Since making a commitment to eating healthier using the Weight Watchers program I have been looking for ways to incorporate more vegetables, fruit and fiber into my diet, and one of my favorite ways is with healthy smoothie recipes.
Smoothies take just minutes to prepare if you have the ingredients on hand and are a healthy, high fiber snack that curbs my craving for something sweet (such as when I am craving a bowl of ice cream in the evening).
A simple fruit and soy milk smoothie is a great low calorie snack that fits well with the Weight Watchers program. If I am having a smoothie in place of a meal such as breakfast or lunch I like to eat a serving of raw almonds along with it or sometimes I will blend a scoop of whey protein powder into the smoothie.
Whey protein powder is not only great for weight loss but it will help keep you satisfied until your next meal or snack. You can find whey protein powder in many supermarkets and drug stores near the weight loss or nutritional products.
Blenders are fine for making smoothies but I prefer using a personal size smoothie maker. That way I don’t have to pull out my large blender.
There are several different personal size smoothie makers on the market that often comes with one base and two smoothie cups. Those are especially nice because you always have one handy in case the other one is in the dishwasher.
Some recipes call for adding ice to your smoothie but you wont need ice if you keep some frozen strawberries and blueberries on hand in the freezer. For bananas be sure to slice them first before freezing in freezer safe containers.
Both of these healthy smoothie recipes make one serving and come in under 200 calories. Calories are approximate depending on what type of milk you use.
If adding whey protein it will bring the calories to approximately 270 calories depending on which brand you use (adding whey protein will bring the smoothie recipe up to about 5 Weight Watchers points which is a good low point lunch).
Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 frozen banana, cut into pieces 1 cup nonfat milk, soy or almond milk
1 teaspoon honey (optional)
1 scoop whey protein (optional)
Combine ingredients in blender or magic bullet and blend until smooth.
Serves 1
Blueberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 frozen banana cut into pieces
- 1 nonfat milk, soy or almond milk
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
- 1 scoop whey protein (optional)
Combine ingredients in blender or smoothie maker and blend until smooth. Serves 1
