Getting enough macronutrients is crucial for a balanced diet. Consuming adequate amounts of fats, carbs and protein as a part of your daily intake sounds simple, but sometimes that is more challenging than you may think.
In order to make sure I am eating lots of veggies decided to make a variety of smoothies that incorporate not only vegetables, but also fats from raw almonds, flax seeds and chia seeds, and carbs from fresh and frozen fruits.
Making the smoothies is quick and easy, and the options for delicious smoothies is endless. I typically make my smoothies at night and have one for breakfast the following morning and the other one either the next day, as a part of my lunch or as a pre- or post-workout snack.
A few things to keep in mind…
Remember to portion your veggies and fruits. Including too many fruits might taste great, but fruits are high in sugar, which is a carbohydrate. Keep the smoothie at least 2/3 veggies and 1/3 fruits. Also, choose fruits that are high in fiber like apples and pears, and lower in sugars…limit bananas and pineapples. I found that using frozen berries (without added sugar) are a great way to have fruits available.
Want to add protein to your smoothie as well? This can easily be accomplished by adding either a protein powder or low fat greek yogurt. I love using greek yogurt because it provides a creaminess and approx 12-15 grams of protein.
Have fun creating your own varieties of smoothies, keeping in mind the proportions of fruits and veggies..fats (good almonds, seeds)..and protein. This healthy meal or snack is packed with all the nutrients you need to get your macros in for the day. Happy smoothie making!
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How do you like your ninja blender?? Recommend it?
Hi Sarah! So great to see you are checking out my blog. The ninja blender was given to me by a friend who upgraded to a Vitamix. The ninja is good for your basic fruit smoothie, but when it comes to veggies and leafy greens…not so good. I have a hard time getting a smooth consistency with Kale. I feel like I have to chew my smoothie, and nobody wants to chew their smoothie. It does spinach well, and all fruits, but Kale…not so much! Hope this helps.