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blog-cookingNutrition7-Day Smoothie Diet Review with Recipes

7-Day Smoothie Diet Review with Recipes

8 mins read
Ievgeniia Dobrynina
Fact checked by Ievgeniia Dobrynina
Ievgeniia Dobrynina

Fact checked by Ievgeniia Dobrynina

Ievgeniia Dobrynina is the Head of Nutrition and a fact checker at Unimeal.

The Unimeal team works to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information. All texts are reviewed by a panel of experts and editors and updated according to the latest research. Only evidenced-based and verified sources of leading medical publications and universities get into the article materials.
Rashida Ruwa
Written by Rashida Ruwa on November 22, 2022

Smoothies are the perfect way to get your fruit and veggie fix, but what if we told you that they could also help you lose weight? Well, a smoothie diet can be one of the best ways to shed those extra pounds8Frestedt JL, Young LR, Bell M. 2012. Meal Replacement Beverage Twice a Day in Overweight and Obese Adults Curr Nutr Food Sci. DOI:10.2174/157340112803832156..

Table of content

These delicious and nutritious drinks are packed with tons of nutrients and vitamins to keep your metabolism working, giving you energy without adding too many calories to your daily intake9Bates D, Price J. 2015. Impact of Fruit Smoothies on Adolescent Fruit Consumption at School. Health Education & Behavior. DOI:10.1177/1090198114561514.. And if you're worried about flavor, don't be! There are tons of ways to mix up your meal plan without losing out on your favorite fruits and veggies.

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But before you jump on the smoothie bandwagon, it's important to know what you're getting yourself into. So, we’ve rounded up the pros and cons of this popular diet and given you an easy-to-follow 7-day meal prep menu to help you get started on your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

A glass of smoothie with different ingredients besides it that can be used to make a smoothie
A glass of smoothie with different ingredients besides it that can be used to make a smoothie

What is Smoothie Diet

It is a type of diet that involves replacing most or all meals a day with smoothies which are creamy drinks made of fruits or vegetables blended with juice, water, yogurt, or milk. The nutritional and calorie content of the drink depends on what ingredients are used. While some people do this diet for a short period to jumpstart their weight loss, others make it a long-term lifestyle change.

Pros&Cons 

Smoothies are a great way to get a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in one easy package. They're also convenient, delicious, and easy to make, but like anything, there can be pros and cons2Beverly Merz. 2016. Are fresh juice drinks as healthy as they seem? Harvard Health Blog. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fresh-juice-drinks-healthy-seem-2016072910044.

PROSCONS
No calorie countingNot as filling as other diets
Easy to followRestrictive
Works for everyoneCan get boring fast
Cheap and affordableMay be high in sugar
Delicious and nutritiousIncreased risk of nutrient deficiencies
Quick to makeCertain ingredients can be expensive
Great for an active lifestyleMay not provide a lot of fiber
Versatile, i.e., can be made from any combination of ingredientsDon't contain enough fat for sustained energy release

Cautious of smoothie diets 

Smoothie diets are becoming increasingly popular, but they may not be suitable for everyone. We've got a few reasons why you should be cautious of smoothie diets:

Smoothies are not going to fill you up like a meal would1Rogers PJ, Shahrokni R. 2018. A Comparison of the Satiety Effects of a Fruit Smoothie, Its Fresh Fruit Equivalent and Other Drinks. Nutrients. DOI:10.3390/nu10040431., so if you rely on them as your sole source of food, it's easy to overeat and consume more calories than you need in one sitting.

While you may lose weight quickly on a smoothie diet plan, depending on the ingredients some smoothie diets may not contain enough protein or fat to sustain your body long-term.This means you'll need more than fruits and vegetables in order for your body to function properly and help keep your muscles strong and lean.

Keep an eye on your sugar intake. Smoothies are often made with fruit juice or yogurt, which can be high in added sugars.This is a problem because added sugars can contribute to weight gain and are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions2Beverly Merz. 2016. Are fresh juice drinks as healthy as they seem? Harvard Health Blog. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fresh-juice-drinks-healthy-seem-2016072910044

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When you're drinking smoothies all day long, it's easy to miss out on important nutrients like vitamins and proteins, hence increasing your risk of nutrient deficiencies9Bates D, Price J. 2015. Impact of Fruit Smoothies on Adolescent Fruit Consumption at School. Health Education & Behavior. DOI:10.1177/1090198114561514..

Depending on the ingredients used, smoothies may not provide enough fiber, which helps keep you fuller longer. If you're using frozen fruit and juice, it's possible that the smoothie will be lacking in fiber. Adding some oatmeal or nuts can help with this problem.You can get bored of them. Smoothies are great, but they're not always enough to keep you full and satisfied. If you want to keep drinking them every day, try mixing up different fruits and flavors so that your taste buds don't get bored with the same old thing every single day.

Smoothies aren't all bad news though. When done right and in moderation, they can be a great addition to your diet if they include the right nutrients and ingredients.

Some tips on how to start a smoothie diet
Some tips on how to start a smoothie diet

How to start a smoothie diet

There are many things that go into making a smoothie diet work for you, and it's not always easy to figure out where to start. But just like any other diet, there's one thing that will guarantee your success: getting started.

So here are our top tips for making sure you can stick with your smoothie diet through the long haul:

  • Start with simple recipes. You don't need fancy ingredients or expensive kitchen equipment to make delicious smoothies, so don't worry about having all of those things right away. 
  • Start shopping around for ingredients. Take note of what flavors you like, what ingredients are healthy and nutritious, and what other items might make the perfect addition to your smoothie routine.
  • Make sure your blender can handle everything you throw at it. We recommend starting with frozen fruit only if your blender has enough power for it because frozen fruit adds quite a bit of volume to your smoothie mix and can sometimes be too much for weaker blenders.
  • Keep track of what works for you and what doesn't, this will help you figure out what ingredients work best together and how much liquid is right for your taste buds. 
  • Remember that the more color your smoothie has, the more nutrients it will have. This means getting creative with different colored fruits and vegetables.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment. If a recipe calls for something, you don't have on hand, just substitute something else. The key is that the flavor profile works together in harmony you don't need every ingredient in there to make it work out well.

7-day Smoothie Diet Plan

Here’s 7-day plan for you. Just click on each name of the smoothie to get full recipe!

Monday

Breakfast: Orange Dream Smoothie

Lunch: Chocolate coconut banana smoothie

Dinner: Berry Blend Smoothie

A monday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A monday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Tuesday

Breakfast: Banana Berry Green Smoothie

Lunch: Mango Madness Smoothie

Dinner: Raspberry peach smoothie

A Tuesday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Tuesday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wednesday

Breakfast: Banana, Blueberry, and Almond Smoothie

Lunch: Tropical Green Smoothie

Dinner: Apple Pie Smoothie

A Wednesday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Wednesday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Thursday

Breakfast: Tropical Smoothie

Lunch: Green Veggie Smoothie

Dinner: Pear cardamom oats smoothie

A Thursday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Thursday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Friday

Breakfast: Peanut Butter, Banana, and Cinnamon Smoothie

Lunch: Dragon fruit smoothie 

Dinner: Berry cauliflower smoothie

A Friday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Friday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Saturday

Breakfast: Chocolate Banana Smoothie

Lunch: Green Goddess Smoothie

Dinner: Avocado lime smoothie

A Saturday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Saturday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Sunday

Breakfast: Blueberry Smoothie

Lunch: Pineapple-Mango Smoothie

Dinner: Strawberry, Banana & Kale Smoothie

A Sunday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner
A Sunday smoothie diet plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner

What to put in smoothie for weight loss

Here are some ingredients you can add to your smoothies that will help you burn fat faster:

FAQ

How much weight can you lose on a smoothie diet

The answer depends on a few factors: your starting weight, how long you stick with the diet, what kind of smoothies you drink, and your current fitness level.

How long can you do a smoothie diet

You can do a smoothie diet for as long as you want, but it's important to make sure that your smoothies are nutrient-dense and that you're getting enough calories and protein.

What is the green smoothie diet

It is a low-calorie and low-fat diet that involves consuming a large amount of fruits and vegetables daily. The goal is to reduce calories and lose weight.

Conclusion

Smoothies are the perfect way to get your daily dose of fruit and vegetables. They’re also a great way for you to sneak in some extra nutrients that you might not be getting from other foods. If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, smoothies are also a great option and the best part is they can be enjoyed by anyone and they’re easy to make. 

Unimeal does not diagnose or suggest treatments. Any description of the diet, training plan or supplement should be discussed with your current physician or nutritionist. This article does not address specific conditions and is simply meant to provide general information on healthcare topics. Following any advice is at your own initiative and does not impose any responsibility on the blog authors for your health and safety.

Sources:

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By choosing high-quality sources, we make sure that all articles on the Unimeal blog are reliable and trustworthy. Learn more about our editorial processes.

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Beverly Merz. 2016. Are fresh juice drinks as healthy as they seem? Harvard Health Blog. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fresh-juice-drinks-healthy-seem-2016072910044

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Heskey C, Oda K, Sabaté J. 2019. Avocado Intake, and Longitudinal Weight and Body Mass Index Changes in an Adult Cohort. Nutrients. DOI:10.3390/nu11030691.

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Frestedt JL, Young LR, Bell M. 2012. Meal Replacement Beverage Twice a Day in Overweight and Obese Adults Curr Nutr Food Sci. DOI:10.2174/157340112803832156.

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Bates D, Price J. 2015. Impact of Fruit Smoothies on Adolescent Fruit Consumption at School. Health Education & Behavior. DOI:10.1177/1090198114561514.