smoothies for breakfast... options and benefits?

positivenote

Hi all,
looking at having a smoothy every morning for breakfast and was wondering are they beneficial for weight loss. Im not keen on the taste of yogurt so am also looking for some recipes and tips on creating smoothies that dont feature it. So far ive come across tips recommending that you should use frozen fruit instead of ice... which i thought as a good tip, and also using flaxseed when making them up.
any advice welcomed

Typer Monkey

The problem with smoothies is that fruit is high in sugar so your smoothy is relatively high in sugar and calories compared to how much pay off you get ie: how full it keeps you. You'll probably feel fuller for longer if you eat real food for breakfast like porridge or eggs

I'd recommend getting the myfitnesspal app and plugging what you plan to eat in there. It'll give you the calorie content but also tell you the amount of sugar, fibre, fat, protein etc you are eating.

Celly Smunt

Use more veg in your smoothies than fruit,you won't notice it the flavour because the fruit over-powers the veg flavours like carrots etc.

simonsays1

Blend handful of spinach, half avocado, ice, pint of h2o, apples or/and berries, fresh ginger


Use a straw to apply to face. Yum


I recommend starting off using maybe a few diff types of fruit then decreasing over time because of sugar content.
I find them great, I manage maybe 2 breakfasts per week
I don't mix cereal, dairy or starchy veg cause of digestion. Nice and simple
Good luck

2lazytogetup

Celly Smunt wrote: »

Use more veg in your smoothies than fruit,you won't notice it the flavour because the fruit over-powers the veg flavours like carrots etc.

Agree with Celly. Good tip

metamorphosis

Coconut milk

Spinach

Some avacado

Ice

Blueberries

It's better than sex

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

coconut milk is incredible in smoothies. i can never be arsed buying ice so what I do is throw some bananas in the freezer and chop them up to use in smoothies, skin still on. if you dont like bananas I guess that doesn't help though.

thegreatiam

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

coconut milk is incredible in smoothies. i can never be arsed buying ice so what I do is throw some bananas in the freezer and chop them up to use in smoothies, skin still on. if you dont like bananas I guess that doesn't help though.

wonder if that would work with other fruit?;)

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i could see it working with oranges and apples alright... i just love oranges and apples fresh so I'd be wary of eating too many by throwing them in smoothies too


apples/oranges would have higher water content too wouldnt they.. so maybe theyd need to be chopped up before freezing

thegreatiam

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

i could see it working with oranges and apples alright... i just love oranges and apples fresh so I'd be wary of eating too many by throwing them in smoothies too


apples/oranges would have higher water content too wouldnt they.. so maybe theyd need to be chopped up before freezing

not sure about mixing oranges with milk, does it curdle? I dont eat oranges so have never tried.

If you just was fruit that can be frozen without chopping then grapes and berries are both a good substitute for ice in a smoothie, or even with ice.

quarter your apples, and bung them in the freezer. throwing a whole frozen apple into a blender for a smoothie is not advised.

I already have some frozen bananas, usually I slice them lay them flat on a tray then freeze (stops them clumping) after an hour in the fridge bag them up. I have a few frozen in the skin, but has been a hassle getting the skin off when i need them. It breaks off easy, its just annoying, like peeling an egg.

Better yet buy frozen fruits, cheaper and will be "Fresher" than buying fresh then freezing it.

I have an open box or two of berries in my fridge, a bag of sliced banana and a bag of grapes, just to use for smoothies. I also use the grapes and berries instead of ice in my soft drinks and water every now and then.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i dont think coconut milk curdles since it's not "milk" milk, dunno though

i used to use frozen berries but then that whole hepatitis a scare turned me off them. plus I'd go mad throwing them in and im trying to limit my sugar intake, especially in juice form.

thegreatiam

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

i dont think coconut milk curdles since it's not "milk" milk, dunno though

i used to use frozen berries but then that whole hepatitis a scare turned me off them. plus I'd go mad throwing them in and im trying to limit my sugar intake, especially in juice form.

I meant milk in general, coconut milk is more like water. I make most of my blended drinks with milk, So i just assumed most people do.

I had a box of berries from that hep scare time frame. I just boiled them into a syrup. and used that, it's fine.

I think those hep berries were mostly from a certain region weren't they? I have only frozen ones ive bought fresh at the moment.

positivenote

thanks for the advice so far. Ive been reading about having protein for breakfast can help for a more healthy diet. I have NEVER used whey protein before but am reading that a protein shake using it can help with cutting down calories immensely. Any advice or recommendations on what whey protein to get to use for morning smoothies ? or is it not really advisable... currently i have a bowl of muesli with a mug of coffee at around 9ish having had another mug and some fruit at around 7 when i get up.

ps: Im 13.5 stone and 5.8ft so looking to loose about a stone and keep it off. So ive also started a couch to 5k program me, which is going well
thanks

thegreatiam

Eggs and milk.

Whey protein is the part of the milk left over when they make cheese. Just skip the middle man and have milk cheese eggs or some meat or fish for breakfast

fibix

Two scoops of rolled oats soaked overnight in milk, throwing that in the blender in the morning, few strawberries or whatever fruit's handy, tbsp of milled linseed and maybe a tbsp of natural yogurt, sometimes tiny bit of honey if the fruits are sour, top up with some more milk. To me - perfect breakfast on the go and really filling.

MiskyBoyy

Here's an interesting article on fruit smoothies:

Coffee v smoothies: Which is better for you?