Weight loss tip: Skip ordering a smoothie

Weight loss tip 133 - Skip ordering a smoothieWeight loss tip 133 - Skip ordering a smoothie

Avoid restaurant and store made juice smoothies.

Weight loss tip 133 - Skip ordering a smoothie

Weight loss tip 133 – Skip ordering a smoothie

Fresh Organic Green Smoothie

Fresh Organic Green Smoothie

What could be unhealthy about drinking smoothies?  They are fruit and juice, so they have to be healthy, right? When people think about smoothies, they assume they are healthy and will boost their weight loss.  It has to be true because many of these cleanse diets have smoothies and juice as a cornerstone of their dietary intake.  The problem is that many grocery stores, restaurant, and smoothie chain products are low in fiber and high in sugar.  Throwing the words organic and natural on the box will not limit the terrible effects these babies have on your waistline.  

I acknowledge the serving sizes are different.  You could divide the commercially produced smoothie.

Retail smoothies and healthier alternatives:

Smoothie Healthier Alternatives
Orange Dream Machine Smoothie: This smoothie by Jamba Juice is one of the worst I have seen.  Each large serving has 590 calories and 120 grams of-of sugar.  Top that off with only 1 gram of fiber.     Orange Creamsicle Smoothie:  This recipe is a smoothie that is as creamy and delicious and a sixth the sugar.  You will save 200 calories (394) and take in 10 times as much fiber.  
Peanut Power Plus Strawberry: This smoothie by Smoothie King is delicious, but it is terrible for you.  A single smoothie has 92 grams of sugar and over 650 calories.  Even the skinny version has 490 calories per serving.  At least it has 7 grams of fiber per serving.   Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie: This recipe is a much better option.  It has 262 calories per serving with 6 grams of fiber and only 17 grams of sugar.  All this and it is delicious.

Very Berry: This smoothie by Smoothie Factory is one of the better ones I have seen at a chain, but it still packs in 43 grams of sugar and 370 calories.  Sure, it is delicious, but at what cost.  To its credit, it has 5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein.   It could be a good breakfast, but you can do much better.  

Maqui Pluot Raspberry Smoothie: This recipe you can make at home will save you some cash and calories.  It packs in the fiber with 18 grams and only has 182 calories and 15 grams of sugar.    

Mango Magic: This smoothie by Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a not a terrible if you look at just calories, but the caloric distribution is terrible.  A single serving has 400 calories with 44 grams of sugar and only 3 grams of protein.  It is fiber risk with 11 grams.  With so little protein, it is not a great breakfast.    

Mango Orange Smoothie: This recipe is a much better choice, and you can make it at home.  For a serving, you will only take in 227 calories with 18 grams of protein, 35 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of fiber.  

I only gave a few of examples, but no matter whether you buy a kit from the freezer section or a smoothie from a smoothie chain or coffee house, they all have way too many calories and sugars.   If it’s convenience that you want, I recommend that you make your own smoothie packs and freeze them for future use.  I  love smoothies but I love convenience more so prepping my smoothie ingredients in snack bags and freezing them in freezer bags makes the process more convenient allows we to get up and out the door faster in the am.  Freezing the fruits and vegetables will allow you to use less ice and decrease the dilution of your smoothie.  

I acknowledge the serving sizes are different.  You could divide the commercially produced smoothie.

The bottom line: Stay clear of the smoothie chains.  Their products are loaded with sugar and unneeded ingredients.  Instead, make your own with fresh, whole fruits and vegetables.  

 

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About the Author

ChuckH
I am a family physician who has served in the US Army. In 2016, I found myself overweight, out of shape, and unhealthy, so I made a change to improve my health. This blog is the chronology of my path to better health and what I have learned along the way.

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