What’s your breakfast smoothie missing?!

Have you ever whipped up a delicious, healthy smoothie, walked out the door and thought “man, I am so healthy right now.”? Then, an hour later you are hungry again and find anything in sight to snack on. Did you just undo your healthy smoothie? Maybe.

Yes! Your smoothies are delicious and nutritious. You are filling your body with a myriad of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, but most smoothies are often low in calories and protein and can’t sustain your energy levels for longer than an hour or two. This leads you to have a quick drop in energy, get hungry faster, and to potentially snack on calorie dense foods like chips, cookies, and crackers.

If you want your smoothie to sustain you to the next meal or snack it needs to be transformed into a balanced meal. There needs to be a lean protein paired with a healthy grain, fruit, and vegetable. Why? Because when a meal has adequate protein and fiber, it will sustain you meal to meal and will keep your blood sugars level throughout the day preventing excess snacking, extreme hunger, and drops in energy levels. A traditional smoothie with a blend of fruit, fruit juices, and a few vegetables is lacking that lean protein and whole grain. They can be a quick and easy breakfast option, but let’s try adding some type of protein and whole grain to your smoothie or as an addition on the side.

Balance out your smoothies…

Some easy ways to add protein to your smoothie are to mix in protein powder, non-fat Greek yogurt, or low-fat milk. If you don’t want to add protein to the smoothie, try adding something simple on the side like hard-boiled eggs, low-fat string cheese or cottage cheese, or maybe even a few slices of turkey bacon. If your smoothie is missing any type of healthy grain try adding rolled oats to your smoothie for a heartier taste or something on the side like a slice of sprouted whole grain bread or oatmeal.

Whether it comes down to experimenting and adding something extra to your smoothie or adding something on the side, making adjustments to your smoothies will make them last longer, keep your energy levels up through the day, and keep your metabolism running to help you lose the stubborn body fat.

Try these yummy smoothie recipes:

Dessert for Breakfast Smoothie (add a side of vegetables)

1 cup almond milk

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 Tbs natural peanut butter

1 frozen banana

Go-Go Green Smoothie (eat with 2 hard boiled eggs and a piece of whole wheat toast)

1 frozen banana

1 c. strawberries

1 c. blueberries

2 handfuls of spinach

1-2 c. skim milk