I have been looking into juicing and green smoothies. There seems to be a significant amount of calories in the green smoothies. The juice book did not contain the calorie amount. Is it safe to substitute two meals a day with either the juice or green smoothie? –Tina M.
Your safety is secure as long as your digestive system has adjusted to that volume and you replace (or come close to replacing) calories and nutrients you’d otherwise eat in a meal. When replacing a whole meal that’s normally 500 calories or more, you’ll need a decent amount of energy in a drink (of any kind) to prevent your appetite from leading you astray.
What we worry about when it comes to calories in a smoothie or juice is the amount that come from sugar, rather than energy-sustaining complex carbohydrates. One way to assure a lower sugar (and nutrient-rich) blend is to incorporate a ratio of 3 vegetables to 1 fruit. Also, consider adding plain Greek yogurt, ground flax, chia seeds, rolled oats or avocado for a satisfying smoothie.
Read our article on juicing by clicking HERE.
– Debbie J., MS, RD
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