My smoothies, my go-to-craving buster, my weight loss pal! Ever since I accidentally discovered smoothies while prepping a bowl of fruit salad for guests, I got hooked and for good reasons too.

Smoothies are:

• super easy to prep
• they help in weight loss
• highly nutritious
• a great way to use up excess produce and avoid wastes
• a good snack for my guests? yes! ‘Cos I’m a classy hostess!
• a cravings fixer

Smoothies can replace a meal if nutrient profiles are considered. In my weight loss quest, a detox smoothie once a day revs up my metabolism while giving my body a much desired cleanse of toxin build up. Smoothies can be made out virtually any leafy vegetable, fruits, nuts, seeds, milk, grains and even eggs! My favourite smoothie is waterleaf, oat, coconut milk, and green apple combo with toppings of cashew nut /toasted flax seed/Acha yummy!

Smoothies for weight loss or detox smoothies helps combat bloat, gas and flush toxins out of the body. This is easily achieved due to the presence of bio-active enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water present in the vegetables, fruits, grains and water used in the preparation

For your smoothie to be effective for weight loss, you must take it immediately its ready, no procrastinating or worse refrigeration! This will ensure that the essential nutrients are immediately available to the body. You can choose to have a 3,4, or 5-day smoothie cleanse just by replacing a meal with a smoothie and taking a second smoothie as part of another meal. Remember while you are at it, to nix white flour, processed foods, fried foods and confectionary. This way getting rid of toxins will be much easier

If you find the taste of fresh greens unpleasant you can start with spinach or waterleaf. These veggies have no taste or smell and so most likely will not be noticed as you sip your smoothies. You can also sub some of the ingredients with alternatives available in your local markets. For your smoothie to aid weight loss efforts watch out for calorie missiles from toppings, extra helpings of sweet fruits and natural sweeteners like honey and dates. You can also create smoothie bowls! Just prepare your smoothies, pour into a bowl, add your choice of nutty toppings and eat with a spoon

Remember to thoroughly check and wash your produce to eliminate pesticides, worms, insects and dirt. If your blender cannot crush ice, just pre-chill your ingredients and use cold water instead

ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENTS

You can substitute any of ingredients listed in the recipes below. Just check to be sure you’ll like it. I don’t know about you but I’m not spending my cash on some fancy vegetable only to discard the smoothie ‘cos it tastes or smells funny.

MILK(UNSWEETENED)……………………………Almond/Tiger nut/Coconut milk/ Plain or Greek Yoghurt

LEAFY GREENS………………..Waterleaf/Spinach/ Pumpkin/ Garden Egg/Celery/Parsley/Carrot/Beet

NUTS & SEEDS (IF USING)……………Cashews/Almond/ Pumpkin/Peanuts*

WATER………………………………………Coconut Water/Fresh Juices/Coldwater/Cooled Green Tea/Ice

GRAINS………………………………………Acha/Quinoa/Oat

*Peanuts: Allergen Alert. Can be eliminated from the recipe

MILKY GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients

• Small Handful of fresh Waterleaves
• Small handful of Ugu (pumpkin) leaves
• 2 tablespoon rolled oat
• I cup coconut milk
• I small green apple cored, seeds removed and flesh chopped into small bits
• I teaspoon of toasted Acha grains
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:2

PROTEIN CLUB

EGG PINEAPPLE AND GREEK YOGHURT COMBO

• 1 hardboiled egg
• 1 Small ripe Banana
• 1 cup Greek yoghurt
• 2 Tablespoons oat
• 1 tablespoon Acha
• Juice from 1 Lime halved
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:2

TIGER-NUT MILK, PINEAPPLE AND GARDEN EGG LEAVES COMBO

• 1 cup fresh tigernut milk
• Cup pineapple
• A Handful of garden egg leaves
• 1 medium ripe Avocado
• ½ inch fresh ginger
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:2

LA CLARET

BEETROOT, CARROT, AND GINGER COMBO

• 1 Cup Beetroot
• 1 Cup grated carrot
• 1 cup watermelon
• 2 Inch ginger root
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:3

ENERGY REBOOT

COCONUT MILK BANANA, ORANGE, MANGO, PINEAPPLE

• 1 Cup Orange
• 1 Cup Pawpaw
• 1 Cup Pineapple
• 1 Cup Grated Coconut
• 1 Cup Mango
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:3

VITAL SPARK

AVOCADO, WATERLEAF, PINEAPPLE, GINGER, GREEN BEANS

• 1 small ripe Avocado
• Handful of waterleaf
• 1 cup pineapple
• 2-inch ginger root
• 12 strings of green beans
• ½ Cup ice (if using)

Servings:2

Do try any of these smoothies and let us know what you think! Have a recipe? please share it with us here.