Smoothies: the good and the bad

It’s getting warm out and that means that frozen drinks are popping up everywhere to keep us cool during the sizzling summer months. But before you order your next smoothie, consider the following smoothie info and calorie content.

The “bad” of the smoothie

• Many smoothies are made with a high sugar base of sherbet or frozen yogurt or worse yet, fatty and sugary ice cream
• Some “fruit” smoothies don’t have an ounce of actual fruit in them, just sugary syrups and flavoring
• Your stomach doesn’t feel full after drinking your calories. So even if you are drinking a 500 calorie smoothie, your stomach will tell you it wants “real food”

There is good in a smoothie as well. If made with real fruit, fat free milk or yogurt, it can be a powerhouse of energy raising vitamins!

Smoothies to avoid:

• Smoothie King’s The Hulk Strawberry: 1,035 calories in a 20 oz (that’s their small!)
• TCBY’s Pina Paradise: 520 calories in a 24 oz
• Cold Stone Creamery’s Mango Strawberry: 600 calories in a Gotta Have it
• Sonic’s Strawberry Smoothie: 542 calories in a regular

Smoothies to order:

• Smoothie King’s Skinny Slim-n-Trim Vanilla: 153 calories for a 20 oz
• Robeks’ Awesome Acai: 146 calories for a 12 oz
• Cold Stone’s Berry Trinity: 210 calories for a Gotta Have It

Check out the nutrition before ordering your next smoothie.

Smoothie King

Robeks

TCBY

Cold Stone Creamery

Sonic

Better yet, make your own!

Mix 1 cup of your favorite fruit with ½ cup of non-fat yogurt, 1 cup water, 1 packet calorie free sweetener. Viola! 150 calorie smoothie!

Try a E.H. Fitness Berry Green-ish Smoothie!

Erin's Berry Green-ish Smoothie

1.5 cups water
Huge handful of fresh spinach (should fill about half the blender...unpacked)
3/4 cup frozen mixed berries
1/2 container non-fat Yoplait yogurt (about 1/4 cup)...your fav flavor...I used vanilla
1 teaspoon Stevia in the Raw
Handful of ice

Blend until creamy! And check out the stats on this tasty treat:

130 calories
0 grams of fat
4 grams of protein
7 grams of fiber (YEAH! That's about 30% of your daily recommended intake!!)

Drink it up people!