With daily life reverting back to the natural order, people are realising the habits that they adapted to in the lockdown need to be addressed. One of the major habits that need some revamping are food habits. Working from home turned our world upside down with people slowly relying more on snacks and less on filling meals that can keep you full for hours. Moreover, people have started to skip breakfast in an effort to lose weight before offices reopen full-time leading them to fatigue before the workday ends.
Meal replacement smoothies are the best way to reintroduce healthy breakfasts and meals into your life. They not only help you stick to a regime but also help you break your fast with a healthy, protein-packed and nutritious meal. Using coconut milk or almond milk can also help stick to your calorie deficit as well as incorporate micronutrients into your daily intake. Here are 5 best meal replacement smoothie recipes for a delicious breakfast or midday meal:
1.Strawberry Lean Shake, Banana and Oatmeal smoothie:
The incredible flavour of Strawberries is still a little far away. Satiate your strawberry cravings with the GNC Total Lean® Lean Shake in Strawberry flavour that contains 25 grams of protein and 8 grams fiber.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup pomegranate juice
1/2 a banana
1 scoop of GNC Total Lean Shake
1/4th cup of oats
As many dark greens as you want, for example, Spinach, Kale, etc.
Method
This recipe calls for 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice. Add 1 scoop of GNC Total Lean® Lean Shake (Strawberry) to the liquids and a handful of dark leafy greens like baby spinach and blend them together first. Next, add half a banana. Add 1/4 cup oats for a boost of protein and fiber to your smoothie. If you do not add frozen strawberries, add a few ice cubes to make your smoothie cold and delicious. This recipe gives you about 2 whole glasses of smoothies so you can pace them out and feel fuller for longer.
2. Very berry meal replacement smoothie:
Berries are incredible antioxidants and even if you are on a restricted diet, you can still use this meal replacement smoothie to replace any meal if you are on the run.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup mixed berries(blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
4 tablespoons plain greek yogurt
1 banana
2 scoops GNC Pro Performance 100% Whey Protein – 4.4 lbs, 2 kg (Creamy Strawberry)
2 tablespoon flaxseed or chia seeds
1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of almond milk or coconut milk
Method:
Throw in the solids in the blender first, topped with just a little bit of almond milk. Blend them together to make space for liquids. Next, add the yogurt, protein powder, flax seeds or chia seeds and almond milk with a couple of ice cubes and blend until you reach your desired consistency. Slurp away!
3. Carrot, Mango and Spinach smoothie for post-workout energy:
Recharging after an intense workout is crucial as you replenish the fluids your body loses when you sweat. Electrolytes and water are not enough to keep your gains. If you are trying to lose fat and build muscle, eating in a slight calorie surplus or maintenance is important and this smoothie is a perfect meal replacement.
Ingredients:
2 cups of spinach
1/2 cup baby carrots or 1 regular carrot
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut water
2 oranges (peeled)
Method:
Add the spinach, carrots and greek yogurt into a blender and blend first. Next, add your two oranges and coconut water coupled with a few ice cubes for a quick pick-me-up after your workout. The electrolytes from the coconut water and the Vitamin C and minerals from the fruits and vegetables will act as the perfect replacement for a heavy dinner bringing you closer to a lean physique.
4. Peanut Butter, Banana and Berry Smoothie:
Peanut butter is an excellent source of good fats when you want to build muscle. However, be sure to not put in a lot of peanut butter as that can alter the consistency of your smoothie and increase the calories. Bananas are great for a potassium boost and helps to get rid of cramps if you are sore from working out.
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tbsp peanut butter
1 cup mixed berries (Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, etc.)
Method:
Throw everything in a blender and blend away until you reach a creamy consistency. You can also freeze the banana and berries overnight in the freezer and have a gorgeous creamy sorbet for a cold treat to beat those ice cream cravings.
5. Pumpkin Ginger Protein Smoothie:
Pumpkin is rich in Vitamin A and is a superfood that aids in weight loss. Ginger helps with inflammation, nausea, and pain from soreness. This is the easiest meal replacement smoothie to make as the ingredients are easily available.
Ingredients:
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 ripe frozen banana
1/2 tsp crushed ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 scoop GNC Total Lean® Lean Shake in Vanilla
Method
Throw in all the ingredients in the blender and blend together with a one cup of coconut milk or coconut water, even plain water, if you want to. The banana and Lean shake will help with sweetening the smoothie. You can also add honey or a little bit of maple syrup if you prefer your smoothies sweeter and want to mask the flavour of ginger.
These smoothies are great for a midday pick-me-up and can give you the feeling of being full for longer. You can easily take them on the go and avoid the greasy snacks at the canteen when you finally return to office. Happy blending!
