Are Smoothie King Smoothies Healthy?
Whether Smoothie King smoothies are healthy depends on your individualized health goals. In general, commercial smoothies contain a wide variety of ingredients, making some options better than others, and Smoothie King is no exception.
Whether Smoothie King smoothies are healthy depends on your individualized health goals. In general, commercial smoothies contain a wide variety of ingredients, making some options better than others, and Smoothie King is no exception. The challenge when choosing any commercially prepared smoothie is to find options that meet your nutritional needs. The good news is that Smoothie King offers a number of smoothies, and you can make modifications to make your choice fit within your health goals.
Factors to Consider
When considering whether a Smoothie King smoothie is healthy, you'll need to take into account your personal goals. Smoothie King offers custom-made smoothies so it's up to you to make a healthy choice. If your goal is to cut back on sugar, you can request that your smoothie be made without added sugar, since Smoothie King uses turbinado sugar to sweeten its smoothies. If fat intake is a concern, check the menu for smoothie options that are low fat. Smoothie King offers several smoothies containing 3 grams of fat or less. If you're actively trying to lose weight, caloric content will play a role in your decision.
Distinction
Smoothie King describes their smoothies as nutritional, custom-prepared meal alternatives. This distinction sets them apart from the typical commercially made smoothie. Based on this information, consider the nutritious components you want in a meal replacement and have a Smoothie King smoothie in place of, not addition to a meal. Or, if you opt to have a smoothie as a snack, choose 10 ounces and save the rest for another time. The standard serving size for Smoothie King smoothies is 20 ounces. Smoothie King also offers 32-ounce and 40-ounce options.
Nutritional Values
When it comes to calories, Smoothie King smoothies contain anywhere from 157 to 964 calories. For most people, it's best to choose a lower calorie smoothie. The amount of total fat varies widely -- anywhere from zero to 26 grams of fat per 20-ounce serving. Likewise, Smoothie King smoothies can contain as little as 1 gram of carbohydrate or as many as 145 grams. Some of their smoothies contain little to no sodium, while others contain close to 500 milligrams. Many Smoothie King smoothies contain little to no saturated fat, but a few contain more than 10 grams.
Healthy Smoothie Options
You may want to request a nutritional information sheet to help you identify healthy options. You can make modifications, such as requesting no added sugar, which decreases the calories by 100 and lowers the carbohydrate content by 23 grams. Look for options that are low to moderate in calories and low in fat and which also contain fiber and protein for a well-rounded smoothie. For example, the Lean1 strawberry smoothie contains 275 calories, 20 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 1 gram of saturated fat.