When you’re looking to slim down, look no further than the mighty smoothie. These super-simple weight-loss smoothies pack protein and flavor, so you won’t feel deprived. Let’s get sipping.
1. Banana Cream Pie
This smoothie, also from Johnston, might taste like dessert—but with a half a cup of Greek yogurt in each serving, it’s a much better alternative to doughnuts and coffee cake.
Makes 2 servings
1 large ripe banana, frozen
1 cup plain, low-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup unsweetened nut, soy, or cow’s milk
Handful of ice cubes
Graham cracker crumbs, crushed, for garnish
Combine banana, yogurt, vanilla, honey, milk, and ice in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top before serving.
2. Mellow Yellow Protein
In her new book, Raw Energy in a Glass, Stephanie Tourles has a delicious protein-rich smoothie made of hemp seeds, almond butter, and mango, plus a splash of vanilla extract.
Makes 2 servings
1 1/2 cups purified water
1 cup fresh or frozen mango, pitted, cut into chunks
2 medium or 3 small frozen bananas, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup raw hulled hemp seeds
2 tablespoons raw almond butter
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 teaspoon natural vanilla
Put water, mango, bananas, hemp seeds, almond butter, honey, vanilla, and salt in a blender and blend on high until very smooth and silky, 60 to 90 seconds. Excerpted from Raw Energy in a Glass by Stephanie Tourles, used with permission from Storey Publishing.
