Smoothie King’s Peanut Power Plus smoothie packs a nutritional punch. With protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, this smoothie provides lasting energy to power you through your day. But how many calories are actually in the Peanut Power Plus? Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional information to find out.
Nutrition Facts for Peanut Power Plus
Smoothie King provides complete nutrition facts for all of their smoothies, including the Peanut Power Plus. Here are the key nutrition facts for a 20 oz Peanut Power Plus smoothie made with nonfat yogurt:
- Calories: 440
- Total Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
- Sodium: 200mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 47g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 31g
- Protein: 36g
- Vitamin A: 15% DV
- Vitamin C: 45% DV
- Calcium: 35% DV
- Iron: 15% DV
As you can see, the Peanut Power Plus smoothie contains 440 calories per 20 oz serving. It also provides significant amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The combination of peanuts, yogurt, and fruit makes this a nutritious blended drink.
Ingredients in Peanut Power Plus
What ingredients go into the Peanut Power Plus to give it so many nutrients and calories? Here is the complete ingredient list:
- Nonfat yogurt
- Peanut butter
- Peanuts
- Bananas
- Whey protein
- Guarana
- Nutritional supplement blend (maltodextrin, inulin, pectin, oat fiber, fructooligosaccharides, gum acacia)
- Natural flavors
- Xanthan gum
- Cellulose gum
- Sucralose
- Acesulfame potassium
The combination of nonfat yogurt, peanut butter, peanuts, bananas, and whey protein contributes the calories, protein, healthy fats, carbs, and fiber. Guarana adds a small amount of natural caffeine. The supplement blend boosts the fiber content. Natural flavors, gums, and non-nutritive sweeteners provide taste and texture.
Benefits of Main Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of the main ingredients:
Nonfat Yogurt
Nonfat yogurt is an excellent source of protein, calcium, vitamins, and probiotics. It provides a creamy, smooth texture and immune-boosting probiotics. Yogurt aids in healthy digestion.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter provides plant-based protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, and healthy fats. It adds richness and nutty peanut flavor.
Peanuts
Peanuts offer protein, fiber, antioxidants, and various vitamins and minerals. They add crunch and nutty flavor.
Bananas
Bananas provide natural sweetness, potassium, fiber, magnesium, and vitamin C. They make the smoothie creamy and smooth.
Whey Protein
Whey protein isolate packs in protein while being low in fat, carbs, and calories. It builds and maintains muscle.
How Ingredients Impact Calories
Each of the main ingredients contributes important nutrition and calories:
- Nonfat yogurt: 99 calories per 1 cup
- Peanut butter: 188 calories per 2 Tbsp
- Peanuts: 164 calories per 1/4 cup
- Banana: 105 calories per medium banana
- Whey protein: 100 calories per 1 scoop
When combining 1 cup nonfat yogurt, 2 Tbsp peanut butter, 1/4 cup peanuts, 1 banana, and 1 scoop whey protein, you get a total of about 656 calories. The other supplemental ingredients provide a small amount of additional calories.
Reasons for High Calorie Count
When looking at the main ingredients, it’s easy to see why the Peanut Power Plus smoothie provides nearly 450 calories per serving. Here are some of the key reasons this smoothie packs in the calories:
- Includes calorie-dense foods like peanut butter, peanuts, and banana
- Provides protein from yogurt, peanut butter, peanuts, and whey protein
- Uses caloric ingredients like nonfat yogurt and peanut butter for creaminess
- Banana adds natural sweetness to boost calories
- Serving size is a full 20 oz
With all of those energy-providing ingredients, it’s no wonder the Peanut Power Plus smoothie tops 400 calories. But are the calories “empty” or nutritious?
Are the Calories “Good” or “Empty”?
When considering the nutritional value of a food, it’s important to look beyond just calories. The source of the calories matters too. So are the 440 calories in a Peanut Power Plus smoothie considered “good” calories or “empty” calories?
The calories in this smoothie predominantly come from nutritious whole foods like yogurt, peanut butter, peanuts, and bananas. These provide calories along with beneficial protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Only a small portion of calories comes from added sugars and supplements.
Therefore, most of the calories in a Peanut Power Plus smoothie come from wholesome, nutritious ingredients. The smoothie provides lasting energy and nutrition, not just empty calories.
Macronutrient Profile
What does the macronutrient profile look like for the Peanut Power Plus? Here is the breakdown of protein, carbs, and fat:
| Macronutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36g |
| Carbohydrates | 47g |
| Fat | 16g |
This shows that the smoothie provides substantial protein, mainly from the Greek yogurt, peanut butter, peanuts, and whey protein. It also contains carbs from the banana, yogurt, and peanut butter. Dietary fat comes from the peanut butter and peanuts. This nutrient profile supports energy, muscle building, and satiety.
Vitamins and Minerals
In addition to protein, carbs, and fat, the Peanut Power Plus smoothie provides essential vitamins and minerals, including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
- Magnesium
These vitamins and minerals support immune function, bone health, muscular and neurological function, and more. The ingredients like yogurt, banana, peanut butter, and peanuts provide these nutrients.
Is 440 Calories a Lot for a Smoothie?
Smoothies can range widely in their calorie content based on ingredients and serving size. Is 440 calories high for a smoothie?
For a 20 oz smoothie blended with nutritious ingredients like yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, and protein powder, 440 calories is on the higher end but not excessively high. Many similar smoothies fall in the 300-500 calorie range.
Here is how the Peanut Power Plus smoothie compares calorie-wise to other Smoothie King smoothies:
| Smoothie | Calories (20 oz) |
|---|---|
| Strawberry X-Treme | 250 |
| Angel Food | 310 |
| Island Green | 350 |
| Mango Kale-cio | 270 |
| Peanut Power Plus | 440 |
Compared to Smoothie King’s other options, the Peanut Power Plus is on the higher end for calories, but it also contains more calories from protein and healthy fats from ingredients like yogurt, peanut butter, and peanuts.
Tips for Reducing Calories in Peanut Power Plus
If you’re looking to reduce the calorie count in the Peanut Power Plus smoothie, here are some tips:
- Order a smaller size – calories will adjust accordingly
- Use nonfat or low-fat milk instead of nonfat yogurt
- Limit peanut butter to 1 Tbsp
- Use a smaller or frozen banana
- Ask for less whey protein powder
- Skip mix-ins like guarana
- Replace peanuts with a lower-calorie nut
- Boost fiber and reduce calories by adding spinach
- Ask for extra ice to increase volume without calories
Keep in mind that modifications may change the nutrition content, including protein, fat, carbs, and fiber.
Should You Drink the Full-Calorie Version?
Should you drink the full-calorie Peanut Power Plus smoothie with 440 calories, or modify it to reduce the calorie count? Here are some factors to consider:
- Your individual calorie needs – More active individuals may require more calories
- Time of consumption – May be better as meal replacement than snack
- Your weight goals – Aim for calorie deficit to lose weight
- Activity level for the day – Consume more calories on active days
- Your macronutrient targets – High protein and healthy fats support many goals
In many cases, the full Peanut Power Plus makes for a nutritious meal replacement that provides lasting energy. But adjust the size and ingredients as needed to suit your calorie needs for the day.
Comparison to Smoothie King Peanut Power
Smoothie King also offers the Peanut Power smoothie, without the “Plus.” How does it compare calorie-wise?
The nutrition information shows that the Peanut Power smoothie contains only 260 calories (20 oz). That’s a full 180 fewer calories than the Peanut Power Plus!
Here is a comparison of their nutrition facts:
| Smoothie | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut Power | 260 | 14g | 31g | 8g |
| Peanut Power Plus | 440 | 36g | 47g | 16g |
The Peanut Power has lower calories, protein, carbs, and fat. The “Plus” version packs in significantly more nutrition, including extra protein from whey powder.
Conclusion
In summary, the Peanut Power Plus smoothie from Smoothie King provides 440 nutritious calories per 20 oz serving. The calories come predominantly from wholesome ingredients like yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, and whey protein. This makes the smoothie a filling meal replacement or post-workout recovery drink. But ingredients and size can be adjusted based on your own calorie needs and goals.
