Frozen smoothies are a great portable meal or meal replacement for anytime of the day.
But if you’re trying to lose some kilos, you’ll want to make smoothie with ingredients that helps support your goal.
So what ingredients can be used for a weight loss smoothie?
Ingredients that are low in calories and sugar, but high in protein, fibre and micronutrients are your best options to help you lose weight.
Now you would be right in thinking the ingredients should just be fruits and vegetables, but there are many more other ingredients to help you get rid of the extra belly fat.
Now let’s look at some of your options for weight-loss friendly ingredients.
Adding in low sugar fruits
You can still enjoy fruit while you’re losing weight.
Your best bet are the fruits that are packed full of fibre and also have lower levels of sugar.
The key here is knowing which ones, which ones are in season to buy and also remembering them when it comes time to blend your frozen smoothie.
You can experiment with fruit options like these below.
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Kiwifruit
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Lemon
- Lime
If you want to use a higher-sugar fruit like a banana?
No problem!
You can tweak the calories down by adding a smaller portion – add ½ banana to each smoothie instead of a full banana (or you could look at the Wake Me Up Smoothie or the Choc Banana Smoothie).
Piling in the Vegetables
Let’s face it – we could all do with more veggies in our diet.
And if you’re not a vegetable fan, or you struggle to hit your 5 serves, smoothies are your new best friend!
It’s easy to add 2+ servings to your smoothie, and most vegetables are very low in calories so it’s a win, win situation.
So you’re getting plenty of fibre, water and micronutrients in every mouthful!
Have a play with adding vegetables like these to your weight loss smoothie recipe.
- Zucchini
- Cucumber
- Spinach
- Kale
- Other leafy greens like silverbeet
- Carrot
- Avocado (watch your portion size!)
Teaspoons of Chia seeds and Flaxseeds
Fibre is a great way to keep you feeling full when you’re eating a lower calorie diet.
So when it comes to smoothies, chia seeds and flaxseeds are my go-to options as great ingredients to put in a weight loss smoothie.
Both contain plenty of fibre, along with other nutrients and also antioxidants.
It’s best to add your chia seeds and flaxseeds at least 10 min before blending your smoothie.
This gives them time to soak up the liquid (which is much nicer than tiny seeds getting stuck in your teeth!).
Alternatively, you could prep the smoothie ingredients the night before, then simply blend the smoothie in the morning.
Easy!
Not so secret Weight Loss Herbs and Spices
Spice up your life!
Adding herbs and spices can be a great way to boost the flavour and nutrient value for minimal calories.
There are plenty of options out there, depending on your smoothie of choice.
Cinnamon is great for keeping your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day, as is coriander.
Vanilla isn’t just tasty – it’s an excellent source of antioxidants, and may even help to lower high cholesterol levels.
Mint can freshen your breath and may soothe an upset tummy.
Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory spice that can protect against many lifestyle-related conditions.
So there is plenty to experiment with in regards to herbs and spices to enhance the flavour and potency of your smoothie.
It’s a Flavour Explosion
Even if you’re watching your weight, it’s important to enjoy your food.
So don’t be afraid to add some flavours to your smoothie!
Cocoa or cacao is a great way to get your chocolate hit without a tonne of sugar added.
And guess what – cocoa may actually assist you with your weight loss too!
I love to use mesquite to create a subtle caramel flavour – plus it’s a low GI ingredient, so it will give you steadier energy levels throughout the day.
Some might even like to combine their morning shot of coffee into their smoothie for a kickstart!
No judgement here (we all do it).
Care for some Protein with that Weight Loss Smoothie?
Of the three macronutrients, protein is king when it comes to weight loss.
It keeps you feeling satiated for longer, and helps you maintain your muscle too.
So you want to make sure you’re getting in a little extra protein with your smoothie.
There are plenty of options for adding protein to your weight loss smoothie recipes too.
But most people prefer a straight, no flavoured protein powder.
Protein powders are a good option, as long as there is minimal additives and ingredients.
If you can, look for one with around 3 ingredients – the protein itself, a flavour addition like vanilla, and a natural sweetener.
The best ingredient for a Weight loss frozen smoothie?
If you’re looking for a low-calorie, nutrient-dense option for your smoothies?
To be honest, you can’t go past some of the Super Cubes smoothie cubes as your base ingredient for your weight loss frozen smoothie.
Add to this fact how easy they are to prepare and how easy it is to add any of the above ingredients into your smoothie blend too, and you almost have the perfect weight loss smoothie for yourself!
We may be a bit biased in this regard, but I do know how great they taste and how easy they are to make too.
What’s your favourite ingredient to add to your current weight loss smoothie?
Author | Samantha Gemmell
Sam is a Nutritionist, Health Writer and Wellness Speaker as well as being an Author for Super Cubes.
She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and helping people through their journey to health and wellness combining their mindset, nutrition and lifestyle. When she’s not helping people, she enjoys dancing in the rain and cuddling dogs.
Sometimes she does both at the same time.
