp fresh lime juice

·         1 teaspoon ground ginger

·         ½ cup almond milk

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw.

“Chocolate Covered Raisins” Imitation Smoothie

Inspiration: Forks Over Knives Cookbook

Ingredients:

·         1 cup almond milk

·         1 cup orange juice

·         1 cup spinach

·         1 banana

·         6 dates (pitted)

·         3 tablespoons raw cocoa powder

·         2 cups frozen blueberries

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw.

If you can think of any strange sounding combinations that are delicious and/or nutritious, let me know!