Smoothies have been a hot topic in the world of fad diets for some time now. The concept seems reasonable—fresh fruits and vegetables blended together. They are easy to drink and typically pretty satisfying. So how could these smoothies not result in instant weight loss? Consider these points before you buy your next smoothie.
- Portion size. America is well known for large portions. A large smoothie could result in several hundred calories that you would not believe is possible to consume from something so “healthy.”
- Ingredients. Fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, protein powder, yogurt, juice, etc. While all of these ingredients sound appealing, they can result in you consuming excess calories.
- Consistency. Why blend them together if you could eat them in their natural state? Volume from high fiber and high protein food sources promotes satiety.
Use caution the next time that you purchase a smoothie. While they sound like a great concept, I would encourage you to check out the nutrition facts prior to consuming these products. You may be getting more calories than you bargained for. Let take a look at one from Tropical Smoothie Café.
24oz Peanut Paradise with Whey
- Ingredients: peanut butter, banana, non-fat yogurt, whey protein
- 690 calories, 17g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 210mg sodium, 105g carbs, 14g fiber, 79g sugar, 33g protein
If you were to choose this smoothie based on its ingredients, it doesn’t seem so bad. However, it is the quantity in which these ingredients are used that makes them a concern. Remember that even if you are choosing better food options, you always need to be aware of the portions in which they are used. Too much of anything is not always a “healthy” option.
Questions or comments? Email me at Emily Kohls