As a teen, you may be looking at more than just one way to lose weight and feel your best throughout the day. With the demands and stress from schoolwork, part-time jobs and sports, your body can become strained. One way you can replenish lost calories and find energy to get through the day is with a smoothie. There are many healthy flavors and ingredients that appeal to teens.
Benefits
Smoothies are a trendy way that teenagers are losing weight. Smoothies can be made with nutritious, low-fat ingredients that offer an array of health benefits. You can create a customized flavor while mixing and matching ingredients to get the specific taste you're looking for. Most smoothie recipes are recommended for 8 oz. drinks. Depending on your caloric intake, create your smoothie to your own dietary specifications. Omit sugars and sweet additives if desired. If you are an active teen, a smoothie can help supplement your fluid intake to maintain athletic performance. This can prevent electrolyte imbalances that include potassium, sodium and magnesium.
Ingredients
Most smoothie recipes begin with a base of either low-fat milk, lactose-free milk, whole milk or fruit juice. If you are trying to lose weight and keep calories down, you can choose almond milk which only has around 60 calories per serving, compared to 90 to 100 calories in low-fat milk. Almond milk is rich and much sweeter than cow's milk. A weight loss smoothie made with almond milk offers the sweetness needed to make the drink appealing. You can add low-fat yogurt -- strawberry, vanilla, raspberry and banana are tasty choices. Plain Greek yogurt is also a healthy choice. Fresh fruits such as kiwi, bananas, pomegranate, blackberries and blueberries can be pureed into your smoothie. Flax seed, chia seed, coconut, and lemon zest are choices you can add in small amounts. An example of a smoothie that you might want to share with your friends is a fruit fusion -- it includes orange and apple juice, vanilla protein, mango sorbet and low-fat milk.
Diet
In order to lose weight, a smoothie should act as a meal replacement. A healthy meal replacement drink should be between 180 and 280 calories per serving. Be careful because some smoothies can be loaded with fat and calories -- especially if you buy one at a cafe, where smoothies can range from 300 to more than 600 calories with 22 g of fat. Do not replace every meal with a smoothie. Make sure you consume foods from each food group consisting of lean protein, low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruits and grains.
Weight Loss
As a teen, if you are drinking smoothies for weight loss you should also implement other healthy habits into your lifestyle. Staying active by getting 60 minutes of exercise each day, can help you burn extra fat and calories and speed up weight loss. Examples of exercises include after-school sports such as track and field, basketball, swimming and softball. Aerobic activity that includes cycling, jogging and power-walking are also effective. Incorporate exercise after eating a smoothie -- the energy boost will assist with burning fat and calories.
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