7 Reasons Your Smoothie Is Making You Fat

Fiber is as close to the magic pill of weight loss as you're going to get. It's what fills you up to prevent hunger so you end up eating less later on in the day. Fruits do offer fiber but only if you pick the right ones. Bananas are one of the most common smoothie ingredients, but half of one only offers 1.4 grams of fiber. Aim to include at least 10 grams in your smoothie by adding fiber-rich foods such as berries, kale (it has twice as much as spinach), avocado, kiwi, pear, beans, flax meal, chia seeds, and certain plant-based protein powders.

You've not only added spinach to your smoothie, but you threw in some kale as well. Your body will appreciate the nutrients and fiber found in these greens, but they don't offer a ton of the protein needed to sustain your energy to prevent unnecessary snacking on high-calorie pick-me-ups. Aim to include at least 10 grams of protein by throwing in some milk or soy milk (avoid almond milk as one cup only offers one gram), Greek yogurt over regular, cottage cheese, protein powder, soft tofu, beans, nuts, or nut butter. If you need some ideas, check out these five high-protein smoothies.

Sipping on a cold, creamy smoothie made solely from a variety of fruits is much healthier than downing a doughnut, but even though fruits offer fiber and nutrients, they aren't void of calories. Filling your blender with five different fruits could mean 500 or more calories. Since fruits are full of natural sugars, your body will metabolize them quickly, and hunger pangs will kick in within an hour. Avoid this issue by pairing your fruit with a protein source such as milk, soy milk, yogurt, protein powder, soft tofu, beans, nuts, or nut butter.

One tablespoon of honey or maple syrup will tack on over 60 extra calories, which is unnecessary if you're using naturally sweet fruit in your smoothie. But added sweeteners can also be in the form of flavored yogurt, fruit juice, sweetened milks, and canned fruits in syrup. Be mindful of the extra sweetness you're adding, and experiment with using plain yogurt and unsweetened soy or almond milk instead — your taste buds will soon prefer the subtly sweet.

Unfortunately, just because a food is nutritious doesn't mean it's low in calories. Certain foods such as avocados, dates, nuts, nut butters, whole milk yogurt, sweetened milks, fresh-pressed juices, oats, and even fruits like apples, pears, mangoes, cherries, and bananas can tack on a hundred calories each. Don't shy away from these good-for-you ingredients — just use small amounts.