to think that smoothies are as good as other kinds of fruit and vegetables

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

...well they can be. I acknowledge that the nutritional value of smoothies can vary wildly.

The NHS doesn't think so
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Documents/Downloads/5ADAY_portion_guide.pdf

They think you should only count two of your five a day as smoothies.

Why on earth should it matter if it is blended or not?

My smoothies should definitely count. They usually contain plenty of veggies for a start (my kids only figured this out recently after drinking them for a decade or more) carrots, avocado, kale, red cabbage, spinach etc, a mix of frozen berries, mango, peach, peanut butter or yoghurt, citrus including some of the peel for the bioflavonoids (and flavour) sometimes wheat germ, lemon flavoured fish oil or flax if they are replacing a meal. They don't often have banana in them because DS#1 can't cope with much banana. They don't usually have juice in them because we don't often have it in the house. Sometimes I will include olive or sunflower oil in them if they are instead of a meal for the boys and unsweetened cocoa or carob for flavour.

Now admittedly it would be rare to have more than one a day except when I was trying to give DS some extra calories to replace those that were being burned up.

How is a bowl of cooked veg supposedly superior to this? If I blend a veggie smoothie then heat it it is soup, does that now count? By my reckoning it has less nutritional value now.

Crash, you keep saying that (blended is worse than non blended) but haven't backed it up once.

Smells like, I would be happy to send you some ideas, but I have to go right now, it is almost 11am here! I'll try and come back to it :)

But you are ignoring the fact that digestion starts in the mouth. It's laughable that you are taking that "doctor" as face value. I can't do it now but I'll use my university llibrary account to find some peer-reviewed journal articles on the topic.

Also, you've not provided any peer-reviewed journal evidence that you are right either.

So to get round the eating too much sugar in one go - could you just drink it slowly?

I have decided to have a smoothie a day to up my fruit and veg. What's your favourite recipe, Spoony. I might have it for breakfast tomorrow in your honour.

Crash, it is impossible to provide studies that don't exist.

If you find some peer reviewed articles in a decent publication I would be happy to read them and concede. How about that for listening.

I still maintain though that the NHS is listing COOKED CHOPPED CARROTS as better than smoothies.

Ellie, I really have to go to a track meet. My kid is going to hurl a javelin. I'll try and come back with ideas.

Really you should all just come holiday here and eat our fresh fruits and veg :) I'll make you a lemon ginger smoothie :) and feed you xylitol candy after and a bunch of kale to keep everyone happy.

If you aren't in Britain, why are you bothered about what the NHS says about smoothies?
Especially if you have decided that the NHS are referring to commercial British smoothies, which are little better than fruit juice rather than your super-duper, land of plenty healthy smoothies?

Yes...come back later.

My breakfast depends upon it.

Sounds like I'll need to pack some loperamide after eating all that

OP "Does it give a sugar spike if it also contains lots of fiber, protein and fat?"

Yes it does.

My dentist has been telling my dc for 15 years that smoothies and fruit juices are not great for teeth or your body, so this stuff isn't exactly new.

OP your smoothies sound fab and I happily give innocent smoothies and home made ones to my Toddler. I think some people's views on nutrition sound way over the top. Home blended fruit Smoothie one away from Fanta? Heard it all now! Balance is key, little bit of everything is a healthy attitude to food

OP, I too had no cavities at 17. It's a little early to be assuming your son is fine on the tooth enamel!!

A Pret freshly squeezed orange juice has the same amount of sugar as 13 hobnobs.

A small bottle of Innocent smoothie has the same amount of sugar as 3.5 donuts!

daily mail link

Thanks excusetypos that just explains why we all enjoy innocent smoothies on a Saturday morning with our pain au chocolate. Little weekend treat.

Ps excusetypos that tink to the daily mail is worse for my well being than smoothies

crashdoll it's basic science that blending fruit alters the make-up.
As it is basic please can you explain how this happens?

excuseypos - but the oj with = amount to 13 hobnobs in sugar has had the fibre taken out, we all know the fibre isn't in juice and that is why we shouldn't drink it.

whereas the smoothie hasn't had the fibre taken out, in the same way that vegetable soup hasn't had the fibre taken out.

it is the fibre that is important

I was just giving examples from the link ivy in case peopel didn't want to click on the link

But yes it's the Innocent smoothie which is worth 3.5 donuts which is relevant here.

The reason smoothies are not recommended is nothing due to any destruction of nutrients (indeed there's little to no chance than anyone is deficient in the nutrients contained in fruit smoothies - Vitamin D particularly which people might be isn't going to have any) Remember more nutrients is not better, you just need enough.

It's simply because the consumption of highly palatable easy to digest high carbohydrate food makes it easier to over-consume calories. And over-consumption of calories is the most significant problem in most peoples diet.

It's the same reason why potatoes are not counted - they contribute too many easy carbohydrates...

The physical act of of chewing is intrinsically important part of our complex digestive system. It initiates the release of enzymes necessary in digestive process both in the mouth and in the rest of the digestive system. The complex feedback mechanism results in the end result that when our bodies have eaten sufficiently our brains tell us we are full.
Recent studies suggest that lack of masticatory activity may well be adding to the increase in obesity. However healthy food is if we eat too much then we get fat. The following links gives the science.
www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-eating-slowly-may-help-you-feel-full-faster-20101019605

but excusetpos - a smoothie and three and a half donuts will not be the same because eating three and a half donuts is not going to give you the sugar and the fibre it will only give you the sugar, drinking a smoothie will give you the = on sugar + the fibre and that is why it is not the same.

Crash, it is impossible to provide studies that don't exist.

LOL at the irony. I'm on my uni database, so I'll have a lookie.

I think it's to do with the type of sugars so fruit has intrinsic sugar in its natural state, as soon as its processed at all including in smoothies or juice it becoms extrinsic ie. outside of the cells. Once that happens it can cause caries and is effectively like refined sugar. That's why although the amount of sugar is the same it's in a different form. It's not as much of a problem with veg as there generally isn't as much intrinsic sugar anyway. The smoothies the op talks about sound amazing but blending fruit does cause a difference in composition.

FredFred, that sounds believable

But surely the sugar in a donut is refined, processed and that in a fruit natural, therefore better in someway?