“Google” and you will find any number of so called ‘healthy’ smoothies for weight loss. Most of them require you toss in a few veggies, some fruit at random and blend them together. There is absolutely no attention paid to final taste or whether the resultant smoothie is even edible let alone healthy (think diarrhea).
The making of a tasty and healthy smoothie to aid our efforts to lose weight
To qualify as a healthy smoothie, the end result must be ‘light’ on the stomach and light in calories. It must contain loads of fiber, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Finally, all ingredients must be fresh – nothing should have come out a tin.
Vegetables and fruit are ideal foods to help you lose weight because they are high in fiber but low in calories and packed with good nutrients. Combining them to make healthy recipes is one of the easiest ways to kick start your weight loss program. Some of the best smoothie recipes combine appropriate fruits and vegetables in the proper proportion. So if you use two cups of fruit you can safely add three cups of green leafy vegetables and blend with one cup of water.
Here is our selection of well researched and genuinely healthy top 5 smoothies’ recipes for weight loss.
Banana Raspberry Smoothie Recipe
Combine 1 cup raspberries, a medium sized banana, 3 cups of baby spinach, 2 teaspoons of soaked chia seeds with 4 to 6 ounces of water to make a smooth blend. Bananas are known to promote weight loss and they are a rich source of nutrients and fiber that keep us feeling full for longer periods. Spinach and raspberries also contain fiber which makes this a great smoothie recipe for weight loss.
Banana Apricot Bran Smoothie Recipe
- 1 Banana
- 2 fresh apricots with stone removed
- 2 tablespoons bran
- 1 cup low fat milk
- Pinch of cinnamon powder for garnish
Combine all the ingredients except cinnamon and blend until smooth. This smoothie recipe tends to become thick so you might want to add another half a cup of low fat refrigerated milk. Pour into glasses, sprinkle cinnamon and serve. Since it contains bran, this healthy smoothie is loaded with fiber and is a great smoothie recipe for weight loss.
Mango Avocado Smoothie
- ¼ cup mango cubes
- ¼ cup ripe, mashed avocado
- ½ cup mango juice
- ¼ cup low fat yoghurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- Ice cubes
Blend all the ingredients in a blender until smooth, pour in tall glasses and serve.
Orange Carrot Ginger Smoothie
- 2 oranges
- 2 large chopped carrots
- ½ to 1 inch piece of fresh ginger
- Water and ice cubes as required
Squeeze out some juice from one orange into the blender and then add the rest of the ingredients. You might want to chop the ginger before adding to the blender. Blend until smooth and check for consistency.
Ginger is known for its medicinal properties. It has the ability to settle the stomach and boosts immunity. This smoothie is a healthy recipe that provides the goodness of multiple vitamins and essential fiber that aids weight loss.
Vegetable and Fruit Smoothie
This is a healthy green smoothie recipe for weight loss that can be prepared with whatever fruits or vegetables at hand.
- 3 cups Spinach
- 1 large carrot
- 2 small tomatoes
- 1 mango/apple/pear
- 1 orange
- 1 cup pineapple, strawberries or blueberries
- ¼ avocado
- ¾to 1 cup of water
Add all the ingredients to the blender except spinach and blend. Next, add the spinach leaves and blend until smooth. You might also add a teaspoon of sesame seeds or powdered flax seeds to this smoothie. Not only will it be rich in fiber, but it will also add protein content to your diet.
The smoothie recipes given above do not use sugar or any artificial sweetener because it will hinder your weight loss efforts. Sweet and ripe fruits are quite sufficient to add sweetness to your healthy recipes. However, if you still crave the sweetness you might add honey or dates to the recipe.