Weight Loss News

Healthy weight loss snacks.

Quick! What’s the first thing that came into your mind when you read those words? If you thought of McDonald’s new Real Fruit Smoothies, you might be right... well, at least the fast food giant wants you to think that their new fruit smoothies are a healthy addition to your diet and weight loss plan. 

Introduced in mid-July 2010, McDonald’s Real Fruit Smoothies are the newest addition to their popular McCafe menu. Made with nonfat yogurt and offered in three sizes, ranging from 12 to 22 ounces, the smoothies are McDonald’s attempt to expand into the health food market. Two flavors currently grace the menu:

• Strawberry Banana
• Wild Berry

Both are less expensive than at most smoothie joints and coffee houses; but: are they a good addition to your weight loss diet? And are they any healthier or more nutritious than the smoothies offered at Jamba Juice or Starbucks?

Well, surprise...when comparing the nutritional values of the McDonald’s 16 oz. Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Jamba Juice’s Strawberries Wild and Starbuck’s Strawberry Vivanno, there’s not much of a nutritional difference. 

McDonald’s Strawberry Banana Smoothie

• Blended with yogurt and a pre-mixed fruit juice puree, McDonald’s Strawberry Banana Smoothie contains 260 calories – 10 calories more than one of their small hamburgers just without the fat.
• Sound great for helping you lose weight? Well, don’t run to the big arches just yet. With 60 grams of carbohydrates and only 2 grams of protein, the smoothie is not ideal for those on a weight loss plan since it has about the same amount of sugar as two regular Snicker’s Bars (54 grams of sugar).

Jamba Juice’s Strawberries Wild Smoothie

• With roughly 250 calories, Jamba Juice’s Strawberries Wild Smoothie is your best option if you’re dieting and watching your caloric intake. However, like McDonald’s Strawberry Banana Smoothie, it contains a whopping 60 grams of carbohydrates and 52 grams of sugar. Strangely, it only provides 2 grams of fiber despite being made with frozen fruit.
• The protein content is also low, but Jamba Juice does offer a Whey Protein Super Boost that will add 10 grams of protein to your smoothie. Just be prepared to amp up your work out because the boost makes the drink almost 300 calories!

Starbuck’s Strawberry Vivanno Smoothie

• Whether you order it with 2% milk or nonfat milk, Starbuck’s Strawberry Vivanno Smoothie packs the biggest caloric punch, with 280 calories. Since it is not made with yogurt, it is the only smoothie among the three that contains fat (even the so-called “nonfat” milk contains 1.5 grams of fat, 1 gram of which is saturated).
• Though it might not be the best smoothie for weight loss, it should not be totally discredited as it has a rather modest 56 grams of carbohydrates and 41 grams of sugar. The smoothie also provides 7 grams of metabolic-inducing fiber and a heaping dose of muscle building protein (15 grams to be exact!).

The Bottom Line

Although all of the smoothies offer vitamins and antioxidants not found in most other foods, they all contain large amounts of sugar. This could make them best suited as meal replacements rather than a snack, especially for those on a weight loss program.

If you must choose between the three smoothies, the best option for weight loss and dieting would be Jamba Juice’s Strawberries Wild without the Whey Protein Super Boost. Not only is it made with actual fruit, but it also has the least amount of calories, which is one of the most important factors to consider when trying to lose weight.

Though all of the drinks are better choices for a weight loss plan than most items found on fast food menus, they should not be staples in your diet or used in place of real, fresh fruit. If you are craving a creamy, cool and refreshing drink, try making one of these fresh fruit smoothies or create one of your own!

• Banana Berry Smoothie
  • Per serving: 135 calories; 2 g fat; 27 g carbohydrates, 0 g added sugars; 4 g protein; 3 g fiber.

• Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie
  • Per serving: 86.9 calories; 0.3 g fat; 22 g carbohydrates, 16.5 g sugar; 0.7 g protein; 1.7 g fiber.