Easy Strawberry Weight Loss Smoothie (No Banana)

This strawberry weight loss smoothie is light, refreshing and blood sugar regulating! It’s made without any banana and requires only 4 simple ingredients. Easy to make in just 5 minutes! Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Low in calories
• Blood sugar regulating
• Antioxidant-rich

This strawberry weight loss smoothie is a sweet and tangy treat for only 284 calories! It has plenty of health benefits so it’s a healthy choice even if you aren’t trying to lose any weight. This smoothie is bursting with juicy strawberry flavour and is made without any banana. That’s not because bananas are unhealthy, but because they are higher in calories than other fruits! To keep this smoothie low calorie we will use strawberries as the base fruit.

Pomegranate seeds are the other fruit in this smoothie. They add a delicious flavour and benefits like improving heart health, memory, joint pain and more! These juicy seeds contain powerful antioxidant compounds called polyphenols, which may prevent cancer. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body and lower oxidative stress. Pomegranate seeds are also antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Including them in your diet may improve overall skin health and inflammatory conditions like acne. Even digestion is positively impacted by pomegranate seeds as they contain prebiotic compounds like punicalagin.

Strawberries for Health

Strawberries are one of the healthiest fruits to add to smoothies. They have a low glycemic index, making them helpful in managing blood sugar levels. Preventing prolonged high blood sugar levels is helpful for weight loss as it reduces the amount of insulin released by the body. Strawberries also have phytonutrients which reduce inflammation, cholesterol, blood pressure and oxidative stress. They are a great source of vitamin C and gut healthy compounds which improve digestion.

This smoothie recipe uses frozen strawberries, which provide all of the same benefits as fresh strawberries! You can freeze your own fresh strawberries or buy frozen strawberries at most grocery stores.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this strawberry weight loss smoothie.

Frozen strawberries: Creates the cold, thick base of the smoothie.

Pomegranate seeds: Use frozen pomegranate seeds for the thickest smoothie. They can be found at most grocery stores. Fresh pomegranate seeds can also be used.

Agave syrup: A sweetener to balance any tartness from the pomegranate seeds. Date syrup can also be used.

Oat milk: Brings all the ingredients together for a smooth, creamy blend.

Optional extra ingredient: Fresh strawberries to garnish!

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

How to Garnish

It’s easy to make strawberry designs on the glass! You will need fresh strawberries, frozen strawberries won’t stick to the glass properly.

Slice the berries in thin, even slices. Gently press the strawberry slice to the inside of the glass before adding the smoothie. That’s key—it’s very difficult and messy to add them if the smoothie is already in the glass. Add any many slices as you like!

If the strawberries slices won’t stick to the glass they are a few likely reasons. The slices may be too thick. The glass may be wet. Or the glass may be too curved in shape, making it harder for the slices to suction on when pressed.

When done making your desired design, pour the blended smoothie gently into the middle of the glass so that the strawberry slices aren’t moved. Enjoy!

Variations

Add protein powder

Protein powder is a great addition to any weight loss smoothie. Use any unsweetened vegan protein powder you like. Vanilla, chocolate, berry and plain flavours work best in this recipe.

Swap the oat milk

This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond, hemp or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch in a blender.

Make it tropical

For a tropical tasting version of this smoothie swap the pomegranate seeds for mango! Use frozen mango chunks to keep the smoothie consistency nice and thick. Mango is also a low calorie fruit and the enzymes it contains are good for digestion. Pineapple is also a yummy tropical option.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your strawberry weight loss smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

How to Freeze Strawberries for Smoothies

1. Wash any dirt from the strawberries.
2. Let the strawberries dry.
3. Remove the green tops.
4. Gently place the strawberries in a reusable freezer bag.
5. Freeze overnight.

FAQ’s

Can I use fresh strawberries instead of frozen?

For a thick and refreshing smoothie it’s best to use all frozen fruit! The pomegranate seeds can be fresh if you don’t have frozen pomegranate, because the quantity is small. Making this smoothie with fresh strawberries will yield a very warm and thin result.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar. Be aware the consistency won’t be as thick as when it was first blended.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your strawberry weight loss smoothie to have a higher protein content you can add protein powder to the recipe. Vanilla, berry, chocolate or plain flavours of protein powder work best in this smoothie! Any unsweetened vegan protein powder works well.

Related

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Tropical Strawberry Smoothie for Weight Loss

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Pink Pineapple Weight Loss Smoothie

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