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Weight loss smoothies made with low-calorie greens and nutrient-dense fruits can jumpstart metabolism and support fat loss, aka: burn fat. I discovered this first-hand after having two kids back-to-back, when stress eating Goldfish and complete exhaustion made losing weight feel impossible.
Instead of my usual bagel and cream cheese, I started blending a smoothie each morning. The natural energy boost gave me motivation to start working out, and within just a week, I began to see results. Some days I even swapped in a second smoothie as a meal replacement—because it tasted so good! Plus, I felt energized, and the scale kept moving in the right direction.
Table of contents
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. Here’s why they work:
- 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.
Free 5-Day Smoothie Plan
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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
Certain food combinations can help burn belly fat and lead to overall weight loss. I try to use these combinations in my fat-burning smoothies recipes to get the best weight loss results.
- Green apple + 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 + 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 + 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 + almonds: Packed with flavanols, cacao can prevent people from gaining weight, according to a study published in BMJ, and may increase energy expenditure.
- Oats + 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.
10 Smoothies for Weight Loss
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
Blend the best green smoothie for weight loss, thanks to some serious metabolism-boosting nutrition with kale, 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 low-sugar peaches and you’ve got yourself a high-protein breakfast.
Apple Celery Smoothie
275 calories | 19 g fiber
This weight loss 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 support weight loss.
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.
How to Make a Fat-Burning Green Smoothie
I’ve tried so many fat-burning smoothies, and while I love a lot of them, the one I’ve included below is hands-down my favorite. It’s packed with metabolism-boosting greens, fiber, and 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.
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 tablespoon 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.
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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.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!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!
Can you add protein powder to give it more protein
Definitely 🙂
Is it best to drink the smoothie for breakfast or lunch?
Hey Margarita! Either one works, it’s really what’s going to be best for you and your schedule. 🙂
hi.. i have a lot of energy so i wont use the green tea i dont do anything with caffeine in it.. aslso do i need to use the avacardo? or can i use something else… last question is im trying to lose 40 pounds i just started back doing light work out i have to be careful i just had a baby and get cut will this work?
Michalia, you can sub banana for avocado but doing that will give the smoothie a higher sugar content. If you are trying to lose baby weight, you do need to be careful and I’d suggest speaking with your healthcare provider and/or a nutritionist. 🙂
thank you for this recipe it helped a lot
You’re welcome! 🙂
We tried it today, its fantastic. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Nora!
Can you replace celery with cucumber?
You can!
Great recipe
Thanks, Audrey 🙂
Is there any substitute for baby spinach as it isnt found in my area? Love this recipe though
Hi, is there a substitute for mint? I can’t seem to find any around me.
Hey Muskan, you can sub parsley for mint or leave it out if you can’t find/don’t like parsley.
Nui, you can use regular spinach, baby kale or kale. If you can’t find those, really any leafy green will work.
Does this smoothie have a noticeable celery taste? I am completely turned off from celery, cannot stand the taste but really want to try this! Is there a substitute you recommend?
You will taste the celery a little in this one. You could try using cucumber instead. 🙂
I will like to lose weight
Including a green smoothie in your daily diet is a great start! 🙂
How would you best describe the taste of the smoothie? I love drinking smoothies for breakfast on the days that I have to be to work at 7am, but I have a hard time dealing with the taste of some of them
To me, it’s a pretty green tasting smoothie with a bit of citrus from the grapefruit. Everyone’s tastes are different, though. You could make this in the afternoon or evening one day to see what you think of it and then decide if it’s something you want to drink super early in the mornings.
Is there something I could substitute the green tea with? My body rejects anything caffeinated ?
You can use plain water or coconut water, if you like.
Sounds Good looks Good going to start today . From looking at the smoothie well blended I’m sure to try it and continue to see results as the time go by .
Hello I am a 68 year old Male I have a signal blinder would I use the same amount to make my smoothie
Hi Wayne! Welcome. 🙂 Yes, this recipe is for one smoothie so you would make it as is. Make sure to blend the spinach, mint, celery, and green tea first and then add the remaining ingredients and blend again.
Is there a limitation to doing this. I mean if I do this everyday how long do you recommend using this. Some smoothie recipes say to do it for a certain amount of time and then give it a break then cycle
Hey Jim, there’s no limitation. You can have one of these every day if you like. Because our smoothie recipes contain whole fruits and veggies, there is no need to cycle on and off. However, you may get tired of the same smoothie every single day. I encourage you to check out the recipe section on our website, there are tons of delicious green smoothie recipes.
I tried this smoothie the other day and I love it!! I make it with cold brewed Matcha Mojito tea (green tea with mint and matcha) and today I even added some kale to it! So refreshing and delicious! Thanks for this recipe! 🙂
Those sound like great additions!
What is the best one or way I drives a mail truck an i b going out on my routs and I leaves early in the morning so on the way back I loose energy so what kind of energy shake that helped me lose weight an keep my energy
Hi Earnest! First of all, thank you for being an essential worker and continuing to bring folks their mail during the pandemic. We appreciate you! 🙂
If you start drinking a green smoothie each day, regardless of which one you drink, I think you’ll find you have more energy and you may lose some weight, as well. It will also help your immune system stay strong, which is more important now than ever. That said, a few smoothie ingredients that will give you natural energy are bananas, berries, citrus fruits, spinach, kale, nuts, ginger, chia seeds, and green tea. If you go to our recipe page and type “energy” in the search bar, you can find some great smoothie recipes that will provide you with lots of good energy. So you can make a smoothie and take it with you on your mail routes. You can even make it the night before, just keep it in the fridge in an airtight container and give it a shake before you drink it the next day. Then I think you won’t feel like you’re out of energy on the way back from your routes. Happy blending! 🙂