If you're looking to lose weight, replacing one or two meals a day with a smoothie or a bowl of soup can help you reach your goals. Smoothies and soups made with nutritious and low-calorie ingredients can help you shed pounds by limiting how many calories you consume each day. Soups and smoothies can also provide several different nutrients to help you achieve good health and provide you with the energy you need to burn enough calories to lose weight.
Step 1
Eat a smoothie for breakfast rather than what you would normally prepare.
Step 2
Make a healthy smoothie. Include ingredients such as fresh or frozen fruit, low-fat yogurt and soy milk, recommends Cherie Calbom, author of "The Ultimate Smoothie Book." Make different combinations until you discover several different blends you enjoy. Include yogurt or milk so you consume the protein you need to feel full until your next meal.
Step 3
Eat a bowl of soup for lunch. Purchase canned soup from your local grocery store or make your own at home.
Step 4
Prepare a soup filled with vegetables and low-sodium broth to keep calories low, recommends Ken Haedrich, author of "Soup Makes the Meal." Add a small portion of meat, such as lean chicken or beef, to give you energy. Choose canned soup that is low in sodium as well as one that is low in fat and calories.
Tips and Warnings
- Soups made with broth, such as vegetable or chicken noodle, are lower in calories and fat than soups made with cream, such as New England clam chowder or cream of mushroom. Haedrich recommends making your own broth when preparing homemade soup because it allows you to limit how much salt you add. Include several different colors of fruits in your smoothie. The more variety of fruit you eat, the more nutrients you will consume. You can make vegetable smoothies, as well. Use yogurt or vegetable juice as the base and then add soft vegetables, such as tomatoes or squash. Spices, such as cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, will enhance the nutrition of your smoothie and allow you to experiment with different flavors.
- Make an appointment with your doctor before replacing meals with smoothies or soups. Restricting your calories too much can lead to a decrease in metabolism and a lack of energy, which may prevent weight loss.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh or frozen fruit
- Soy milk or yogurt
- Vegetables
- Broth
- Canned soup
References
- "The Ultimate Smoothie Book"; Cherie Calbom; 2001
- "Soup Makes the Meal"; Ken Haedrich; 2001
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