Smoothie Wars

I noticed McDonalds has started selling berry smoothies.  The one I saw on the sign was Wild Berry

12oz, 210 calories. 48g Carb, 2g Protein, 0.5g Fat
Wild Berry Fruit Blend
Strawberry puree, water, sugar, blackberry puree, blueberry puree, concentrated pineapple juice, concentrated apple juice, contains less than 1% of the following: cellulose powder, xanthan gum, colored with fruit and vegetable juice, natural (botanical source) and artificial flavors, pectin, citric acid.
Low Fat Yogurt
Cultured Grade A reduced fat milk, sugar, whey protein concentrate, fructose, corn starch, kosher gelatin. Contains active yogurt cultures.

Personally, I'm a fan of Jamba Juice, especially their Light Mango but I thought would try and match the McDonalds one

Strawberries Wild
(12oz serving) 188 calories, 45g Carb, 2g Protein, 0g Fat
Apple Strawberry juice blend, Nonfat Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, Frozen Strawberries, Frozen Banannas.

What I can't determine is the ingredients in the Jamba Juice frozen yourt (anything beyond, Vanialla, Skim Milk (maybe surgar) and cultures is unncessary).  Jamba also does not sell a 12oz size, I reduced their 16oz proportionately.

Thanks for sharing. I seen the sign on the way to work and thought that it looked soo good! 
Starbucks now has a mango smoothie too. I'm gonna check the nutritional facts on that one.

Smoothies, especially commercial smoothies, are very high in carbs.  I have never yet heard of a nutritionist that would recommend them to anyone, at any time.  I agree that they taste good, but they are NOT good for us.

If you want to maintain your weight loss, you have to watch what you eat and drink.  Getting into the habit of having things like smoothies is not a very good idea.

It's your choice, but one of the things that almost all of us were told was that we needed to PERMANENTLY change our lifestyle and food choices.

Like I said, I'm a fan of the Jamba Juice Mango Mantra.  I typically add the Whey protein boost and then just call the drink (with 17g protein) one of my protein supplement for the day.

Since calories are king (for me) it matters little if I have a 250 calorie protein bar or a 250 calorie smoothie.  It's all the same as long as satiety is maintained.

Actually I have good results with Starbucks' "Vivanno" Smoothies.  The ingredients in the Banana Chocolate Vivanno are pretty natural (milk, whole "real" banana, pump of dark chocolate syrup, protein powder, ice).  Sure, there is sugar in the syrup -- you can request the sugar free mocha syrup if necessary or 1 less pump.  I usually have them toss in a little extra protein powder for a higher protein kick.  (I have them make it with nonfat milk instead of 2%).  I think it is approx. 270 calories with the 2% milk.  For those days when real food won't go down due to band tightness, I welcome the Vivanno choice and realize I am not too way off course.   

I love Jamba Juice especially on a hot hot hot day as we have been having in Seattle this week.

I don't get there very often, maybe twice a year or so.  While they are available all over the area, they aren't very nutritionally sound and are a clearly an indulgence for me.  Thankfully I don't crave foods, so I can live without Jamba Juice.  However I am indulging tomorrow as we are taking the dogs for a long walk at the dog park on a hot day.