I love to add a ripe pear to a smoothie as it makes such a difference to the flavor. And ‘ripe’ is the important word here. That and a splash of lemon juice just seems to lift the flavor.
This recipe is from Cassie at the website Wholefully. You can make the smoothie as is, or take note of the adjustments we’ve suggested, either to simply reduce the calories or to make it into a meal replacement smoothie suitable for a healthy eating weight loss program.
Cassie is cutting back on sugar …
I’m slightly ashamed to admit that when I used to make a smoothie before, it was pretty sugar-heavy. As in, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to put banana, sweetened yogurt, sweetened almond milk, and some honey or maple syrup in there. Smoothies were much more dessert-like than the healthy breakfast option they are supposed to be.
Thankfully, I’ve started to go easy on the sugar in green smoothies, and I’ve found they are still totally delicious! In fact, they may even be more delicious because you can actually taste the fruit flavors, instead of them just tasting like sweet, if that makes any sense? And you still don’t taste the spinach. Even without all that sugar.
Recipe: Weight Loss Program: Meal-Replacement Pear Spinach Smoothie
Serves 2; approx 230 cals per serving
All calorie calculations are an estimate. Calorie-content varies according to product and accuracy of measurement. Check the info on your packaging if you require exact numbers for what you eat.
Ingredients:
2 Medjool Dates, pitted (120 cals)
2 cups baby Spinach (14 cals)
1 ripe Banana, broken into pieces (105 cals)
1 ripe small Pear, cored and cut into chunks (85 cals)
1½ cups unsweetened nonfat Milk of your choice (125 cals), OR Water (0 cals)
1 tbs Lemon juice
Handful of Ice
Blend until smooth and enjoy.
CALORIES: There are approx 460 calories in this recipe, 230 per serving.
Save 200 calories by substituting:
4 small dried Dates, (80 cals) soaked 10 mins in a small jug containing 1/4 cup boiling water, if you wish. Cool with ice then pour it all into the smoothie. You may want to reduce the milk/water if you do this.
Water instead of milk.
To make it into a Meal-Replacement Smoothie add:
1/2 cup Oats (188 cals)
2 tbs ground Almonds (75 cals)
some extra Water, if necessary
Calories in the Variation (approximately)?
When made with milk: 672/2 = 336 per serving as a meal replacement
When made with water: 547/2=274 per serving as a meal replacement
Whichever you opt for, enjoy it.
Source: Wholefully
Photo: DrinkMeHealthy
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