McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothies are a popular menu item that provide a refreshing, sweet treat. However, many consumers are interested in the calorie content of these smoothies to help inform their food choices. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the calories and other nutrition information in a medium McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie.
Quick Answer
A medium McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie contains about 300 calories. The exact calorie count can vary slightly by location.
Serving Size Details
According to McDonald’s nutrition information online, a medium strawberry banana smoothie contains:
- Calories: 300
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
- Sodium: 75mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 71g
- Dietary Fiber: 3g
- Sugars: 63g
- Protein: 5g
The serving size for a medium smoothie is 16 fluid ounces (472 ml).
Nutrition Facts Table
Here is the nutrition facts table for a medium McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie:
| Nutrition Facts | Medium strawberry banana smoothie (16 fl oz) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 300 |
| Total Fat 2g | Saturated Fat 1.5g |
| Trans Fat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 10mg | |
| Sodium 75mg | |
| Total Carbohydrates 71g | |
| Dietary Fiber 3g | |
| Sugars 63g | |
| Protein 5g |
Ingredients
The ingredients in a McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie are:
- Lowfat yogurt: Provides protein and calcium.
- Milk: Provides calcium, vitamin D and protein.
- Banana: Provides potassium and fiber.
- Strawberry puree: Made from blended strawberries. Provides vitamin C and manganese.
- Ice: Provides thick, smooth texture.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness.
- Natural flavors: Enhance flavor.
- Fruit and vegetable juice: Provides nutrients and color.
- Guar gum: Thickening agent.
- Carrageenan: Thickening and stabilizing agent.
The smoothie has a sweet, creamy taste from the blend of fruit, yogurt and milk. The strawberry banana combination provides complementary flavors.
Calorie and Macronutrient Breakdown
Here is a detailed breakdown of the calories and macronutrients in a medium McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie:
- Total calories: 300 calories
- Total fat: 2g
- Saturated fat: 1.5g
- Carbohydrates: 71g
- Sugars: 63g
- Dietary fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
The majority of calories come from carbohydrates, specifically sugars. The high sugar content is due to the fruit purees and added sugar. There is also a small amount of fat, mostly saturated fat from the yogurt and milk. Protein accounts for a relatively small percentage of calories.
Vitamins and Minerals
McDonald’s does not provide full nutrition information on vitamins and minerals for its smoothies. However, based on the ingredients, a medium strawberry banana smoothie likely contains:
- Vitamin C: From strawberries
- Vitamin D: From milk
- Calcium: From yogurt and milk
- Potassium: From banana
- Vitamin B12: From milk
Although nutrition details are limited, the smoothie provides a range of important vitamins and minerals from natural food sources like fruit, yogurt and milk.
Comparison to Other McDonald’s Smoothies
The strawberry banana smoothie has a lower calorie count compared to most other standard size McDonald’s smoothies:
| Smoothie | Calories (16 fl oz) |
|---|---|
| Strawberry banana | 300 |
| Mango pineapple | 260 |
| Strawberry | 340 |
| Wild berry | 350 |
| Mango pineapple | 260 |
The mango pineapple smoothie is the lowest in calories at 260. The wild berry and strawberry flavors are higher in calories than the strawberry banana.
Comparison to Other Smoothie Chains
Compared to smoothies from other major chains, McDonald’s smoothies tend to be lower in calories and higher in sugar:
| Smoothie (16 oz) | Calories | Sugar (g) |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s strawberry banana | 300 | 63 |
| Jamba Juice strawberry banana | 340 | 59 |
| Smoothie King strawberry banana | 340 | 51 |
McDonald’s smoothies tend to have around 60g of sugar, while other chains range from 50-60g per 16 ounce serving. However, calories are lower at McDonald’s compared to the 340 calories at Jamba Juice and Smoothie King.
Smoothie Add-Ins
McDonald’s allows customers to customize smoothies with different add-ins for an additional cost:
- Whey protein: Adds 12g protein for $1.50
- Chia seeds: Adds fiber, protein and Omega-3s for $0.50
- Flax seeds: Adds fiber and Omega-3s for $0.50
These boost the nutritional value by increasing protein, fiber and healthy fats. However, they also add 50-110 calories to the smoothie.
Kids Size Nutrition
The McDonald’s kids size strawberry banana smoothie contains:
- Calories: 170
- Total carbohydrates: 41g
- Sugars: 37g
The kids size has nearly half the calories and carbohydrates as the medium size. It has around 10 fewer grams of sugar.
Low Calorie Smoothie Options
For a lower calorie McDonald’s smoothie option, consider ordering:
- Small size: Saves 100 calories compared to a medium
- Sugar-free syrup: Cuts sugar and calories
- Easy on the x syrup: Less added sugar
- Extra ice: Increases volume for fewer calories per ounce
- No toppings: Saves 50+ calories from whipped cream
Also, the mango pineapple and strawberry mango smoothies tend to be lower in calories than other flavors.
High Calorie Smoothie Options
You can make your smoothie higher in calories by:
- Large size: Adds 100 calories
- Double blended: Extra thick for more calories
- Extra fruit: Boosts calories from added fruit
- Extra syrup: Increases caloric sweeteners
- Whipped cream: Adds 50 calories
- Protein add-in: Whey protein adds 110 calories
Going large size instead of medium and adding a protein boost are two of the best options for substantially increasing the calorie content.
Sugar and Diets
The strawberry banana smoothie contains 63g of sugar in a medium size. This accounts for nearly all of the carbohydrates.
Keto Diet
The keto diet emphasizes low carb, high fat. With 71g total carbohydrates and 63g sugar, this smoothie would not fit into a keto eating pattern which limits carbs to under 50g daily.
Ordering a small size with sugar-free syrup and no fruit add-ins can reduce the carbs to make it more keto-friendly.
Paleo Diet
The paleo diet does not allow dairy products, so a strawberry banana smoothie would not be paleo compliant due to containing yogurt and milk.
Ordering with almond milk instead could make it paleo approved. It would still contain banana and strawberries approved on the paleo diet.
Gluten-Free Diet
The smoothie is gluten-free, since none of the ingredients contain gluten. It would fit into a gluten-free diet.
Diabetic Diet
With 63g sugar in 16oz, this smoothie would likely spike blood sugar levels in many people with diabetes.
Opting for light or sugar-free syrup and less fruit puree could reduce the glycemic impact. Smaller sizes also reduce sugar. Most diabetics would need to exercise caution when consuming this high-sugar beverage.
Low Sugar Diet
The standard strawberry banana smoothie is very high in sugar at over 60g per medium serving. It would not align with a low sugar diet.
Ordering a smaller size with sugar-free syrup is best for limiting sugar intake from this beverage.
Weight Loss Diets
Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting involves eating within a restricted time window, such as 8 hours per day. This smoothie is relatively low calorie for a meal. It could potentially fit into intermittent fasting depending on the meal plan and schedule. Having it for breakfast or a mid-day snack may work well to provide nutrients and satisfaction while fasting the rest of the day.
Low Carb Diet
With 71g carbs, this smoothie would not align with a standard low carb diet limiting carbs to 50-150g per day. Ordering it with sugar-free syrup, extra ice and no fruit add-ins reduces the carbs to make it workable for a low carb diet.
Low Calorie Diet
At 300 calories, this 16oz smoothie would account for 15-20% of a standard 1,200-2,000 calorie diet. While not extremely low calorie, it can reasonably fit into a reduced calorie weight loss diet when consumed in moderation. Focus on other low calorie meals and snacks for the rest of the day.
High Protein Diet
With only 5g protein, this smoothie is not a high protein option. Adding a whey protein boost can increase protein to around 18g for greater satiety on a high protein diet.
Meal Replacements and Snacks
At 300 calories, this McDonald’s smoothie can work as a snack or mini-meal, but not a full meal replacement.
As a snack, it provides a sweet treat between meals with fruit, dairy and added vitamins and minerals.
As a mini-meal, it supplies a moderate amount of calories along with carbs, protein and nutrients. Pair it with a small side like apple slices for a more balanced small meal.
For a full meal replacement, consider ordering the smoothie with added protein which brings it closer to a standard 400-600 calorie meal.
Nutrition for Athletes
For athletes, the strawberry banana smoothie works well:
- Pre-workout: Provides carbs for fuel along with hydration from the fluid, potassium from banana, and antioxidants from fruit.
- Post-workout: Good for replenishing carb stores along with whey protein for muscle recovery when added.
- Snack: Provides hydration, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
The smoothie gives athletes an easy way to supplement their diet with carbohydrates and nutrients. Adding protein makes it more effective for sustained energy and muscle repair after exercise.
Is It Healthy?
The McDonald’s strawberry banana smoothie provides both pros and cons for nutrition:
Pros:
- Contains fruit, yogurt and milk with vitamins
- High in potassium and vitamin C
- Relatively low in fat and cholesterol
- Thick, creamy texture and taste
- Convenient quick snack or mini-meal
Cons:
- Extremely high in sugar at over 60g per medium serving
- Not enough protein or fiber to promote fullness
- Some artificial ingredients like carrageenan
- Can spike blood sugar due to high sugar content
While it provides important nutrients from whole food sources, the high amount of sugar makes it more of a treat than a health food. Limiting portion size and frequency is advisable. Overall, it can be an occasional component of a healthy diet for some individuals when consumed in moderation. Those limiting sugar or carbs will want to avoid it or strictly control portions.
Cost
As of November 2023, McDonald’s charges the following for a medium strawberry banana smoothie:
- Medium: $3.99
- Small: $2.99
- Large: $4.99
Add-ins cost $0.50 – $1.50 extra depending on selection.
The cost is in line with other major smoothie chains. Those looking for budget savings can order the small size or watch for occasional promotion deals. Overall it provides a reasonably priced sweet treat and opportunity to get fruit, dairy and vitamins conveniently.
Conclusion
A McDonald’s medium strawberry banana smoothie contains approximately 300 calories. It provides nutrients from fruit, yogurt and milk but is extremely high in sugar at over 60 grams per 16 ounce serving. The smoothie can fit into a balanced diet occasionally in small portions but is not ideal for every day consumption, low carb diets or individuals watching their sugar intake closely. Customizing smoothie size, ingredients and add-ins allows consumers some control to modify nutrition and sugar content. While not the epitome of health food, it gives a tasty, convenient way to get some nutrition from whole foods in a quick smoothie snack or mini-meal.
