Smoothie recipes to kick-start your summer diet

Summer has come all too quickly and if you’re looking for a quick, healthy diet with long-term results, Dr Caroline Apovian, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Diet, offers a plan for overnight diet results that last, perfect for adding to your summer diet plan. By creating a weekly programme of a 1-Day Power Up and 6-Day Fuel Up, Dr Apovian has provided a hybrid diet designed to maintain muscle while losing excess fat. The perfect solution if you are worried about getting beach-ready fast.

Here are a few smoothie recipes to get you started for your 1-Day Power Up, which promotes fat-burning and contributes to the production of lean muscle.

MORNING SUNSHINE

Nothing says ‘good morning’ like sunshine. Sweetness pulsates from prunes, mango and banana. You can have your morning sunshine any time of day – for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Protein: 1 scoop protein powder

5 stoned prunes

½ banana, sliced

165g mango, peeled and diced

2 handfuls of spinach

Put all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

KALE MARGARITA

There’s nothing like a margarita to make your day. Bitter kale, sweet mango and succulent coconut water make up for the lack of tequila.

Protein: 1 scoop protein powder

2–3 handfuls chopped and stemmed kale

325g mango, peeled, stoned and cubed

360ml prepared margarita mix (such as Jose Cuervo brand)

120–175ml coconut water, as needed 1 handful of ice cubes

Put all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

SPICY FIRST DATES

In the mood for a hint of spice? Savour sweetly delicious, decidedly exotic dates enveloped in the intoxicating scent of vanilla along with overtones of ginger, cloves and chilli.

Protein: 250g fat-free Greek yogurt

4 stoned dried dates

1 banana, sliced

250ml skimmed milk

½ tsp vanilla extract

½–1 tsp cinnamon, to taste

a pinch each of ground ginger, ground cloves, freshly grated nutmeg, chilli powder and chilli pepper 1 handful of ice cubes

Put all the ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

For over 25 years Dr Caroline Apovian has been one of the world’s premier weight-loss experts. She has also distinguished herself as a leading researcher, treatment provider and teacher while also working as Director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at the world-renowned Boston Medical Center and as a former nutrition consultant to NASA. Dr Apovian has contributed to and edited many medical journals, including Obesity and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. She is also a weight-loss columnist for EverydayHealth.com, author of the New York Times bestseller The Alli Diet Plan and lectures worldwide on weight loss and health.