Eating is important, but we don't only eat when we're hungry. Have you ever eaten because you were bored? C’mon, you can raise your hand. I know I’m guilty, and my clients tell me it’s a real struggle for them, too.

When they have a strong craving for something, it can cause them to overeat, and then they’re dragging for the rest of the day. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There is a solution, and it doesn’t involve the crazy rules of a restricted diet! What’s this little secret you ask? It’s my FreshFitnFIVE.

My FreshFitnFIVE

The FreshFitnFIVE is a fun concept I put together to help my friends, clients, and you create balanced meals and smoothies. It’s a simple, practical way to make sure that what you’re eating is not only packed with nutrition but is also balanced with those nutrients that help curb cravings while keeping you energized.

How do you do that? By honoring your hunger hormones. Your hunger hormones control your appetite, whether you feel hungry or full. But your hunger hormones can get out of whack when you don’t eat balanced meals and end up with an unbalanced blood sugar level. This can cause anyone to overeat.

Instead of trying to find the “willpower to stop eating,” focus on the #FreshFitnFIVE to balance your meals and snacks, balance your blood sugar level, and as a result, keep those hunger hormones happy and working correctly!

The #FreshFitnFIVE

  1. Protein: Adequate protein intake in our daily diet is super important not only for adding lean muscle, but for maintaining important processes in your body (including your metabolism!).
  2. Healthy Fats: Fat doesn’t make you fat. Healthy fats are essential for hormone balance and protecting vital organs. Healthy fats also transport the fat-soluble vitamins in the body.
  3. Smart Carbs: Carbs are not your enemy. I repeat, they are not your enemy! Like fats, it’s the type of carbohydrates you consume that matter. Exchange processed and refined carbs for more whole, nutrient-dense ones, and pair them with a healthy fat or protein to slow their breakdown and digestion! Doing this can also keep your blood sugar from spiking.
  4. Fiber: Who doesn’t want to stay regular? Fiber adds bulk and volume to a meal, helping you feel full by stretching your stomach lining, which helps stop the release of the hunger hormone ghrelin.
  5. Boosts: Healthy eating shouldn’t just feel good, it should also taste good. So, add your favorite Thorne powder!

One of the benefits of the FreshFitnFIVE? It’s very versatile! You can use this basic formula as your guide:

FreshFitnFIVE Healthy Smoothie Formula

One serving // Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Choose a carbohydrate:

  • 1 cup frozen banana
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1 cup frozen mixed berries

Choose a healthy fat:

  • 1 tablespoon nut butter
  • ¼ of an avocado
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1-2 tablespoons flaxseeds
  • 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

Choose a protein:

Choose a fiber:

Choose your favorite powdered supplement (depending on your health needs and time of day):

Choose a liquid:

  • 1-1½ cups of unsweetened almond or other nut milk
  • 1-1½ cups of coconut milk or coconut water
  • 1-1½ cups of water

Directions

  1. Put the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add liquid as needed.
  2. Enjoy!

A word from Thorne

Do you have a great go-to recipe that features a Thorne product? Share it with us on Instagram @thornehealth! For more recipe inspiration, check out these other Take 5 Daily articles: