Homemade Smoothies - yay or nay??

Kalley1959

I hate eating breakfast so I've been making smoothies. I can get some of my veggies and most of my fruit. I also add protien powder to it.

What do you think? Is it good or bad? why?

bdurls

I sometimes have protein smoothies for breakfast. Some days I'm just not very hungry in the morning and this works for me! I don't see anything wrong with it. I use yogurt, frozen fruit, banana, and protein powder.

sarahmaryfearnley

Awesome in the mornings especially for us none breakfast lovers.

jplucheck

I drink a protein smoothie everyday, I don't think I would be able to keep up eating breakfast without it. Get way to get that first meal of the day!

Sharon009

Yay! I make them with sugar free chocolate pudding mix (for flavor and thickness), milk and natural peanut butter.

cindaroses

I think it is a great breakfast. I like adding some kale and a banana with vanilla protein. The kale makes it taste just a little "green" but very tasty. I know it doesn't sound good, but I tried it and love it.

starracer23

YAY all the way!!

** I have been juicing for a week now. I will then put the juice in the blender and add a banana and strawberries and ice and make a smoothie from that....DELICIOUS and very filling. (no protein, nothing but fruits and veggies). It's a very clean smoothie

melizerd

I love my smoothies! I didn't think it would keep me full enough but I find it's great for it, I do a scoop of protein powder in mine too.

kportelli70

I always have one after a workout. Protein is the best thing for your muscles after exercising.

infamousmk

I drink protein powder in water a lot of times, and sometimes I'll blend some berries in if I have berries that are going bad. I am not a fan of smoothies in theory, though. I get a little add-crazy with the high-cal ingredients.

rml_16

I can't imagine a reason why it would be bad.

I think protein powder is a pretty big scam, but a smoothie in and of itself isn't bad. I add chocolate peanut butter to mine for protein and some sweetness.

kiesh82

I can't see why it would ever be bad if you're putting the right things in it. Now if you're eating 1000 calorie sugar laden smoothies every day that's another story entirely, lol.

Marquettedominos

We drink whole food smoothies 3-4 times a day. It is a great way to get those veggies ya just cant seem to eat.

PlunderBunneh

I go through phases where breakfast is a really hard concept for me. I use one cup of fat-free yogurt, ice, and fresh fruit. Perfect for me, although a bit high in sugar sometimes.

sarahmaryfearnley

yum, thanks for the reminder. I just had a green smoothie for breakfast.

3 handfuls spinach,
1 handful cale,
8oz carrot juice,
1/2 a banana,
~6 strawberries,
shaky shake of flax seeds

280 cal, 2330mg of potassium, 1226% vit A, 319% vit C. I'm done for sugar today - the banana kills me but I want to run today and so really want the potassium.

Marquettedominos

yum, thanks for the reminder. I just had a green smoothie for breakfast.

3 handfuls spinach,
1 handful cale,
8oz carrot juice,
1/2 a banana,
~6 strawberries,
shaky shake of flax seeds

280 cal, 2330mg of potassium, 1226% vit A, 319% vit C. I'm done for sugar today - the banana kills me but I want to run today and so really want the potassium.

IMO if you are active I would not even count the sugar from the banana.

Just for a bit more info if you're interested in exactly how it all works.

Its down to differences in how they're processed.

You have Sucrose (Normal sugar) & Fructose (Found in fruit).


Sucrose is a 50-50 combination of Glucose & Fructose. Glucose is what our bodies run on, your brain, muscles etc everything is converted into that in the end. The problem is, Glucose is absorbed very quickly into the blood stream. When the level of glucose in our blood stream rises to quickly our bodies reaction is for our pancreas to release a hormone called insulin & mop it all up where it will then store it in our muscles and Liver for energy to use later.

When our blood sugar level rises to quickly though, our body overeacts. It sends out to much insulin & mops up to much sugar from our blood. To little sugar in the blood = hunger very quickly.

So the problem with Normal sugar is simply the fact that it makes people to hungry. People dont feel satisfied after they eat it...so they eat more..and more..= to many calories & their bodies dont really need the energy. Its just overeacting because of getting to much at one time.


Fructose however is different. Because our bodies do not run on Fructose, it has to be converted into Glucose in the liver before we can use it. That way the speed its released into the blood stream (If its needed) is much more controlled...the pancreas wont overeact...it wont release to much insulin & you wont get hungry straight away.

bancheemom

Wow! Great answer. I'm always prone to those no-sugar, no-carb diets; but I hate that they don't allow fruit. I would usually understand because fruit=sugar... but now I understand why a healthy diet (regular, not deprivation based diet) would have fruit in it. Thanks!

Kalley1959

Thanks everyone for your replies. It helps a lot. I am very aware of the calorie & sugar counts of the smoothie. I thought it was weird when I heard this person say that smoothies were bad and too many calories. The way I look at it is that I just can't stomach breakfast but I can drink a smoothie ... better then not eating

dandur

This site has some great shake recipes that are just smoothies with ice added. You can leave out some of the toppings.

http://www.dashingdish.com/category/recipes/shakes/

I've tried a few of them and you'd swear you're drinking an ice cream shake.

bcattoes

I'm not a fan of smoothies, but as long as it's not high in sugar I can't imagine why it would be bad.

bcattoes

Thanks everyone for your replies. It helps a lot. I am very aware of the calorie & sugar counts of the smoothie. I thought it was weird when I heard this person say that smoothies were bad and too many calories. The way I look at it is that I just can't stomach breakfast but I can drink a smoothie ... better then not eating

If you are not hungry (I'm assuming that's why you can't stomach it) why is better to eat than not eat? I only eat when I'm hungry.

arlo1028

I always have my protein after a workout, to help repair my muscles. If I have no time for breakfast then I will make me a protein shake. Although it's always healthier to eat a complete meal!! chewing triggers the brain more than what you drink. Not to mention your metabolism work harder to digest the food you have just eaten. Unlike the protein it takes longer to breakdown. And if you're adding fruits, that adds sugar (even if it's the good kind) still doesn't make your metabolism work as much. So it's an "iffy" situation

teee12

I personally think the best option would be to make a fresh juice with carrot, apple, beetroot and celery or mix it up with other fruits and veg. Doesnt sound soo good, but it's actually quite nice and you feel so refreshed and full afterwards. Personally I think thats the better option.