Ever wonder how you can help your clients clean up their diet and eat healthier?
Most people who are used to eating the stereotypical American diet (fast food, soda, ice cream, pizza, desserts) are going to have a tough time making the switch to eating healthy…at first. In the United States, about 76 percent of adults don’t get enough fruits in their diet, and 87 percent don’t get enough vegetables in their diet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More Fruits and Veggies Make a Difference
Crazy, right? No wonder obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions are so prevalent. Get your clients to eat more fruits and vegetables, and it can have a huge impact on their overall health, weight, and fitness level. You’re probably not going to follow your clients around to monitor their every food choice, but you can make it easier for them to improve their diet.
Improve Your Diet with a Superfood Smoothie
Share these five superfood smoothie recipes with your clients, and challenge them to make one a day for a week. You could even bring all the ingredients and a blender to your next training session, show them how it’s done, and ask them to try it.
What’s a superfood? “We consider foods that are very high in nutrients, beyond just carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, to be superfoods,” says clinical nutritionist Makayla Schuchardt. “In general, all unprocessed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans can be considered superfoods.”
Follow the Directions: Blend It. Drink It.
Add the ingredients to a blender, press a button, drink. It’s that simple. These smoothie recipes contain superfoods like spinach, blueberries, flax and chia seeds, kale, and more. They’re packed with vitamins and nutrients, high in fiber, low in calories, and taste great. Perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast or healthy snack. Note: For best results, use a high-powered blender.
1. Banana Kale Smoothie
Ingredients:
1/2 C skim milk
1 C nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
1 large kale leaf, torn into pieces and without thick pieces of the rib (about 1/2 cup)
1 ripe banana (sliced)
Approximately 4 to 6 ice cubes (smaller ice cubes work better)
Directions:
1. Add milk, yogurt, kale, banana slices, and ice cubes to blender.
2. Blend mixture until smooth.
Source: University of Nebraska.
2. Simple Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 C kale or spinach
1 banana, medium
1 C low-fat milk (or optional coconut milk or almond milk)
1 C plain yogurt
1 apple, medium (cored and sliced)
1 C frozen fruit (all one fruit or a combination of mixed frozen fruit)
1 T flax seeds
1 T chia seeds
Directions:
1. Add milk and kale or spinach to blender. Blend.
2. Add remaining ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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3. Smoothilicious Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 C whole-grain cereal
1-1/4 C banana slices
3/4 C Greek yogurt
1/4 C blueberries
1-1/4 C non-fat milk
Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in blender.
2. Blend until smooth.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
4. Strawberry Banana Tofu Smoothie
Ingredients:
3/4 C soft silken tofu
1 C fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 C light vanilla soy milk
1 large banana, sliced and frozen
1/4 C pineapple chunks
4-6 ice cubes
Directions:
1. Add liquid ingredients to blender. Then add tofu, fruit, and ice.
2. Blend until smooth.
Source: Loma Linda University
5. Superfood Chocolate Pudding Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 small banana, chopped
1/2 avocado, diced
1/2 C soy milk
2 T mixed frozen berries
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp agave nectar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Blend banana, avocado, soy milk, berries, cocoa powder, agave nectar, and vanilla extract together in a blender until smooth.
Source: AllRecipes.com
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