Kara Swanson is a certified nutritionist and the founder of Life Well Lived. She is married to her best friend and the proud mother of three. Her passion is to make nutrition simple+easy+delicious!
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Table of Contents
One of the main benefits of smoothies is that they offer you a tasty, easy way to squeeze in key vitamins and nutrients. So be sure to keep your health requirements and preferences in mind when picking out the right book for you.
To help us get a better idea of what to look for when leading a healthy lifestyle and making a great smoothie, we contacted nutritionist Kara Swanson for more advice.
Other books focus on just one goal like weight loss, alkalization, or protein increase. If you have a specific goal in mind or know that you won’t make full use of a book with a wider breadth of recipes, it makes sense to look for a more specialized book.
When looking for a recipe, it's important to remember your goals. And if you don't have a goal, take a moment to figure out what it is! After that, get specific.
Wanting to "eat healthier" is a noble goal but most likely won't get you anywhere. But wanting to switch out your cereal in the mornings for a fiber-rich smoothie every day is a very specific goal, making it much more manageable and achievable!
Aside from allergies and intolerances, certain ingredients can also just be expensive or hard to find. If that’s a concern for you, remember to check reviews to see whether the book will require you to use exotic spices and superfoods that aren’t commonly available.
Then there’s the distinction between regular smoothies and green smoothies. If you can’t tolerate the idea of liquid kale, then get a recipe book that only features fruits. On the other hand, if you’re looking for ways to sneak more spinach into your kids’ stomachs, then look for a veggie-friendly smoothie book.
Finding recipes with ingredients you know and like is important when finding a recipe book that you will actually stick to. But, at the same time, be adventurous and willing to try new ingredients.
If you want to start making more green smoothies but just can't handle the thought of that right now, start small. Instead of adding two cups of kale to a smoothie, add one-fourth of a cup to start out with. You'll definitely be surprised how you can't even taste it! After you've gotten used to it, you can slowly work towards adding more kale or greens to your smoothies.
For example, you might want to pick a book that includes nutritional information, substitution recommendations, or suggestions for what to do in case your smoothie doesn’t turn out quite right (too watery or too bland, for example).
Ultimately, when choosing a new book, make sure that you can have fun with the creation process! Trying new smoothies can be really enjoyable and they're a great vehicle to helping you reach your goals whether you just want to change up your smoothie game or want to introduce your diet to more fruits and vegetables.
Fiber can help you maintain regular bowel movements and, since your body takes longer to digest it, foods with it keep you satisfied for longer. Mayoclinic recommends men under age 50 to intake 38 grams per day, with women under 50 recommended to consume 25 grams daily.
There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps reduce cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. Some great sources of soluble fiber include apples, barley, beans, citrus fruits, nuts, oatmeal, pears, and other fruits.
Insoluble fiber is great for preventing constipation and other digestive issues. Great sources for this type of fiber include carrots, celery, wheat, whole grains, and other vegetables.
My number one health and weight loss tip is to add fiber. Fiber is important and beneficial on so many levels, so make sure you add chia seeds or flaxseed meal to your smoothies every day.
Fiber not only keeps you regular but blocks fat, keeps you feeling satiated and satisfied, and you won't absorb as many calories when consuming it because you can't digest fiber. It adds bulk to your foods without the stress of intaking a ton of calories.
You've got your smoothie game down, but how about expanding your culinary skills? Knowledge is power, after all!
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: David Frenkiel, Luise Vindahl | Green Kitchen Smoothies
No. 2: Amy Roskelley | 201 Healthy Smoothies & Juices for Kids
No. 3: Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC | Healthy Quick & Easy Smoothies
No. 4: Farnoosh Brock | The Healthy Smoothie Bible
No. 5: Editors of Women's Health & Lisa Defazio | The Women’s Health Big Book of Smoothies & Soups
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