Green Warrior Weight Loss Smoothie

We made our first smoothie in junior high school. We were with our best friend, making different food concoctions as we often did, and we ended up blending strawberries and milk together (there may have been some M&Ms in there too, but it would have been good without them too! 🙂 ) and loved the taste and knew that our concoction wouldn’t be the last.

Now, as registered dietitians, we make smoothies on the reg. Tammy makes them for her daughters for breakfasts nearly every day, Lyssie makes her boyfriend one nearly daily as well, and one of our clients’ most popular requests is for recipes for weight loss smoothies, so we’re always whipping up new smoothie recipes.

What’s our secret to creating a weight loss smoothie that actually helps to promote weight loss?

We make it super satisfying (so you’re not hungry soon after and so that there’s no need to troll the streets for the nearest vending machine ;)) while also not breaking the calorie bank. We also make sure that it provides long lasting energy so you brain isn’t craving a quick-pick-me-up that sends you on the hunt for sugar. And we add healthy ingredients that are beneficial for weight loss, so we always are creating new combinations that taste great. And of course, being nutritionists, we put a huge emphasis on packing in extra nutrients so you get more nutritionals bang for your bite (well, sip!), so we’re sure to pack in vitamins, minerals and extra antioxidants from fruits and veggies.

In this smoothie, we’ve got 3 special loves 😉 :

Pistachios:

They contain the trio of fiber, plant-protein and better-for-you unsaturated fats that can help keep you feeling fuller longer. Pistachios are among the snack nuts highest in protein, but lowest in calories and fat. We used the Wonderful No Shells Pistachios in this smoothie since they made it super easy to add! Plus, the green and purple hues from pistachios signify that the pistachios are packed with antioxidants.

Ginger:

As you know, we’re ginger-obsessed, and Lyssie finds a way to work it into most of her meals. 😉 It adds a zesty kick to keep your taste buds satisfied so that they’re not craving more excitement. Ginger soothes the stomach and intestinal tract and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties to protect your body from free radicals and helps to keep your body in better working order. A calm intestinal tract= less bloat and a flatter tummy!

Spinach:

Greens, specifically, are the number one food you can eat regularly to improve your health–and to aid in weight loss because they’re super low in calories but packed with fiber to fill you up and with nutrients. Spinach is one the mildest of the greens and is like a barely detectable (like a chameleon!) in a smoothie, so it’s the perfect addition to a weight loss smoothie. (In this smoothie, we started with 1 packed cup of spinach, which is similar to two fistfuls)

Green Warrior Weight Loss Smoothie

This weight loss smoothie will crush your sweet tooth with only 309 calories and keep you feeling satisfied thanks to the protein and fiber. Naturally sweet fruit, creamy Greek yogurt and zesty, inflammation-fighting ginger keep your taste buds excited, while the anti-oxidant-packed pistachios are the secret ingredient since they contain the satisfying trio of fiber, plant-protein and better-for-you unsaturated fats so you feel full and don’t end up overeating at the vending machine soon after.

Makes 2 serving

Ingredients

• ¾ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup POM Wonderful

• ½ cup green grapes
• 1 cup pineapple pieces
• 1 cup packed spinach
• 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/8 cup Wonderful No Shells Pistachios, lightly salted (roughly 25 kernels)

• 4 ice cubes

Directions
In a blender, combine all ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Nutrition Facts per Serving (makes 2 servings): 170 Calories, 5 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 22 g carbohyrdate, 5 g fiber, 13 g protein

Photo Credit: The Wonderful Company

Green Warrior Weight Loss Smoothie