By: Tanya Jolliffe, SparkPeople Blogger
7/15/2010 1:26 PM   :  206 comments   :  27,099 Views

See More: drinks, Food on the Run, summer,

The smoothie has increased in popularity over the last several years. So much so that the smoothie maker has recently become one of the hottest selling small appliances. At the same time, smoothie and juice bars have popped up in malls and communities all over the country.

Earlier this week my son asked to stop for a smoothie. Since he is a growing teenager that eats almost hourly as well as being a "fruit boy," as we fondly refer to him, I made the stop. Since this was my first trip to this particular smoothie cafe, I let him make his selection while I looked over the menu boards. While we waited and I reviewed the "supercharged power up" vitamin and protein additive options, I wondered exactly what was in the concoction he had selected that set me back $4.58. He walked out happy with his selection of a 24-ounce Island Lemonade Smoothie (frozen lemonade) while I was a bit disappointed that he ended up with nothing more than a specialty frozen sugar drink instead of something more nutrient rich. The next day I came across an article discussing the new McDonald's McCafe real fruit smoothies that caused me to take a deeper look. I wondered if this could be a more nutrient wise option for the next time my son wanted a smoothie.

A thick, creamy smoothie can be a cold nutrient rich option for a snack or a meal. Choices are unlimited when it comes to selecting combinations of favorite fruits or sweet vegetables and whether you include fat-free yogurt, ice cream, soymilk or ice. Making your own is certainly the most cost effective and nutrient wise option and there are plenty of recipes to help you get started. However, if you are out running errands and you (or your teenager) want a cool drink, a McCafe' smoothie might be an option.

Strawberry Banana Fruit Smoothie

Calories - 210

Fat - .5 grams

Sodium – 35 mg

Carbohydrates – 49 grams

Fiber – 2 grams

Protein – 2 grams

The strawberry banana fruit blend is made by blending strawberry and banana fruit puree with water, sugar, and concentrated apple juice a well as several preservatives and thickening agents. This blend is mixed with low fat yogurt and ice.

Wild Berry Smoothie

Calories - 210

Fat - .5 grams

Sodium – 30 mg

Carbohydrates – 48 grams

Fiber – 3 grams

Protein – 2 grams

The wild berry fruit blend is made by blending strawberry puree, water, sugar, and blueberry puree with concentrated pineapple and apple juices and several preservatives and thickening agents. This blend is mixed with low fat yogurt and ice.

A 12 fl oz serving provides 70 percent daily value for Vitamin C as well as 70 mg of calcium. At $2.29, perhaps I will stop at Mickey D's next time my son needs a smoothie pick-me-up while we are out running errands.

Have you tried either of the new McCafe' Smoothies and if so, what did you think? If you like to make your own smoothies, what are your favorite concoctions?