With just a blender, some strawberries and a few other ingredients, you can make healthy, low-calorie shakes and smoothies at home to supplement your weight-loss diet. Using healthy ingredients like strawberries and bananas can be a delicious way to get some of your daily recommended servings of fruits.
Nutrition Information
Smoothies and shakes can be a nutritious way to supplement your weight loss plan. Strawberries are a great source of vitamins and minerals, like potassium, vitamin C, and folate, which help your body function correctly. In addition, MayoClinic.com reports that it is important to keep your healthy diet interesting and varied, so you stay motivated to eat right and lose weight. Shakes add variety to your diet by changing up the way you are taking in your fruits and vegetables.
Supplies
You need several basic supplies to make strawberry shakes or smoothies, the most important of which is a good blender that can chop and grind ice. You also need strawberries, or strawberry-flavored yogurt. You can use fresh strawberries, but frozen strawberries work well because then you do not have to add as much ice. You also need some kind of liquid. Use water, which adds no flavor but allows the shake to blend well, or use reduced-fat milk or even juice.
Recipe
To make a basic healthy strawberry shake you need your blender, a cup of strawberries, between a half a cup and a cup of liquid, and a couple of ice cubes. Place all of your ingredients into your blender and mix until it reaches the consistency you desire. The Nemours Foundation suggests a more filling kid-friendly strawberry smoothie using 2 ice cubes, 1 cup of low-fat milk, 1/3 cup of cottage cheese, 2/3 cups of frozen strawberries, 1 ½ tsp. of sugar, and 1 tsp. of vanilla.
Variations
Once you have mastered the basic strawberry shake, mix it up by adding various fruits and ingredients. Add a cup of low-fat yogurt -- flavored or unflavored -- to make a creamier consistency, add protein and change up the taste. You can add whole uncooked oats, which contain fiber, to make your shake more filling. Try different fruits that go well with strawberries, especially kiwi and bananas. Add some orange juice instead of milk for a sweet yet tangy taste.
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