8 Hacks To Make Your Smoothie Healthier
Smoothies always sound like they should be healthy, right? While there's a lot of great health benefits to drinking smoothies on the regular, if you're not careful, your smoothie cup could be loaded with empty calories that leave you feeling even hungrier. That's why we rounded up these healthy smoothie hacks so you can blend up the healthiest, most satisfying smoothie every single time.
From adding in specific fruits and vegetables to making swaps for healthier protein sources, here are our favorite healthy smoothie hacks. And if you're looking for even more tips and tricks, check out our of 21 Best Healthy Cooking Hacks of All Time.
Make it creamy with avocado.
Avocado is already a pretty creamy fruit, and one of the best foods to eat for weight loss thanks to its high fiber content. By adding a serving of avocado to your smoothie, you're filling up on good monounsaturated fat that will leave you feeling full. Plus, it makes your smoothie creamier without loading it with sugary ingredients loaded with empty calories. Try it with this Paleo Avocado-Berry Smoothie.
Or frozen cauliflower!
You can easily add in some spinach and kale into your smoothie for some super green goodness, but cauliflower is another sneaky vegetable you can throw in there! It boosts the fiber content and gives your smoothie a creamier texture. Plus, it doesn't change the color while still giving your drink a huge boost in nutrients! Try it yourself with this Berry Cauliflower Smoothie.
Swap it out with almond milk.
You can easily decrease the fat content (and the calories) by swapping out regular milk with almond milk in your smoothie. One cup of unsweetened almond milk is only 30 calories, compared to a cup of 1% milk which is 103 calories. Here are The 8 Best Almond Milks to Buy, According To Nutritionists.
Add Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
While adding a scoop of protein powder can be an obvious way to boost the protein in your smoothie, an easy natural way to do so is by adding a bit of Greek yogurt instead. If you add 6 ounces of plain non-fat Greek yogurt, you're only adding 90 calories but a whopping 17 grams of protein to your drink.
Nut butter helps with fullness!
If you're not a big avocado fan, nut butter is also an easy way to add that gut-filling unsaturated fat. Simply adding a tablespoon of it to your smoothie will help you to feel full after sipping on your morning drink, which means you'll be less likely to crave a mid-morning snack a few hours later. Here are 27 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Eat Peanut Butter.
Throw in some seeds.
Adding seeds into your smoothie can naturally pump up the fiber and the protein of your drink. Some great options include flax seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.
Add some toppings.
Do you ever find your smoothie to not be as filling as you hoped? Sometimes turning your smoothie into a breakfast bowl can be a great way to add even more nutrients and filling ingredients! Instead of simply sipping on your smoothie, pour the contents in a bowl and sprinkle on some of your favorite toppings like seeds, nuts, extra fruit, or even a healthy high-fiber cereal or granola. Try it yourself with this Easy and Healthy Acai-Blueberry Smoothie Bowl Recipe.
Sneak in some collagen.
Did you know our bodies produce less-and-less collagen as we age? Collagen is important for your bones, teeth, muscles, skin, joints, and connective tissues, and helps to create your skin smooth. With less of it being produced, your body can definitely take a toll. Adding a scoop of collagen powder into your smoothie is a great way to get this nutrient into your diet with minimal effort.
Start blending up some healthy smoothies with our list of 27 Best Immune-Boosting Smoothie Recipes.
