Smoothie Don'ts: 8 Ingredients to Keep Away From

By Christine Egan

Not to be a grouch, but I have a real problem with the word "smoothie." It's simply an aesthetic issue. I don't like it when adults adopt cutesy, kiddie-esque words (other offenders on my list include foodie, veggie, and potty). That said, I've got no problem with how smoothies taste (if they're good, that is) or how nutritious they can be (if they're well-made). We just need to come up with a more appropriate way to refer to them. Smooth thang? Milkshake's healthy country cousin? Smoothshake? SmoothStuff?

Now, let it be known that I respectfully disagree with Blisstree's resident nutritionist and Fearless Foodtrainer, Lauren Slayton (@foodtrainers), about a few health-related topics. (I like airline food; she thinks processed meat substitutes are unhealthier than actual meat. She doesn't mind the term "smoothie"; it makes my skin crawl.) But she and I do gel on one thing that's relevant today: There are certain ingredients that you simply shouldn't add to your SmoothShake (see? I'm so going to make it a thing); otherwise you may as well visit your local ice cream parlor and have them whir you up an actual full-fat milkshake.

I asked Lauren for her personal take on the concept of smoothies, and here's what she had to say:

I love smoothies. I own the Vitamix. I'm sure my friends are sick of hearing about my prolific smoothie-making and I don't blame them. My clients, knowing I have a fondness for an obsession with smoothies always ask, "What can I get at the smoothie stand?" My enthusiasm deflates as those corner or mall smoothie places aren't just about fruit and ice - danger in the form of sugar lurks everywere. My basic smoothie formula goes like this: One cup frozen organic fruit, one source of protein (see gallery), an innocuous liquid (ditto), spices, herbs (basil is great), or zest for added flavor. Plus a green for extra credit.

See, I knew my issue with the word "smoothie" wasn't unfounded! Turns out, smoothies can be dangerous! Or at least, significantly devoid of nutritional value. (And notice how many times Lauren actually used the word "smoothie," just to annoy me?) Regardless, here's our gallery of eight ingredients never to put in your smoothies, until we think up a much cooler name for them.

Juices (Unless Green)
I'm actually not anti-fruit juice. Many kids enjoy a small glass of fresh OJ most mornings. But many kids aren't trying to lose weight, either. Furthermore, they're not eating 2-3 servings of fruit with it. You don't need juice in a fruit smoothie. Instead, mix your ingredients with filtered water, coconut water, almond milk, coffee, green tea, or green juice. (I dare you.)

Random Vitamins
Smoothie places that offer add-ins sound great; you can become more alert or enhance your immunity for just a buck or two more. The problem is you really don't know how much of any vitamin you're getting, and there's no scientific evidence that a single dose of anything will boost your health. So save at least a dollar a day and buy some astragalus (an immune-boosting supplement) or maca (supplement for energy), or even a pound of Fair-Trade coffee.

Sorbet
I'm not going to name names, but a certain chain that rhymes with "Mamba Moose" kills me with the sorbet in its smoothies. Do we need ice cream in our breakfast? Of course not. And I think sorbet is actually worse than putting ice cream in a smoothie, because it seems sort of healthy. It isn't (nor are sherbet or frozen yogurt). Save the sorbet for dessert.

Too Much Fruit
Sure, smoothies seem healthy, but the problem is that calories add up, even from fresh fruit. So avoid smoothies that are bigger than 16 ounces or are made with more than two cups of fruit.

Protein Overload
I once saw a kid's smoothie on a menu with protein powder, low-fat milk and yogurt. You don't need all three. Why not? Calories (even healthy ones) count. So pick one protein in your smoothie per day and you may just keep dialysis away.

Nut Butter
I'm a fan of nuts (sounds wrong) and nut butter, but not if you're having a smoothie from the smoothie place. At these joints, nut butter smoothies always top the charts when it comes to bad nutrition. Plus, we're not talking grind-your-own or natural nut butters here. I've seen Skippy behind the counters at many places. And half-a-cup of Skippy every day means you can kiss two-piece bathing suit hopes goodbye this summer.

Soy Protein
Last week we talked about the health dangers of meat substitutes. Processed soy isn't a good thing, and soy protein is included under that umbrella. Ask the counterperson what protein they use in their smoothies. Whey, hemp, and brown rice protein are good choices.

Turbinado (Natural Brown Sugar)
Whenever I see this word, I think of my mother with a towel around her head. I don't think of this slightly less-processed sugar, and doubt most people do, either. Whether it's turbinado, brown rice syrup, agave, or honey, unless you add it yourself - skip it.


More from Blisstree.com:
10 Ingredients to Always Put In Your Smoothies
How to Make a Healthy Smoothie: Top 10 Non-Soy Protein Powders
How to Make a Healthy Smoothie Part 2: Our 10 Favorite All-Natural Recipes

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