Is this a "healthy" way to get veggies?

bigfatbino
bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Got me this fancy Blendtec blender, and it has been munching up the veggies I buy daily. But inputting the information into myfitnesspal, I am wondering if it is really a healthy shake? It makes a LOT in reality, more than I can drink in one sitting, so I split it up over about 6 hours.

I'm concerned about the sugar content. I add no sugar, no sweeteners, but still it comes in at a whopping 35g. I would like to keep my daily sugar intake under 12 grams, so I can tweak the recipe as needed.

What do you all think about this shake from a nutritional standpoint?

Thanks.

3 roma tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 zuchini
1/4 head red cabbage
1 roasted red bell pepper, skinned, (no salt or oil added)
1/2 LARGE container of Earthbound farm "Power Greens"
16 oz water
10g mint leaves
2 scoops Cytosport whey protein (vanilla)

Total nutrition info: Cals: 575, carbs 61, fat 8, protein 72, sodium 596, sugar 35. fiber ??

Replies

  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Got me this fancy Blendtec blender, and it has been munching up the veggies I buy daily. But inputting the information into myfitnesspal, I am wondering if it is really a healthy shake? It makes a LOT in reality, more than I can drink in one sitting, so I split it up over about 6 hours.

    I'm concerned about the sugar content. I add no sugar, no sweeteners, but still it comes in at a whopping 35g. I would like to keep my daily sugar intake under 12 grams, so I can tweak the recipe as needed.

    What do you all think about this shake from a nutritional standpoint?

    Thanks.

    3 roma tomatoes
    1 cucumber
    1 zuchini
    1/4 head red cabbage
    1 roasted red bell pepper, skinned, (no salt or oil added)
    1/2 LARGE container of Earthbound farm "Power Greens"
    16 oz water
    10g mint leaves
    2 scoops Cytosport whey protein (vanilla)

    Total nutrition info: Cals: 575, carbs 61, fat 8, protein 72, sodium 596, sugar 35. fiber ??

    Unless you have a medical reason to monitor or limit your sugar intake, it's really unnecessary.

    I don't label foods as unhealthy or healthy nor do I know what your idea of "healthy" is so can't help you out there. Does it help you hit your cal/macro goals? Do you enjoy the taste of it? If so then awesome.
  • SJVZEE
    SJVZEE Posts: 451 Member
    I make a green smoothie every day and it's the size of a large canning jar (what I actually use to drink it from). It's a meal for me (tonight it's my supper). Today's smoothie numbers-

    calories- 459
    carbs-106
    fat-4
    protein-11
    fiber-19
    sugar-59
    sodium-137

    2 bananas
    1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
    blueberries
    strawberries
    peach
    kale
    spinach
    collard greens
    flax seed
    ice/water

    Yours looks great :drinker:
  • Lalasharni
    Lalasharni Posts: 353 Member
    This looks pretty complete to me, but I would add a little fat in the way of some almonds or cashews to this.
    Its pretty high is calories, but you say that you divide it throughout the day. Nutritionally, I think you have it right. I like the raw element that you use, so the fibre is well up there, and obviously using all this fresh food, you have all the nutritive value.
    Your sodium is a little high, but the other elements should offset any negative value here - as far as a blend goes, I would say that this is pretty spot-on.
  • Lalasharni
    Lalasharni Posts: 353 Member
    I'll add to my previous post regarding your query about the sugars.
    I think you can disregard this because your sugars are coming from unrefined sources.
    I eat lots of fruit, smoothies with low fat milk and fresh fruit and don't count the sugars because they are processed by the body in a different way to refined sugars.
    I would say, don't concern yourself with the sugars here. They are the kind your body can process efficiently without a calculable spike in blood glucose.
  • bigfatbino
    bigfatbino Posts: 136 Member
    Sweet thanks, I hadn't considered the organic origins of the sugars. The other concern that I have might seem stupid, but when I blend my red cabbage and veggies etc and drink the first shake, it's a vibrant purple. Later when I drink it, it's mud brown. Should I be concerned with the oxidation that is happening? Or is this a non-issue since there is so much "goog" nutrition going into the shake in the first place?
  • RebekahR84
    RebekahR84 Posts: 794 Member
    Maybe add some olive oil for better nutrient absorption?

    When I don't feel like eating my vegetables, which is almost daily, I blend them all together with a cup and a half of water and a teaspoon or two of a healthy oil. I don't even try to make them taste good because I just slam them. I really HATE veggies. I'll save fruit for tasty smoothies.

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