Are smoothies really so terrible?

[Idaofmarch]

It dawned on me when the children (15 and 10) went back to school that they were struggling to get up to 5 a day fruit and veg.

It's a challenge to get DD (15) to eat anything in the morning and DS (10) likes toast and bagels and eggs but I've had no success with other healthier options.
I send them both to school with a piece of fruit (which may or may not get eaten) they have school meals of variable quality with occasional random veg, and we have an evening meal with 2 veg (3 if it's mince based and I can chuck everything in).

So... I've been making them both a smoothie in the morning. Bit of apple juice and water, banana, blueberries, strawberries or raspberries, a carrot and a block of frozen spinach or broccoli.
They drink the lot.

I've been feeling quite pleased with myself until my sister's super judgmental partner told me that I was basically giving them diabetes in a glass and it was essentially the same as full fat coke. He's really annoying for lots of reasons unrelated to this, but is a personal trainer and presumably knows about nutrition.
It's worth noting that they each play lots of sport and are on the lower end of the healthy weight range.

I've just googled smoothies and apparently they are terrible for you so he's not completely talking out of his arse like usual.

Which is the better option- smoothie or not hitting 5 a day? Annoying chap suggested sending the 10 year old into school with a pot of lightly steamed mange tout for his snack ("crispy and delicious!") which won't be happening, and neither of them will countenance packed lunches.

I'm trying not to let my dislike of him impact how I feel about this....

I'd worry more about their teeth. Would they normally eat that much fruit (sugar) in one go, no probably not.
I enjoy a smoothie, but will have one banana, a few blueberries and oat milk. I figure I would normally eat that for breakfast anyway.

@captainprincess

I'd worry more about their teeth. Would they normally eat that much fruit (sugar) in one go, no probably not. I enjoy a smoothie, but will have one banana, a few blueberries and oat milk. I figure I would normally eat that for breakfast anyway.

Hadn't even though of that. Bugger. They clean their teeth afterwards though. It's not a massive amount- probably 300ml?

I've been wondering this as DC2 doesn't really like fruit whereas DC1 will have 2 fruit/before with lunch,fruit snack at school and after school plus veg with dinner. I wondered about making him a smoothie instead.

I understand that there's sugar and calories in fruit,but in my case the whole point would ge to get lots in in one go . He's not on a diet!

@ImFree2doasiwant

I've been wondering this as DC2 doesn't really like fruit whereas DC1 will have 2 fruit/before with lunch,fruit snack at school and after school plus veg with dinner. I wondered about making him a smoothie instead.

I understand that there's sugar and calories in fruit,but in my case the whole point would ge to get lots in in one go . He's not on a diet!

Interesting point. Better to have it all at once and clean teeth then just have veg for the rest of the day, or spread it out over the day?
There's also green vegetable and a carrot in there....

Do you need the apple juice? Using just water would cut out some of the sugar? Coke is empty calories. Although smoothie is high in sugar it also has fibre and some vitamins may remain in tact.

DS is a professional athlete. His breakfast is a smoothie made of milk, oats, 1/2 banana, blueberries or raspberries, and protein powder. His teeth are fantastic and he has 12% body fat. He wouldn’t touch sugary cereals or toast, and would laugh at “a pot of lightly steamed mange tout” - that wouldn’t keep a hamster going, still less growing kids.

So I think you are doing well. Getting so much fruit and veg into your children at the beginning of the day is great.

It's hard isn't it. I completely see why you'd give them a smoothie, you know they are getting some actual nutrition then. Be careful with the teeth brushing, I think you are suppose to wait about 30 mins after fruit, something about the enamel?

If they drink it through a straw there will be less damage to teeth. Surely better to get the vitamins and antioxidants into them regularly than not.

I don't think smoothies are that bad. Yes, it can spike blood sugar, but it isn't refined sugar and has added vitamins.

However, my understanding from the NHS guides is that a small glass of juice or smoothie can only count as one of your five a day. I would probably check this yourself as maybe I've misinterpreted!

@Snowjive2

DS is a professional athlete. His breakfast is a smoothie made of milk, oats, 1/2 banana, blueberries or raspberries, and protein powder. His teeth are fantastic and he has 12% body fat. He wouldn’t touch sugary cereals or toast, and would laugh at “a pot of lightly steamed mange tout” - that wouldn’t keep a hamster going, still less growing kids.

So I think you are doing well. Getting so much fruit and veg into your children at the beginning of the day is great.

Interesting. Thank you!
I've added some "smoothie oats" to the shopping order and will try with milk not apple juice.

@gavisconismyfriend

If they drink it through a straw there will be less damage to teeth. Surely better to get the vitamins and antioxidants into them regularly than not.

Another good idea. Now googling stainless steel straws.....

I think it’s something to do with the fibre being broken down in a smoothie which makes the sugar worse for you than eating the whole fruit (goes straight to your bloodstream if not binding with fibre?? Something like that)
However I always think surely it’s best to have the vitamins and the calories from the fruit, especially in the mornings, than not. Also the teeth issue- if you’re drinking it in a minute or so can it really be that much worse for your teeth than a piece of fruit?? I’m interested in the replies as I love making smoothies instead of having breakfast, I never feel like eating loads first thing.

An age old anti-smoothie argument! I think people who hate smoothies are jealous cos they have to actually eat their fruit & veg

I see nothing wrong with it. Personally I love smoothies. I maybe wouldn't have as much fruit (eg the apple juice/berry combo) but you're still giving them food that is healthy and nutritious - you couldn't say the same for sugary cereals/Nutella on toast etc etc

I don't think there's anything wrong with it. They're at an age where they're growing fast.

A smoothie in the morning is fine, I would maybe take out the apple juice and only put in as much fruit as a normal person would eat in a day, as the tendency could be to put in waaaaay too much.

I'm way more concerned that they brush their teeth straight afterwards though as they are literally brushing the acid into their teeth. This goes for anything by the way, even after dinner. Give it 20 to 30 minutes for the saliva to neutralise the acids and wash away some of the sugar and then brush. Also a straw for the smoothies is a good idea.

Hi OP, massive disclaimer as I'm currently obese so in no position to be giving nutrition advice :( BUT like a lot of fat women I've done a million things to try to be slimmer and I once paid several thousand quid to Louise Parker for their nutritional coaching...

They said (so sue them if it's wrong!) that fruit doesn't spike the blood sugar levels nearly as much if it's eaten with protein. I'm guessing that's why @Snowjive2's athletic DS uses protein powder in his? An alternative and less-processed way to do it is with nut butter, almond is a good one, or peanut butter if they like it. You could put a tablespoon in before you blend it, I used to have it in smoothies all the time and it's really nice.

Also if you replace the apple juice with Alpro unsweetened almond milk then that would cut out the main sugar culprit - then add an actual apple if they miss the sweetness?

Anyway I think you're being a really good mum to make them healthy smoothies in the morning and I think your BiL can knob off. :)

@BabyBee93

An age old anti-smoothie argument! I think people who hate smoothies are jealous cos they have to actually eat their fruit & veg

I see nothing wrong with it. Personally I love smoothies. I maybe wouldn't have as much fruit (eg the apple juice/berry combo) but you're still giving them food that is healthy and nutritious - you couldn't say the same for sugary cereals/Nutella on toast etc etc

I love the thought of jealous non smoothie drinkers grimly plodding through a plate of kale. (That's reminded me. Sometimes I add kale as well.) So.... Less or no apple juice, add oats, don't go mad with portion size, use a straw, clean teeth after waiting 30 mins.
Right. That's all possible. DD goes to mess with her hair and do her makeup after breakfast which takes at least 30 mins and DS wafts around aimlessly trying to locate the uniform that's always always in the same place what does he do? No one knows so they have time to wait....

Toast and eggs isn't unhealthy, btw! In fact, it's a really good healthy balanced breakfast! I have eggs and toast most mornings (with some spinach and mushrooms).

Take out the juice and add some source of protein. Either a bit of milk or some protein powder (Bulk powders do good 'pure whey', which is unflavoured and unsweetened and doesn't have any additives). A straight fruit/veg smoothie would keep me full for about 20 minutes!

Your bro in law sounds like an epic nob...

Just add some yogurt / peanut butter / protein powder and maybe some milk to the smoothie - small or medium banana, a handful of berries, plus your carrot and green veg. Knock off the apple juice.

It just needs some protein added and the sugar reduced by dropping the apple juice, and you are grand.

Lots of recipes if you Google.

Likely to go down better than mange tout, which apart from the fact it is a ridiculously unappealing and far too low calorie snack fir teens, has no protein and won’t fill them up.

I wouldn’t bet on your bro in law being all that well informed. It’s a very unregulated industry and many PTs have minimal training and spout a lot of rubbish.

Eating fruits whole (well, bite by bite in the case of an apple or banana, obviously!) is far better than when they're blended. I believe it's to do with the fibre in them and the way our body absorbs the nutrition from our food. Berries would be less sugary than melon/mango/pineapple etc.

When you blend fruit it destroys its fibre cells, which makes it really easy for your body to digest. Whereas when you eat a piece of fruit your body has to work hard to digest it, so it offsets the sugar it contains and is also good for your bowels.

My dc will eat fruit but like a smoothie occasionally too. We make them using oat milk with banana and frozen berries and I don’t think they’re too bad in the scheme of things. Ok they get the sugar hit but you can moderate how much fruit you put in and the size of the smoothie.

I can’t get too worked up about it - plenty of parents are happy to give their dc chocolate and crisps every day. My dc kind of view them similar to a milkshake so they fall more into the treat category in their minds.

As pps have suggested drinking them through a straw will be better for their teeth. You can buy eco friendly reusable smoothie straws which are great.

@WoolyMammoth55

Hi OP, massive disclaimer as I'm currently obese so in no position to be giving nutrition advice :( BUT like a lot of fat women I've done a million things to try to be slimmer and I once paid several thousand quid to Louise Parker for their nutritional coaching...

They said (so sue them if it's wrong!) that fruit doesn't spike the blood sugar levels nearly as much if it's eaten with protein. I'm guessing that's why @Snowjive2's athletic DS uses protein powder in his? An alternative and less-processed way to do it is with nut butter, almond is a good one, or peanut butter if they like it. You could put a tablespoon in before you blend it, I used to have it in smoothies all the time and it's really nice.

Also if you replace the apple juice with Alpro unsweetened almond milk then that would cut out the main sugar culprit - then add an actual apple if they miss the sweetness?

Anyway I think you're being a really good mum to make them healthy smoothies in the morning and I think your BiL can knob off. :)

Big peanut butter fans here. Could add oats and a bit of peanut butter easily. It's good for DD as she normally doesn't eat anything in the morning as she can't face it,so this at least sends her off with something in her stomach. She's 5 foot 4 , 7.5 stone and a cross country runner so there's nothing to worry about weight wise.
BIL can stuff off. He's awful. My DS was 8 weeks after giving birth when he lovingly removed a slice of cake from her hand as, "she'd thank him later". I'm also really overweight at the moment and I basically make him upset by being around, happy and (whisper).... fat.

Still sniggering at 'lightly steamed mange tout' though. It reminds me of the Catherine Tate posh mum sketches.

"lightly steamed mange tout"
If smoothie is your biggest problem OP you're doing remarkably well in these difficult times.