5 Simple Green Smoothies That Boost Energy And Help You Lose Weight

Days are shorter, to-do lists are longer, and there seems to be a tray of baked goods around every corner—if that's not a recipe for an expanding waistline, we're not sure what is. But even though we condone a few festive treats now and then, 'tis not the season to hide your scale and hope for the best. You're more than capable of staying healthy, strong, and energized through the holidays. You just might need a little help. Enter these 5 awesome energy- and metabolism-revving weight loss smoothies that will deliver major nutrition and help you keep the sugar cookie consumption to a minimum.

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Reprinted from Simple Green Smoothies by Jen Hansard & Jadah Sellner. Copyright (c) 2015 by Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner. By permission of Rodale Books. Available wherever books are sold.

The sweetness of peaches makes this recipe the perfect kick-start to an action-packed morning! The dash of ground red pepper helps boost your metabolism and increase blood circulation, while the ginger gets your blood flowing, which will give you a feeling of having more energy.

SERVES: 2

2 c Swiss chard, stems removed
2 c unsweetened coconut water
2 c sliced peaches (or frozen) 
1 green apple, halved and cored
¼ c chopped avocado 
1 piece (½") fresh ginger, peeled
Juice of ½ lime
Dash of ground red pepper (optional)

1. BLEND the Swiss chard and coconut water until smooth.
2. ADD the peaches, apple, avocado, ginger, lime juice, and ground red pepper (if using) and blend again.

Postworkout is a great time to get some rawkin' kale power into your system! This dark leafy green is good for hair, nails, and bone health, and it provides protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Adding that all-important protein, in the form of almond butter here, will get you refueled and recharged for your next workout.

SERVES: 2 

2 c kale, stems removed
2 c water
1 c fresh or frozen blueberries 
1 c chopped fresh or frozen pineapple 
1 banana
2 Tbsp almond butter

1. BLEND the kale and water until smooth.
2. ADD the blueberries, pineapple, banana, and almond butter and blend again.

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This blend combines the protein and fiber in hemp hearts, the sweetness of pineapple, and the nutrients from sweet potato (healthy carbs, fiber, vitamin E, and potassium) that aid in quick recovery to give you a complete postworkout meal. You can leave the skin on your sweet potato for extra fiber.

SERVES: 2

2 c spinach
2 c unsweetened coconut milk
1 orange, peeled
1 c cooked sweet potato, chilled
1 c chopped fresh or frozen pineapple 
2 Tbsp hemp hearts
1 piece (½") fresh ginger, peeled
Juice of ½ lime

1. BLEND the spinach and coconut milk until smooth.
2. ADD the orange, sweet potato, pineapple, hemp hearts, ginger, and lime juice and blend again.

Tip: Use at least one frozen fruit to make the smoothie colder.

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Lean, green fighting machine! Cucumber has a high water content and actually cools the body down, making this recipe cleansing and hydrating. 

SERVES: 2

2 c kale, stems removed
1 c peeled and chopped cucumber
1 c water
1 orange, peeled
1 ripe pear, halved and cored 
1 whole lime, peeled

1. BLEND the kale, cucumber, and water until smooth.
2. ADD the orange, pear, and lime and blend again.

Tip: Want less of a lime taste? Use the juice of just 1 lime.

Parsley is great for supporting your body in pushing out the toxins! There are three main filters in the body—the bladder, kidneys, and liver—and parsley is here to assist them all in the detoxification process. Plus, you get a plant-based protein boost with the hemp hearts and a sweet metabolism boost with the cinnamon.

SERVES: 2

2 c spinach
¼ c parsley
2 c water
2 c fresh or frozen strawberries  
1 c sliced peaches 
1 piece (¼") fresh ginger, peeled
2 Tbsp hemp hearts
1 tsp ground cinnamon

1. BLEND the spinach, parsley, and water until smooth.
2. ADD the strawberries, peaches, ginger, hemp hearts, and cinnamon and blend again.