
Tania Tarafdar
Strong-headed. Light-hearted. Free willed. Curious. Fitness enthusiast. Yoga addict. Travel ... Read More
Smoothie is a staple in your breakfast. And while you may never pick up store bought ones because they are just sugar syrups, it can be super easy to overdo sugar while tossing things in a blender. Loading up on wrong ingredients can add an additional 1000 calories. So follow these smoothie rules from nutritionist Priya Kathpal to keep your calorie count in check.
1. Do not use full-fat dairy: Do not add whole milk for thickness or for that satiating fat in your smoothie. Using skimmed milk can save you around 25 calories and 6g of fat in a cup.
2. Add just one protein ingredient: Make sure that your smoothie has only one protein-rich ingredient whether it is Greek yoghurt, nuts or powder. Protein can help you stay full for longer but overdoing it can rack you up with calories. A teaspoon of chia seeds or flax can also be a plenty of it.
3. Do not add flavoured milk or yoghurt: Instead of using flavoured milk and yoghurts to add flavour, you can simply use ingredients like cinnamon powder. They not only add flavour, but they are also calorie-free. If you need added sweeteners just use honey instead of sugar.
4. Add leafy greens: Instead of using only berries and bananas, add leafy greens to your smoothie. If you are adding fruits, just make sure that you do not use canned fruits as they can be loaded with sugar. Fight acne with these 5 refreshing smoothies.
5. Add uncooked oats: Uncooked oats can be a great way to add some whole grain carbohydrates to your jar of smoothie. Just don t use instant oats as they are usually more processed and contain a lot of added sugar.
6. Don t replace smoothie with a meal: One of the amazing things about smoothies is that they are very satiating. But you also need to ensure that they do not replace a meal. You need a total of 300 to 500 calories in your breakfast, so your smoothie should contain fewer calories than that. Here's why you should not replace your meals with green juices and smoothies.
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