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Weight loss smoothies, especially those featuring low-calorie greens and nutrient dense ingredients, are scientifically proven to boost metabolism and burn fat for a leaner body. My own experience with fat-burning smoothies began after having two kids back to back. I struggled to lose weight due to stress eating and fatigue and decided to overhaul my breakfast.
I replaced my bagel and cream cheese breakfast with a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich smoothie to get natural energy boost that motivated me to exercise. In just one week of having a fat-burning smoothie each day— I saw encouraging results. Some days, I’d have two smoothies as a meal replacement because I loved the flavors, how I felt and seeing the weight loss on the scale. I’ve used scientifically proven ingredients in each smoothie recipe to decrease body fat and reveal a healthier and leaner body.
Why Smoothies Help You Lose Weight
Smoothies can be a great tool for weight loss due to their versatility and nutritional density. There’s no easier way to pack in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources, which can help you feel full and satisfied while reducing your overall calorie intake. Smoothies can be a simple meal replacement on a busy day, helping to avoid less healthy, on-the-go choices. Here’s a few tips when making smoothies to help you lose weight:
- Fiber keeps you full: Blend a variety of fruits (banana, strawberries, oranges) and leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard) together to create a high-fiber drink that’ll keep you full and satisfied. Check out my leafy greens guide.
- Simple portion control: Measure out the ingredients before you add to the blender to make portion control easy.
- Proper hydration curbs false hunger cues: Use 1 cup of liquid (almond milk, water, coconut water) to hydrate your cells, curb hunger, and help your body function properly.
- Ideal meal replacement: Use a combination of plant-based protein (chia seeds, protein powder, etc) and healthy fats (superfoods, nut butter, coconut milk) to create an ideal meal replacement.
- Burns fat: Use ingredients, like green tea and grapefruit, that are packed with nutrients and scientifically proven to burn fat.
I started having this fat-burning smoothie for breakfast every day. I was never hungry, thanks to all the fiber. It took five minutes a day. And I loved how it tasted. I became obsessed with the healthiest smoothies to lose weight (that’s what led to me becoming a food blogger). Now I get to show you how to blend my favorite smoothie recipes for weight loss to help you achieve your goals.
Sign up for my free Smoothie Challenge to get a 5-day smoothie plan, grocery list and tasty smoothie recipes to support your weight loss goals. If you wanna go even farther, join my 21-Day Plant-Based Cleanse.
What to Put in Smoothies for Weight Loss
Focus on blending ingredients for your fat-burning smoothies that are scientifically proven to burn fat and boost metabolism, which leads to weight loss. It’s important that the calories we consume are quality calories, especially if we’re trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or improve our overall health.
ingredients proven to burn belly fat
- Soluble fiber: Soluble fiber, found in fruits, vegetables, oats and legumes, absorbs water and forms a gel that helps slow down food as it passes through your digestive system. This helps keep you full, so you naturally eat less. Huge plus!
- High-protein: Observational studies show that people who eat more protein tend to have less abdominal fat than those who eat a lower-protein diet. Adding a plant-based protein powder or unsweetened Greek yogurt to your smoothies can be a great way to do this. If you’re doing HIIT workouts, using smoothies as a post-workout protein weight loss shake is highly effective in burning belly fat and promoting muscle recovery.
- Low-sugar foods: Using fruit as your natural sweeter is a great way to cut down on sugar (and avoid the highly processed refined sugars which contribute to belly fat). Using a combination of natural sugars and high fiber foods helps stabilize your blood sugar levels, which helps with weight control.
- Green tea: Using chilled green tea as your smoothie base can help boost your metabolism and energy levels, thanks to the natural caffeine and antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate. According to one 10-year study, people who drink green tea regularly have nearly 20 percent less body fat than those who don’t. EGCG, the unique ingredient in green tea, can deactivate the genetic triggers for diabetes and obesity.
ingredients to avoid when trying to lose weight
- Fruit juice: Avoid using any kind of fruit juice in your smoothie because it adds extra sugars without the nutrients found in whole fruits. It’s much better to blend an apple than to add apple juice to your smoothies for weight loss when trying to lose weight.
- Dairy: Milk, yogurt, and protein powders that contain dairy can cause inflammation in the body… making it harder to lose weight and burn fat. We avoid these in all of these recipes.
- Added sweeteners: Avoid honey, maple syrup, sugar, monk fruit, and stevia in your smoothies because they are high in calories and low in nutrients. Plus, they can spike your blood sugar levels and train your taste buds to crave high-sugar foods throughout the day.
Fat-Burning Ingredient Combinations
According to scientific studies, there’s certain food combinations that can help burn belly fat and lead to overall weight loss. We use these combinations in our healthy fat-burning smoothies recipes to get the best weight loss results.
- Green apple and nut butter: Apples are chock-full of fiber, a nutrient that can help reduce visceral fat, while nut butter adds healthy fats that keep you feeling full and support vitamin absorption.
- Avocados and kale: This leafy green can help you slim down by filling you up and giving you a healthy dose of vitamins K and A.
- Green tea and grapefruit: Blend grapefruit into your smoothie along with chilled green tea, which contains pectin and polyphenols. Both of these have been proven to help people feel fuller and lose weight, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Food.
- Cacao and almonds: Packed with flavanols, cacao can prevent people from gaining weight, according to a study published in BMJ, and may increase energy expenditure.
- Oats and blueberries: Oats are high in fiber, helping you stay full. Toss in some berries and it’s a power combo! A study out of the University of Michigan found that rats who had blueberry powder mixed into their meals had less abdominal fat than rats on a berry-free diet after 90 days.
How to Make a Fat-Burning Smoothie
I’ve tried so many fat-burning smoothies, and while I love a lot of them, this one is hands-down my favorite. It’s packed with metabolism-boosting greens, fiber, and fat-burning superfoods that help curb cravings and keep me feeling energized. If you’re looking for a go-to smoothie to support your weight loss journey, this is the one!
- Fill your blender with kale, cucumber, celery, and cooled green tea.
- Puree together until the ingredients reach a smooth consistency.
- Add grapefruit and frozen pineapple. If you want to lower the bitterness of the grapefruit, be sure to remove the inner membrane in addition to the peel. If you can’t tolerate grapefruit, swap with oranges and lemon.
- Blend the ingredients until combined.
- Pour into a glass and serve chilled for the most refreshing taste.
10 Fat-Burning Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss
These fat-burning smoothie recipes for weight loss are low-calorie recipes to nourish your body while boosting the metabolism. I can’t wait for you to see just how tasty and simple weight loss can be with a daily smoothie habit. When you start your day nourishing your body, you begin to crave healthier foods all day long. The more healthy foods we put in our body, the less room there is for junk food. Let’s blend to our health!
Fat Burning Smoothie
Nutrition: 360 calories | 10 g protein
This is the best fat-burning smoothie to lose weight, thanks to some serious metabolism-boosting nutrition with grapefruit, celery, and green tea.
Meal Replacement Smoothie
343 calories | 10 g protein
This high-protein, high-fiber smoothie has oats, almond butter, banana and low-sugar blueberries to keep you full for a very long time. This is truly a filling and satisfying weight loss meal replacement on the go!
Vanilla Matcha Smoothie
370 calories | 17 g protein
This high-protein (thanks to the addition of raw cashews), energy-boosting, fat-burning smoothie will satisfy your sweet tooth and can all be made in under 5 minutes.
Creamy Banana Smoothie
364 calories | 18 g protein
Is it a dessert or a smoothie? This creamy, banana smoothie for weight loss is healthy, tasty and packed with protein thanks to the raw cashews and homemade cashew milk.
Best Green Smoothie
203 calories | 6 g fiber
This is the best green smoothie on the internet (and for good reason). Add a scoop of plant-based protein powder and you’ve got the tastiest weight loss smoothie.
Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie
336 calories | 18 g fiber
Beets are one of the best ingredients to blend when dealing with inflammation, which keeps our bodies from reaching their full potential.
Peanut Butter Smoothie
497 calories | 14 g protein
This yummy chocolate-filled smoothie for weight loss uses frozen bananas with natural energy that help burn fat, too!
Vanilla Bean Yogurt Smoothie
371 calories | 26 g protein
If flavor is your jam, this tart vanilla fat-burning smoothie is what is missing in your life. Pair it with frozen peaches, which are low in sugar, and you’ve got yourself a high-protein smoothie for breakfast.
Apple Celery Smoothie
275 calories | 19 g fiber
The green smoothie is what you’d find celebs sipping at a 5-star wellness resort in Costa Rica. Fresh squeezed lemon juice, low-sugar green apples and fresh ginger root are all included for weight-loss benefits.
PINEAPPLE GINGER SMOOTHIE
296 calories | 8 g protein
If Venus Williams can drink this, we can too. If stronger and leaner is on your health goals, then sip this fresh ginger smoothie blended with naturally sweet pineapple.
Common Questions
Swapping a meal for a smoothie can be a great way to lose weight. You’ll want to make sure your smoothie is packed with fiber, low in sugar, and under 500 calories to help with portion control. Don’t add any sugars or sweeteners and choose a liquid base that is unsweetened. To keep you full, make sure your smoothie has healthy fats and protein to make it a complete meal replacement.
Look for a smoothie recipe that contains grapefruit and green tea to help burn fat. My fat-burning smoothie has these specific fat-loss smoothie ingredients that boost the metabolism, plus healthy fats that are necessary for your body to break down carbs and protein
A good smoothie with protein, healthy fat, and whole-food carbs is a great combo for a healthy snack or meal that can promote weight loss. These weight-loss smoothies contain a variety of spinach, mint, celery, green tea, grapefruit, pineapple, and avocado.
Look for grapefruit, pineapple, mint, celery, leafy greens, and herbs to help burn fat, especially around the belly. Try blending them together into a delicious smoothie to consume them easily and effectively.
The best way to get weight loss results is to be consistent— and a daily meal replacement smoothie is perfect for that. Swap your typical breakfast for a fat-burning smoothie to kick-start your weight loss goals. This high-fiber low-sugar recipe is truly a healthy smoothie in 5 minutes or less.
Juicing and blending can both help with weight loss, yet only one is sustainable for the long run: smoothies. We believe committing to drinking 1-2 fat-burning smoothies as a meal replacement is the most effective way to hit your weight loss goals and maintain them for life.
Yes, fruit smoothies can be great for weight loss when made with whole fruits instead of fruit juices. Whole fruits contain fiber, which helps slow digestion, keeps you full longer, and prevents blood sugar spikes. In contrast, fruit juices strip away fiber, leaving mostly sugar, which can lead to energy crashes and increased hunger. For a weight-loss-friendly smoothie, use whole fruits, balance with protein and healthy fats, and avoid added sugars.
Smoothies that support weight loss are packed with fiber, healthy fats, and metabolism-boosting ingredients. Look for recipes with whole fruits, leafy greens, protein, and ingredients like green tea, grapefruit, and avocado to help burn fat and keep you full. Avoid added sugars and fruit juices, which can spike blood sugar and lead to cravings. Check out my #1 fat-burning smoothie recipe below for a delicious, weight-loss-friendly option!
Let me know which of these fat-burning smoothies for weight loss is your favorite. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.
Fat Burning Smoothie for Weight Loss
Ingredients
- 1 cup kale
- 1 cucumber chopped
- ½ grapefruit peeled and seeded
- ½ cup green tea chilled
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 cup pineapple frozen
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Place kale, cucumber, grapefruit and green tea into blender.
- Puree on high-speed until smooth.
- Add celery and pineapple to blender.
- Blend again on high-speed until everything is pureed.
Equipment
Notes
- Swap grapefruit with 1/2 naval orange and 1/4 lemon wedge.
- The pith and peel of the grapefruit are extremely bitter but are beneficial in small amounts. To lessen the bitterness of the grapefruit, remove the fruit from the inner membranes as well as peel before using.
- Drink 1-2 smoothies a day as meal replacements to get the weight loss benefits you’re looking for.
- Adding homemade protein powder is a great way to add high-quality protein that won’t affect the delicious taste of the smoothie.
I am not a fan of tea, ( I don’t drink tea at all). Are you able to exclude tea?
Green tea provides steady energy and boosts the metabolism so if you leave it out, just know the results from drinking this smoothie will be a little different, but you can def sub filtered water or coconut water.
Thankyou.
Will this also help my diabetes?
Peter, this question is best discussed with your health care provider and/or nutritionist. They can help you with your dietary needs best. 🙂
EXCELLENT INFO! Concise, short & to the Point! Will definitely try! Shopping for ingredients today! Thank You!! Blessings, Clementine.
Thanks for the feedback, Clementine! Give the smoothie a try and let us know how you like it. 🙂
Do you have to use grapefruit
You can sub an orange for the grapefruit.
I’m a young man in my mid 20’s and I’ve been on this green smoothie now for about 4 week and let me tell you Im amazed ! I am a fat kid by heart, but I’m also a gym freak. I keep my same weight never going above or go down. Ever since I’ve been on this green monster of a smoothie I officially have control over my stomach! I’m no longer hungry at 8pm looking threw the fridge to see what I can attack lol
I’ve also lost some of muffin top witch is a big thing for me . With the right amount of nutrition and a great workout routine this smoothie will definitely help you shred that unwanted weight . Thank you And I will defiantly keep this smoothie for years to come !
Awww! Thanks for sharing your results Ulises. Finding a way to fuel your body is key and I love that you’re combining this with a workout routine that makes you feel great. Cheers to your health and lifetime of green smoothies!
That’s great, Ulises! I’m really happy to read about your awesome success story. Keep up the great work and def check out our other plant-based recipes. If you love our green smoothies, I just know you’re going to like some of our other delicious recipes. 😀
yes I need to lose a bit of weight from the belly so I need something that his quick and works I was thinking of carrots juicy
From my experience, sustainable weight loss around the belly comes from diet and exercise. You gotta build up those stomach muscles to burn fat and eat in a way that encourages that as well. This fat-burning smoothie recipe does that and so much more– it’ll boost your immune system and give you energy. I hope you give it a chance. Especially over juicing carrots since that will leave you hungry and is just one food items— it’s not a well rounded balanced meal that your body could really benefit from in the long run.
Hey Bert! I think you’d really like our Simple 7 Green Smoothie Challenge. It’s seven tasty smoothies for seven days (one a day) using just seven simple ingredients. This can work as a great jumping-off point for your journey to eat healthier and in turn, losing some of the belly fat. Please check it out! (p.s. it’s free 🙂 ) Copy + paste this into your browser: simplegreensmoothies.com/challenge
Hi this says serves two and serving size is 16 oz, so does this mean this recipe makes 32 oz? Is the calorie amount then doubled if you drink the entire recipe?
Hey Melissa— we recently adjusted the recipe card to make one serving (instead of 2) and forgot to change it on the nutrition panel. Thanks for the heads up. So yes— this recipe males 16 ounces and that is one serving.
Thank you!! I’ve been drinking and enjoying this smoothie for a week now. My toddler “helps” me make it and gets a little cup of it before I add the matcha powder, he loves it too!
I don’t have mint leaves is that fine?
Yes, if you don’t have mint that’s def ok. If you have parsley, you could add some of that but if you don’t have access to either right now, it’s alright!
Hi, can we have this as a breakfast or after a work out instead? I cant wait to try it thankyou
You can drink this smoothie any time of the day that works for you. 🙂
Is there an alternative to avocado? Thanks
You can sub banana for avocado. 🙂
I have been searching for all sorts of recipes that help with weight loss, but none of them work. If i try this smoothie, will it help me loose weight?
Hey Amaris, this is a fat burning smoothie so it will do what it says. As far as helping you lose weight, I really can’t say. This is something you may want to speak with your healthcare provider and/or a nutritionist about. 🙂
I’ve added this to my home screen
I’m feeling all of this information…lol
Thx
Keep it coming
Thanks Lagail, we will! 🙂
Please can u give me good meal plan because I don’t do exercises and need to loose alot of weight …thank u
Hey Sarah, why don’t you join our Simple 7 Challenge? That would be a good start. 🙂 https://simplegreensmoothies.com/challenge
is there a substitution for pineapples? since I have an allergy from it
Hi Noor! Instead of pineapple, you can use oranges, mangoes or peaches. Happy blending! 🙂
Hi there
I wanted to see what kind of green tea to use ? I have one that is organic it’s oolong green tea
Hi Maria! I think really any green tea will do so def use the one you already have. 🙂
Will anything help me lose weight at 52 years old? Green smoothies almost daily, low carb, walking 4 times a week and barely any sweets. I’m so depressed every time I look in the mirror. I look gross. Bloodwork all normal and I’m at loss as to how to look good again. Can you help
Hey Colette! Sounds like you’re doing a lot of positive things, like drinking your daily green smoothie and getting outside and moving your body. If you feel this just isn’t enough for you, I’d suggest speaking with your healthcare provider, who may be able to offer some good advice and recommendations. And it’s ok to feel upset that you maybe don’t look like you used to but remember to be kind to yourself. We are cheering for you! 🙂
Collete, you seem to be doing right telling from her lab work. From age ,50 weight loss is an uphill task. It could be that Collete has big frame which explains her weight persistence. Please focus on the positive things in you. Compare your photos at different age and appreciate the difference. Ignore negative comments from people. Manage stress well, lastly say positive things to yourself daily . All the best.
I’d recommend adding daily sessions of breathwork which works the whole body and redistributes the energy. This helps detoxify the body and raise metabolism. I recommend the breathwork found in Kundalini yoga.
But I agree with the other two responses, be kind to yourself, stay positive, and take it one day at a time.