• Measure ingredients! While you are in Step 1 you still need to be careful with calories. Just because you are adding in healthy foods doesn't mean smoothies will be calorie free. 
• For liquids use only one half cup of unsweetened almond milk and/or Mori-Nu Plain Silken soft tofu works. Tofu will take on the flavor of the other ingredients and will give you added protein. Add the calories for the tofu.
• For sweetness use only approved sweeteners, like stevia or Truvia.
• For liquids avoid Coconut milk, it is usually too high in fat for our current diet plan. Do not use fruit juices as they are just like adding liquid sugar! (Use extracts or fruit zests instead for the flavor.) Again use the unsweetened almond milk and water.
• A little non fat plain Greek yogurt is acceptable for thickening. You can also use xanthan gum or guar gum to thicken your shakes if needed (1/4 a teaspoon per serving; if you use too much it can become gummy; available usually in the cooking sections of better grocery stores or health food stores). These are vegetable fibers and are low in calories yet will add some nice thickness without calories. Save flax and chia for Step 3. They can be too high in fat. 
• "Green" smoothies are great but kale can be overpowering. Try cooked kale (it removes some of the bitterness) in small amounts of just use spinach to start with. Remember these vegetables still count as one of your vegetable servings.
• Use only approved powdered peanut butter (use PBfit or PB2 Plantation peanut butter as they are pure protein powder without the fat). Most traditional peanut butters still have hydrogenated fats (the unhealthy trans fats) and added sugar.
• Always add CMWM protein powder into any smoothie recipe to avoid blood sugar spikes when using fruits in your smoothies.
• Try some of the smoothie recipes at your clinic as everything is already measured out and counted for you!

Does celebrating Cinco de Mayo next week make you think of Mexican food like enchiladas, tortillas and margaritas? – it's not exactly a low carb eating fiesta, is it?