A Green Smoothie Snapshot – Get Savvy with Smoothies

By Hemp Farm

All smoothies are not created equal

“When you want to lose weight, you decide to use intermittent fasting on Monday and Thursdays, go Keto on Tuesdays and Wednesday, go carnivore every other Friday, and do 90 minutes of fasted cardio a day. When you want your dog to lose weight, you give him less food in his bowl.”

– Jason Helmes/Anyman Fitness

Bottom line, (no pun intended), many of us may be eating too much. We are consuming bigger portions on ever larger dinner plates and food manufacturers keep pushing us to eat more. We don’t need more… we need less.

One simple way to reduce calories is to swap out a meal a day for a Green Smoothie made with our vegan-certified, plant-based Pure Hemp Protein.

Smoothie Basics

If you are one of the many people who struggle to eat enough fruits and vegetables each day, adding smoothies to your diet may help. Try to ensure your smoothie includes a healthy balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates without driving the calories sky high. Though calorie needs vary, most of us need fewer than 200 calories per snack and a 300-400 calorie breakfast for example would be more than adequate for most adults. Striking a balance between the essential macronutrients means you are likely to feel satisfied and replenished for longer.

A 40-30-30 balanced, 200 calorie smoothie requires approximately:

20 grams of carbohydrates
15 grams of protein
6 grams of fat

Protein

Of course you are going to want to use Pure Hemp Protein Powder! It comes with a 5-star health rating and is made by milling hemp seed cake (the product left over after pressing the seeds for oil), into a fine powder. It’s a high-quality vegan protein, containing essential amino acids, fibre, healthy fats and minerals. It has an earthy, nutty taste and packs a decent 15 grams of protein for every 30-gram serving. Eating lean protein boosts metabolism, benefits digestion, and promotes lean body mass. Hemp protein does not contain any cholesterol and is very low in saturated fats, unlike many sources of animal proteins. One serving contains around 90 calories, 3 grams of fat and 7 grams of dietary fibre.

Carbohydrates

Carbs are your body’s number one source of fuel. They improve performance, give you energy, and allow your body to absorb more of the protein that helps build strong muscle. Green smoothies are often touted as being the magical answer to weight loss but the truth is the tastiest smoothies are commonly loaded with sugary fruits, can add up to a lot of calories, interfere with your weight loss goals, and lead to unintentional weight gain. Tropical fruits like mango and papaya and some vegetables such as carrots and beets, contain high levels of sugar which can spike your blood sugar levels. If that’s a concern for you perhaps swap out the high-sugar fruit choices to less calorie-laden ones for example; blueberries, strawberries, raspberries or kiwifruit.

FAT

Adding a fat component to your smoothie not only helps you feel more satisfied but adds flavour and creaminess! Include nourishing, satiating healthy fats by adding a couple of teaspoons of nuts, hemp hearts or nut butters. Alternatively, add a quarter to a half of an avocado. Full-fat dairy products in the form of milk and/or yoghurt are an option for your smoothie base but depending on your goals can quickly add extra calories if you plan to add avocados or nuts etc. Chilled water works perfectly well and keeps your body hydrated!

Smoothie traps that will blow out your calories:

Enjoying a smoothie alongside your usual breakfast. A smoothie is a meal in itself!
Adding too much fruit – a general rule of thumb is to add ½ – 1 cup of fruit per smoothie or replace completely with vegetables
Adding sweeteners, e.g., honey, maple syrup, sweetened milks, flavoured yoghurts
Adding more than a teaspoon or two of fat per smoothie, e.g., peanut butter, avocado, nuts

Make a conscious decision today to do something good for your body. Instead of grabbing something quick or processed that you know you will regret later, slow down, choose your health, and make a Pure Hemp Protein Green Smoothie. It’s a decision you can feel good about!

Smoothie Comparison: Green vs Flavoured

See the difference between a healthy smoothie and one that just blow your calories for the day.

Hempy Green Smoothie

Ingredients

1½ cups fresh spinach leaves, packed
10g Kiwi Hemp Hearts
30g Pure Hemp Protein Powder
1 cup chilled water
1 inch knob ginger
½ frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunk

303 Calories

Carbs 32g
Protein 20g
Fat 10g

Snickers-flavoured Protein Smoothie