Smoothies, Are They Bad For You?

Hello all!
I've been getting asked a lot of questions about smoothies this week from clients, and I wanted to address the subject to everyone. Are smoothies bad for you? Well, the answer is fairly simple: They CAN add too much sugar, fat, or calories depending on what you put into them. When you are preparing a smoothie you need to remember these 3 things: 
ARE YOU GOING TO USE THE SMOOTHIE AS A MEAL REPLACEMENT OR AS A PICK ME UP?
MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF INGREDIENTS.
ADD AS MANY OR MORE GREENS THAN FRUIT
What do I mean by all of this? First off, I typically make a hearty smoothie in the morning for my boyfriend and myself to split, so I include a lot of nutrients that would equal out to be a meal replacement. I DO include bananas and dates and sometimes apples or oranges or other fruits together because this is our breakfast. It is a good idea to add a protein powder that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and has zero to few sugars because no matter the reason of your consumption, small or large, you will get your carbs and sugars in your other ingredients. Second, when you are adding in your ingredients think about the amount of food you are adding. You would not want to eat 3 tablespoons of nut butter, almond milk with added sugar, 4 bananas, an avocado, coconut water, and half a coconut because that would be way too much sugar and carbohydrates and fat if you were just simply eating those things, right? So, think about your sugar and calorie intake as you add these ingredients. Make smart choices, such as adding almond milk that is unsweetened. If you add a nut butter, only add 1 tablespoon of one nut butter. By the way, if you buy my E Book, you will see 3 smoothie recipes that illustrate proper ingredient amounts for meal replacements. Finally, and this is especially if the smoothie you are making is just a snack or a pick me up, add a LITTLE fruit, but mostly add in greens like kale, spinach, celery, or cucumber. These greens are nutritious and have the water, vitamins, and minerals you need to actually help give you the energy that you think you would only find in a piece of fruit. This is also a great way to consume greens if you do not really like to eat them otherwise. 
So there you have it! Are smoothies bad for you? NO. However, just like anything else, it's a good idea to moderate, and if you MOVE a lot, you can feed your body even more healthful, tasty foods. What a concept!
Move Well, Eat Well, Be Well
Ginger Daniels

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