As I mentioned earlier this week I am eagerly counting down the days to my family beach vacation in… COUNT IT…16 days. In preparation for a special occasion, I often adjust my diet a bit to try and lean up a little more than usual, especially when I plan on living my life in a bikini and not much else. The things I like to adjust include reducing/cutting out dairy, reducing starches/carbs, sticking with lean proteins, and drinking lots and lots of water. Of course these are all principles you should try to practice all the time with your diet, I am especially disciplined with this when I’m looking to slim down a little extra (AKA stay away from pizza/pasta more than I usually would). Another thing I love even when I don’t have bikini bods on the brain is a good smoothie packed full of goodness in liquid form. Today I’m sharing two of my favorites which make for great ways to start your morning or a great meal replacement for lunch/afternoon time.

For someone who has little time to prepare breakfast in the morning and sometimes at lunch as well, these two smoothies are perfect for the on-the-go girl. They are also just plain yummy (and endorsed by my picky hubby) and each one has some great nutritional benefits. I use my nutribullet to make each, and they take approximately two minutes to put together and I’m out the door. If you don’t have a nutribullet, I’d say definitely consider one. I use mine for smoothies, making my own homemade dressings, desserts, and lots more. And no, Nutribullet isn’t paying me to say that 😉 (though I wouldn’t hate it if they would ha). I also use these smoothies as meal replacements sometimes if I’m not starving and can do a lighter lunch, they keep me full for a few hours and just when I start to feel hungry again, I grab one of my favorite protein muffins that gets me through to the gym and dinner.

While I’m making a concerted effort to change up my diet a bit for the beach, I want you to understand that this is NOT me advocated crash dieting. I try to eat healthy all the time in my life and stay mostly balanced. When you are conscious and healthy with what you are eating, crash dieting is not necessary and it’s also just NOT good. In my opinion you should live your life in a way that crash dieting isn’t needed because honestly it does not work. It only messes up your metabolism with the weirdness that you are trying, and makes you feel bad when you haven’t met your expectations in the two days you gave yourself to drop ten pounds!

The variety of both of these smoothies is great  so you can switch it up and keep things interesting or fill whatever craving you are having. The green one is sweet but definitely still tastes fresh and healthy and gets in lots of good fruits and veggies. The cream one is………..well it tastes like dessert and is ridiculously yummy so if you are curbing a sweet tooth or just not feeling the green machine in the morning definitely go with this option.

 

Do you have an easy go-to smoothie recipe or something else you do when getting ready for a beach vacay? Comment below, I’d love to get more ideas!

 

XOXO,

 JESS

 

LEAN GREEN & PEANUT BUTTER DREAM SMOOTHIES

INGREDIENTS

LEAN GREEN SMOOTHIE

• Handful of frozen pineapple chunks
• Handful of frozen mango
• 1 banana
• Handful of kale (fresh or frozen)
• 4 slices Cucumber
• 2 small celery sticks
• 1 scoop of protein powder (optional)
• 1 cup water

PEANUT BUTTER DREAM SMOOTHIE

• 1 banana
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter (I use organic no sugar added)
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 2 cups almond milk (I use no flavor just original)
• Handful of ice

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR BOTH

1. Put all ingredients into the nutribullet
2. Blend for about 1 minute or until smooth
3. Put on a top and straw and get out the door bc GIRL YOU’VE GOT THINGS TO DO 😉