Replacing your first meal of a day with a hearty and nutritious smoothie can be a great way to lose weight. Drinking breakfast smoothies can not only help with weight loss, it can also jump start your metabolism and give you an energy boost to start the day off on the right foot.
However, not all smoothies were made equal. A healthy smoothie needs to be substantial and nutritionally complete to keep you satisfied for a long time. You also don’t want to overdo it with fruit or healthy fats like peanut butter or greek yogurt, as this can raise the calorie count of your smoothies.
Keep reading to learn how to make perfect breakfast smoothies for weight loss every morning
Smoothies can be an amazing way to get your veggies and nutrients in. They are easy to make, easy to take on the go, easy to drink, and easy to clean up, making them perfect for busy people who may not have time for an elaborate breakfast.
So, instead of grabbing a donut or microwaving a breakfast burrito, just make a smoothie. The best part is that smoothies freeze very well, so you can prep your smoothies ahead of time and pop them in the freezer. When you’re ready to blend, just add your liquid of choice and enjoy!
How to Make a Healthy Breakfast Smoothie
When making a breakfast smoothie, remember to always include the following for a nutritionally complete breakfast.
Fiber
Fiber is an indigestible material that can be found in most plant-based foods. Almost counterintuitively, fiber cannot be consumed by our digestive system itself. Instead, it has to be digested by the billions of bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.
This makes fiber a key component in weight loss as it helps improve digestion and aid your microbiome. Most recent studies show that a healthy microbiome could help you lose weight, so adding fiber to your smoothies can be a great way to take care of your microbiome.
Some great fiber choices for your smoothies are:
- Berries
- Nuts
- Seeds like chia and flax
- Fruits like kiwi and apples
- Vegetables like beets and broccoli
Protein
You do not need to cook a dozen eggs each morning to get your morning dose of protein. Believe it or not, making a protein-rich smoothie is very simple.
Even if you don’t work out a lot, consuming a high-protein smoothie can be good for weight loss. Protein is very filling, so a protein-rich smoothie will keep you satisfied at least until lunchtime.
Some great protein additions to your smoothies are:
- Greek yogurt
- Hemp seeds
- Almond and peanut butter
- Pumpkin seeds
- High-quality protein powder
Healthy Fats
Although fats have gotten a bad rap for weight gain, several healthy fats can help you on your weight-loss journey. Not only are healthy fats great for your metabolism, but they also take longer to digest than other food sources like carbs and protein, keeping you satisfied longer.
Healthy fats are easy to add to an avocado. Try using:
- Avocados
- Cottage cheese
- Fatty nuts like cashews and macadamia
- Chia seeds
- Dark chocolate
Want to look at another way of losing weight? why not check out our popular Boiled Egg Diet here!
Vegetables
You already know this: you need to eat your vegetables. The problem is that many people struggle to find easy and tasty ways to get their vegetables in. This is where smoothies reign supreme: blending up vegetables with other yummy fruits and foods will almost completely mask the flavor.
Don’t be scared to add a wide variety of vegetables to your breakfast smoothies, even if you’re not a fan. Frozen vegetables work great as they retain nutrients and help make smoothies cold and satisfying. Try:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Peas
- Green beans
Fruit
You can’t have a smoothie without fruit! It would be more like a cold soup if it didn’t have a few berries, a banana, or maybe a kiwi. While fruits are essential to every smoothie, remember that too much fruit can make your smoothie too high in glucose.
As always, look for a healthy balance every time you decide to blend up your breakfast smoothies to maximize your weight loss goals.
Some great fruits for smoothies are:
- Frozen berries
- Bananas
- Kiwis
- Apples
- Pears
Liquid
You need to add some sort of liquid to your smoothie to make it drinkable. Although almond milk is the most common liquid smoothie addition these days, you can try using any of the following (or a combination!):
- Oat milk
- Coconut water
- Kefir
- Water
- Fresh juice
Flavor
Finally, you want to add some flavor to your breakfast smoothies for weight loss. The most important part about drinking smoothies for breakfast is sticking to them. If your smoothie is not tasty, you will have a hard time drinking it first thing in the morning.
You should look for healthy ways to improve the flavor of your smoothie. Here are some of my favorites:
- Raw honey or maple syrup
- Matcha powder
- Cocoa powder
- Ginger
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Dates
