Following some diets involves drinking meal replacement shakes -- drinks that contain nutrients to fuel your body, but with limited calories to facilitate weight loss. While these drinks may represent an convenient way to consume relatively low-calorie foods, weight loss drinks often also contain chemicals and preservatives to extend their shelf life. With relatively basic equipment, you can create drinks at home that contribute to a healthy diet and facilitate weight loss, without the added preservatives.
Step 1
Blend smoothies as healthy diet drinks. Making your own smoothies allows you to consume fresh fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as other nutrients, and provides a convenient alternative to a traditional breakfast or snack. Try blending fresh of frozen fruit of your choice with 1 tbsp. of natural peanut butter and a handful of rolled oats with low fat milk or soy milk for a healthy smoothie containing vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, healthy carbohydrates and protein to help get you through the day. To boost the nutrient content of your smoothies, Brigham Young University recommends adding spinach to your smoothies.
Step 2
Prepare your own healthy juices to provide nutrients and energy. Homemade juices provide your body with the nutrition of fresh fruits and vegetables, without the preservatives found in pre-packaged diet drinks. Use a juicer to make fruit and vegetable juices, or puree your produce in a blender along with water, and strain the puree to obtain fresh juice. In addition to its nutrient content, homemade juices count toward your servings of fruits and vegetables for the day, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Step 3
Steep your own herbal tea. Many teas serve as an idea diet drink because they contain very few calories, provide a pleasant alternative to water, and serve as a tasty pairing with nutritious meals. Make your own ginger tea by peeling and thinly slicing fresh ginger root, then steeping the root in hot water to serve. Ginger tea may also benefit your body beyond serving as a weight loss drink. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that ginger, including ginger tea, may help relieve inflammation or arthritis pain.
Things You'll Need
- Blender
- Juice strainer bag or juicer
- Kettle
- Fresh ginger root
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