How many calories in a peanut butter mood from Jamba Juice?

Jamba Juice’s Peanut Butter Mood smoothie is a creamy, nutty blend perfect for a meal replacement or snack. But how many calories are actually in one of these indulgent smoothies? Let’s take a closer look at the Peanut Butter Mood nutrition facts and ingredients.

Peanut Butter Mood Nutrition Facts

According to Jamba Juice’s website, a regular 20 ounce Peanut Butter Mood smoothie contains the following nutrients:

Nutrient Amount
Calories 540
Total Fat 18g
Saturated Fat 4.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 15mg
Sodium 180mg
Total Carbohydrates 78g
Dietary Fiber 6g
Sugars 33g
Protein 17g
Vitamin A 15% DV
Vitamin C 45% DV
Calcium 15% DV
Iron 8% DV

As you can see, a regular 20 oz Peanut Butter Mood smoothie from Jamba Juice contains 540 calories. This makes it a higher calorie drink choice.

Peanut Butter Mood Ingredients

What ingredients give the Peanut Butter Mood its indulgent flavor and contribute to the calorie count? Here is the full ingredient list:

  • 2% Reduced Fat Milk
  • Peanut Butter
  • Whey Protein
  • Nonfat Frozen Yogurt
  • Banana Puree
  • Guar Gum
  • Pectin
  • Locust Bean Gum
  • Natural Flavors
  • Cellulose Gum
  • Carrageenan
  • Vitamin A Palmitate
  • Niacinamide
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin D3
  • Folic Acid
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Calcium Pantothenate
  • Biotin

The main calorie contributors in the Peanut Butter Mood are the 2% milk, peanut butter, whey protein, nonfat frozen yogurt, and banana. Let’s look at each key ingredient:

2% Milk

The 2% reduced fat milk provides creaminess, calcium, vitamin D, and a moderate amount of calories and fat compared to whole milk. In 8 ounces of 2% milk there are:

  • 122 calories
  • 4.8 g fat
  • 12 g carbs
  • 8 g protein

Since there is likely around 16-20 ounces of 2% milk in a 20 ounce Peanut Butter Mood, the milk contributes about 244-305 calories to the smoothie.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter packs in protein, fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats. But it also contributes significant calories and fat. In 2 tablespoons of regular creamy peanut butter there are:

  • 188 calories
  • 16 g fat
  • 7 g carbs
  • 8 g protein

The Peanut Butter Mood likely contains around 2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter, adding 188-282 calories.

Whey Protein Powder

Whey protein powder boosts the protein content and thickness of the smoothie. In 1 scoop (about 30g) of whey protein powder there are on average:

  • 120 calories
  • 2g fat
  • 3g carbs
  • 24g protein

The whey protein powder likely provides around 120 calories per scoop used.

Nonfat Frozen Yogurt

Nonfat frozen yogurt contributes protein and calcium while keeping calories and fat low due to no added fat. In 1/2 cup of nonfat frozen yogurt there are typically:

  • 100 calories
  • 0g fat
  • 19g carbs
  • 5g protein

With around 1/2 cup of frozen yogurt, the Peanut Butter Mood gets 100 more calories.

Banana Puree

Banana puree gives the smoothie natural sweetness and thickness. In 1/2 a medium banana (about 2.5 ounces or 70g) there are:

  • 50 calories
  • 0g fat
  • 13g carbs
  • 1g protein

The banana puree probably adds 50-100 calories depending on the amount used.

Does Size Change the Calories?

Jamba Juice offers the Peanut Butter Mood smoothie in 3 different sizes: regular 20 oz, large 24 oz, and extra-large 32 oz.

Obviously the calorie count will increase for larger sizes that contain more of the high-calorie ingredients like milk, peanut butter, and yogurt.

Here is a breakdown of the calories for different Peanut Butter Mood sizes:

Size Calories
Regular 20 oz 540
Large 24 oz 650
Extra-Large 32 oz 860

As you can see, the extra-large 32 oz Peanut Butter Mood packs a whopping 860 calories!

How to Lighten Up the Peanut Butter Mood

While the Peanut Butter Mood tastes decadent, 540 calories is quite high for a single smoothie. Here are some tips for lightening it up:

  • Order the small or regular size instead of large or extra-large.
  • Ask to substitute water or unsweetened almond milk for some of the 2% milk.
  • Request only 1 tablespoon of peanut butter instead of 2-3 tablespoons.
  • Ask for just 1/2 a banana instead of a whole banana.
  • Request less frozen yogurt or substitute plain yogurt.
  • Ask for light ice or a few ice cubes instead of frozen yogurt.
  • Avoid adding any juice, honey, or other sweeteners.

Implementing some of these tweaks can easily save you 200+ calories while still keeping the great peanut butter flavor!

Peanut Butter Mood as Meal Replacement

At 540 calories, the regular size Peanut Butter Mood can work as a meal replacement for some people trying to lose or maintain weight.

The smoothie provides a balance of protein, carbs, and fat to help you feel full and satiated. It also delivers a variety of vitamins and minerals from ingredients like milk, yogurt, banana, and peanut butter.

However, at just 17g of protein it is a bit low for a full meal. And the 33g of sugar is quite high for a meal replacement. You want to aim for 20-30g of protein and less than 15g sugar in a balanced meal replacement smoothie.

Consider adding a scoop of protein powder or collagen peptides to boost the protein. And request less frozen yogurt and banana to reduce the sugar content.

You may need to supplement the Peanut Butter Mood with a small snack a few hours later to stay full if using it as a meal substitute, due to the lower protein and higher sugar.

Peanut Butter Mood Nutrition Compared to Other Smoothies

How does the Peanut Butter Mood nutrition stack up against other Jamba Juice smoothies and popular smoothie chain options? Here’s a comparison:

Smoothie Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Jamba Peanut Butter Mood 20 oz 540 18g 78g 17g
Jamba Strawberries Wild 20 oz 250 1.5g 58g 3g
Jamba Caribbean Passion 20 oz 350 2g 71g 3g
Smoothie King Peanut Power Plus 20 oz 730 17g 87g 42g
Smoothie King Strawberry X-Treme 20 oz 440 3.5g 93g 18g
Planet Smoothie Peanut Paradise 22 oz 910 25g 123g 36g

The Peanut Butter Mood is moderate in calories compared to most peanut butter-based smoothies which often top 700+ calories for a large size. It has less protein than many competitors but more than Jamba’s fruit-based smoothies.

Overall, it lands around the middle for calories, nutrition, and portion size when compared to other smoothie chains.

Is the Peanut Butter Mood Smoothie Healthy?

While delicious, the Peanut Butter Mood is a bit high in calories, sugar, and fat to be considered a truly healthy smoothie option. However, it does have some redeeming qualities.

Benefits of the Peanut Butter Mood:

  • Provides protein from milk, yogurt, peanut butter, and whey
  • Good source of calcium and vitamin D from the dairy
  • Contains potassium and fiber from banana
  • Rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants from peanut butter
  • Uses skim or low-fat dairy options

Downsides of the Peanut Butter Mood:

  • Very high in calories and sugar for a 16 oz smoothie
  • High amount of fat from peanut butter and dairy
  • Contains added sugars from yogurt and juice
  • Lacks nutrients from fruits and vegetables
  • Can be excessive portion size if ordering large or extra-large

If you are looking for a more nutrition-packed, lower sugar smoothie, opt for adding fresh spinach, kale, or berries rather than just peanut butter and banana as the mix-ins. Or choose lower calorie add-ins like cacao nibs or chia seeds rather than peanut butter.

Overall, the Peanut Butter Mood is an indulgent treat. But health-wise, it’s best enjoyed occasionally and in moderation.

Conclusion

A Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Mood smoothie packs a solid caloric punch, providing 540 calories in a regular 20 ounce serving. It gets its thick, creamy texture from ingredients like milk, yogurt, peanut butter, banana, and whey protein.

While it can work as a meal replacement in a pinch, the Peanut Butter Mood is high in sugar and low in protein compared to an ideal meal substitute smoothie. It’s definitely more of an occasional treat than an everyday health food.

To lighten it up, customize your Peanut Butter Mood by asking for less peanut butter, banana, and yogurt. And be mindful of portion sizes, as the calories add up fast when you order a size larger than regular.

Overall, the Peanut Butter Mood offers a delicious balance of sweetness and nutrition. Just enjoy it in moderation as the indulgent treat it is!

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