How healthy are smoothies?
If chosen wisely, smoothies can be a good meal replacement for healthy individuals. The key is having nutritional information and knowing how many calories are needed for the meal. All three smoothie restaurants post nutrition information and descriptions online and at point-of-purchase. The lowest calorie smoothie is Tropical Smoothie’s 12-ounce Jetty Junior with Splenda with 79 calories, 0.8 grams protein, 18.3 grams carbohydrate, and 0.4 grams fat. This is not the best option for a meal replacement because it does not provide enough calories. This smoothie would be better for an afternoon treat. At the high-calorie end is Smoothie King’s 20-ounce Hulk Strawberry. With a whopping 1,035 calories, 27 grams protein, 161 grams carbohydrate, and 32 grams fat, this smoothie could be nearly an entire day’s worth of meals!
