Calories in a large strawberry banana smoothie from mcdonalds

Smoothies can be a tasty way to consume fruit.

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A study in the June 2013 issue of "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found eating your daily five of fruits and veggies could lead to a longer life span. McDonald's smoothies contain fruit puree, fruit juice and low-fat yogurt, making them one option for getting some of your daily fruit servings. Depending on the size and flavor, the smoothies average between 220 and 340 calories.

McCafé Mango Pineapple Smoothie

The mango pineapple smoothie comes in three sizes. The 12-ounce serving has 220 calories. There are 270 calories in the 16-ounce size and 340 calories in the 22-ounce smoothie.

McCafé Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie

McDonald's also offers small, medium or large sizes of the blueberry pomegranate smoothie. There are 220 calories in the 12-ounce, 260 calories in a 16-ounce and 340 calories in the 22-ounce large serving.

McCafé Strawberry Banana Smoothie

The strawberry banana smoothie is also available in three different sizes. You'll consume 210 calories in 12 ounces, 250 calories in the 16-ounce size and 330 calories in the 22-ounce serving.

Watch the Sugar

You should examine the other nutritional facts of McDonald's smoothies before deciding if they are a worthy expenditure of your daily calories. Smoothies are low in sodium, but high in sugar. Depending on which size you choose, a McDonald's fruit smoothie has from 44 to 74 grams of sugar, which translates to 11 to 18 teaspoons. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sugar intake to 6 teaspoons daily for women or 9 daily for men.

A top down view of a smoothie with a bright pink straw.

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McDonald's is generally known for its burgers, fries and sodas. Recently, however, the restaurant has added smoothies, blended coffee drinks and other drinks to the menu. The drinks imitate coffee shop blended drinks, offering similar drinks for a lower price. The smoothies contain blended fruits, ice and low-fat yogurt. They come in strawberry banana and wild berry flavors.

Calories and Fat

The small strawberry banana smoothie and wild berry smoothie contains 210 calories and only 1/2 g of fat. The medium of both flavors contains 260 calories and 1 g of fat. The large strawberry banana smoothie contains 330 calories and 1 g of fat, while the large wild berry smoothie contains 320 calories and 1 g of fat.

These smoothies are considered a low-fat food.

Fiber

The smoothies all contain 3 or 4 g of fiber, except the small strawberry banana smoothie, which contains 2 g of fiber. Fiber is a nutrient that promotes satiety by delaying the emptying of your stomach, slowing down the absorption of nutrients in the intestine. Consuming higher amounts of fiber may help you avoid overeating and reduce the risk of obesity.

Sugar

The McDonald's small smoothies contain about 44 g of sugar, the medium smoothies contain about 55 g of sugar and the large smoothies contain about 70 g of sugar. This is likely a combination of natural and added sugars. Adults and children are not recommended to consume more than 25 percent of calories from added sugars.

Vitamin C

The small smoothies contain between 70 and 80 percent of the total daily value for vitamin C. The medium smoothies contain 90 to 100 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, and the large smoothies contain between 110 and 120 percent of the daily value for vitamin C.

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help the body's immune system by protecting the body from free radicals that may damage cells and cause disease.

Other Nutrients

The smoothies contain 3 to 4 g of protein and 2 to 4 percent of the daily value for vitamin A. The smoothies also contain between 8 and 10 percent of the daily value for calcium. The small wild berry smoothie contains 6 percent of the daily value for iron, and the other smoothies contain 8 to 10 percent.