Smoothie Suggestions

It took a while but it's finally warming up here on the East coast. The mercury rising generally causes us to crave cooler things. Frozen desserts and drinks top this list and there's no better way to quench these cravings than smoothies. You can blend your own smoothie or buy one. Note: all smoothies aren't created equal. With Memorial Day around the corner, keep the following tips in mind.

Smoothie as Meal

I have a lot of clients who use smoothies as a meal replacement, particularly at breakfast. For a smoothie to satiate you, you need a few more calories. I love nut butter in meal smoothies as they can provide some good fat that aids in staying power. If you haven't tried EK's Peanut Better with nonfat milk, peanut butter and bananas I would highly recommend it.

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Snack Smoothie

It's a different story if you're having a smoothie as an afternoon snack. For a snack, for women especially, I would select a smoothie with less than 300 calories. On the EK menu I like the Vaccinator for a mid morning or afternoon pit stop.

Protein Post

I get a lot of questions about using smoothies to help maximize workout results. Smoothies are excellent post workout as liquids are absorbed faster than solid food and you can refuel and rehydrate at the same time. The key to post workout fueling is to do it as soon as possible (within 30 minutes) of finishing your workout. It's also important for this snack to contain protein. The Creamsicle with both fruit and protein powder is a refreshing post-workout treat.

Secret Ingredients

You can pack a lot of nutrition into a smoothie and use interesting ingredients. I love acai in smoothies, it has a tangy flavor and is loaded with antioxidants, and if you haven't tried acai there's EK's Acai Berry Blast. At home you can experiment adding green tea (good for metabolism), avocado, maca or spinach to your smoothies.

Size Matters

I shudder when I see people toting gigantic smoothies thinking they are being healthy. Calories, even from fruit, add up quickly. All smoothies at Energy Kitchen are 24 ounces. This is a good guideline to use at home; anywhere from 2-3 cups total is what you should aim for. If you drink a quart of anything it should be water.

So make the most of May with your eating and "spring training" and you'll make sure May isn't a maybe month.