I notice you can buy fruit smoothies in shops, that are apparently made with whole fruit. Is it as good as eating fruit or is there generally something wrong (nutrition-wise) with off the shelf smoothies, compared with making your own?

Making your own is the best way to go. Stores, restaurants and deli's add in so much excess sugar and other unnecessary ingredients--which can really add up in calories. When you make your own...YOU decide what to put in it.[ REMOVED ]

As far as smoothies go...I make them all the time and they are so yummy. Just get a blender and throw in your favorite fruit, some plain yogurt, maybe some milk, and ice and blend! You'll have a very healthy snack without all the junk and sugar that other vendors make. Hope I helped.

Recipe: BANANA BERRY BREEZE
Yeild: 4 SERVINGS

2 bananas
1 cup strawberries
1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 cups crushed ice

**129 calories
**1.3 g fat

*

Yes, and fruit smoothies are also excellent with kefir. Kefir is a yogurt type drink loaded with the friendly bacteria. If your somewhat lactose intolorant, kefir is usually tolorated by many. ANd it tastes good and is VERY good for ya.:D

I don't like eating fruit (I like the taste but I don't really like the texture), but I love smoothies. Problem is that making smoothies every day is a bit time consuming. Don't get me wrong I still do make them (thanks for the recipie idea applecheek - another one for me to try!) it just that sometimes I don't have the time. So I was wondering if there is any benefit from "off the shelf" smoothies you can get in shops. Some (like Innocent Soothies here in the UK) claim not to have additives, preservatives, and claim not to be made from concentrate.

not all companies remove/add ingredients into smoothies, however purchasing organic fruits and making your own is fun and good for you!

Yeah...making a smoothie everyday is time consuming! However, buying a smoothie everyday can get expensive...so I guess you can choose your battle. LOL. If you should buy a smoothie from a store...just take a look at the ingredients on the back of the container it comes in. If the first ingredients listed are sugar, or cornsyrup...etc then its probably not too good for you. Hope I helped!

sometimes I don't have the time. So I was wondering if there is any benefit from "off the shelf" smoothies you can get in shops. Some (like Innocent Soothies here in the UK) claim not to have additives, preservatives, and claim not to be made from concentrate.

You should be able to buy frozen fruit pulp or puree that you can just stir into kefir. That's what I've started to do in the mornings so I don't have to wash or go off and leave a dirty blender.

Here in some supermarkets we have the Goya brand from Spain I think, that makes tropical fruit purees like Mango, papaya and something called Mamey, all very inexpensive. At markets that have more health foods, you should be able to get all the current 'super antioxident' fruits like blueberries, pomegranate, acai and various blends in pureed form, sometimes packaged for individiual smoothees. More expensive of course.

I break the goya brand stuff into chunks and then put enough into a cup in the fridge to defrost overnight and stir in the kefir in the morning.

Thanks for that tip , I might try that.