Summer is officially here! With warm, sunny days ahead, there’s no better way to beat the heat than to drink something cool and refreshing. If you’re trying to lose weight, you definitely want to consider beverages that have more nutritional value. Take for example, smoothies. They’re easy to make, and they taste yummy too! The best part is, you have the freedom to create your own.
Below, registered dietitian and nutritionist Carrie Gabriel, MS, RDN, of Steps 2 Nutrition shares a few healthy and refreshing smoothies you can whip up in the kitchen.
Acai Smoothie
Ingredients
•1 packet of frozen acai puree
•1 cup almond milk
•1 frozen banana
•2 tbsp chia seeds
•1/2 cup mixed berries (can be fresh or frozen)
•Ice if desired for thickness
According to Gabriel, “Acai is very high in antioxidants. Chia seeds are full of healthy fats and fiber, making this smoothie excellent for an overall boost in brain and heart health.”
Chocolate Avocado Smoothie
Ingredients
•1 cup almond milk, or milk of choice
•1/2 cup ice
•1 frozen banana
•1/2 an avocado
•2 tbsp almond butter
•2 tbsp raw cacao powder, or cocoa powder
•2 dates, (or 2 tablespoons maple syrup)
•1 tbsp ground flaxseed
“This smoothie is very filling and tastes like a decadent chocolate milkshake. It’s higher in fiber and healthy Omega-3 fats due to the dates, avocado, flaxseed and banana. Raw cacao powder is high in magnesium as well, which keeps us calm,” Gabriel tells us.
Tropical Smoothie
Ingredients
•1 cup fresh chopped spinach
•1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks
•1 ripe banana
•1/2 cup frozen mango cubes
•1 cup coconut milk
Gabriel notes, “You may not feel an actual tropical breeze while drinking this smoothie, but you will feel the digestive benefits of consuming pineapple, which is high in bromelain, a natural digestive enzyme. Coconut milk is also high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.”
