As a total smoothie convert, I’ve done a lot of research about the best time to drink your smoothie. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel a bit guilty if I don’t do my morning smoothie. It’s kind of like working out…I might not feel as good if I skip. But I don’t always feel like slurping a giant ice-filled smoothie – particularly in the cooler months. I also don’t love a huge smoothie swishing around in my belly before going leaping up and down on my rebounder! So the question is: Is there a better time to have my smoothie? And if I skip it in the morning, what about a dinner smoothie?
MORNING
The best time to have a smoothie is truly in the morning either at least 1 hour before your workout, or directly after your session. The reason is because if you are filling it with protein powder and nutrients, you want them to fuel your day. The other brilliant thing about a morning smoothie is that it can serve as a breakfast replacement for those of us who either don’t have the time or appetite for a sit-down breakfast.
If I am skipping my breakfast in place of a smoothie, I like to add some of the following ingredients to make it more breakfasty:
- 2 tbsp organic rolled oats
- 2 tbsp ground flax
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds
- 1/2 cup of goat or coconut yogurt
LUNCH
You totally could do a lunchtime smoothie, but I like to chew instead of slurp at lunchtime. This is the meal where I get all my raw veggies in, and I like texture, particularly crunchiness. This is why a juice or smoothie cleanse has never appealed to me – I detest the idea of a wholly liquid diet.
I prefer a juice (in place of a smoothie) if I’m feeling uber healthy at lunch, but this is alongside my actual lunch. Here’s my favorite ingredients for my lunchtime juice:
- Spinach
- Romaine
- Dandelion greens (great for liver cleansing)
- Apple
- Lemon
- Ginger
DINNER
I don’t recommend drinking a massive smoothie at dinner, unless you are in a crazy rush and it’s the only healthy thing you can find. If you do decide to have a juice or smoothie at dinnertime, make sure it is extremely low in sugar (skip the fruit), and you don’t need much protein in it, unless you’re training for a marathon.
When do you drink your daily smoothie?
