If you are following a keto diet, options can be limited at times. Smoothies offer an easy way to get the nutrients your body needs without sacrificing too much on taste.
Are you looking for Smoothie King keto options when following the keto diet? Smoothie King has drinks that are low-carb and low-sugar. If you need a break from heavy meals or want to switch things up, I have you covered.
I found smoothies that are low carb and low sugar. These smoothies make good snacks or meals if you are in a bind for time or need something quick to eat out of the house. In this post, I’ll explore the different types of smoothies available at Smoothie King so you can find what’s best for your needs.
Smoothie King offers many delicious smoothies. However, there are some that you should avoid if you want to stick with keto diet guidelines and maintain your low carb levels in the body.
Avoid Smoothie King drinks made with yogurt and dairy milk because these add too much sugar content to a drink and increase carbohydrate intake for someone on a very low-carbohydrate diet like Keto.
You can use almond or coconut milk instead of regular cow’s milk at Smoothie King but keep an eye out for added sugars. Higher carbs mean more net carbs so choose wisely. Also, steer clear of blended frappes as they may contain ice cream which is high in carbohydrates.
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Low-Carb Smoothie King Options
Smoothie King has many low-carb options available. I’m happy to say you won’t feel like you are missing out on smoothies, especially if your go-to order was the original protein shake at Smoothie King that had over 20 grams of carbs in it.
Smoothie King has a Keto Champ range of low-carbohydrate smoothies. The Keto Champ drinks are available in berry, chocolate, and coffee options. You can get these at any Smoothie King location near you so there is no need to worry about missing out on your go-to drink when following the keto diet or maintaining a healthy lifestyle while avoiding carbohydrates.
The Keto Champ Berry is made with Blueberries (Wild), Raspberries, Keto Protein Blend, Almond Butter, Almond Milk, and Cocoa. A 20oz serving (the smallest size) contains 430 Calories, 31g Fat, 19g Carbs, and 23g Protein.
The Keto Champ Chocolate is made with Almond Milk, Almond Butter, Keto Protein Blend, Protein Blend, Cocoa, and Stevia Plant-Based Sweetener. A 20oz serving (the smallest size) contains 430 Calories, 31g Fat, 18g Carbs, and 25g Protein.
The Keto Champ Coffee is made with Cold Brew Coffee, Keto Protein Blend, Almond Butter, Almond Milk, and 100% Cocoa. A 20oz serving (the smallest size) contains 420 Calories, 31g Fat, 14g Carbs, and 24g Protein.
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Are Smoothie King Smoothies a Good Option for the Keto Diet?
As you can see from above, it’s going to be quite hard to get a proper low-carb smoothie from Smoothie King. Even the keto-friendly options have a relatively high amount of carbs.
A small serving of the Keto champ range of smoothies contains around 10g of net carbs. When you consider that 20g of net carbs is the maximum for most ketogenic dieters, one smoothie is half your allowance.
What is a Keto Diet?
A ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate, adequate protein, and high-fat eating plan. The aim of the ketogenic diet is to get your body into an efficient energy source called “ketosis” where it uses stored fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates (glucose) from foods you eat.
When following the Keto Diet, most people will only get around 20g of net carbs per day. This can be difficult to achieve if you rely on smoothies as a major part of your diet as they can contain too many carbohydrates for the daily limit.
How Long Does it Take to get into Ketosis?
It takes your body around 48 hours to enter ketosis after you stop eating carbohydrates. After this initial period, it may take anywhere from days to weeks for the state of ketosis to be long-lasting and efficient at burning fat instead of glucose (carbohydrates).
Does Keto-Friendly Mean Carb-Free?
You cannot assume that keto-friendly or even low carb means carbohydrate-free by default. You really must read the nutritional information printed next to each product before assuming anything about what you are buying regardless of whether it’s at Smoothie King or any other fast food restaurant (or supermarket).
For example, the American Heart Association recommends around 25g of net carbs per day as an intake limit if you want to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. While the Keto Champ Berry smoothie at Smoothie King contains just 10g of net carbs, it is still higher than what most people would want to consume on a regular basis if their goal was ketosis and weight loss.
Read More: Best Blender for Smoothies with Frozen Fruit: 3 Top Models
What are Net Carbs?
Net Carbs is used in dietary planning as a way to describe how many grams of usable carbohydrate there are within a food serving size.
The number of net carbs will always be less than the total carbohydrate content found on nutritional labels because fiber is not included when calculating net carb totals. Fiber does provide some digestible carbohydrates, but it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels like other forms of carbohydrates.
Net carbs are an important detail to consider when monitoring your carbohydrate intake on the ketogenic diet, or any low-carb eating plan for that matter. The daily recommended amount on a net carb is 25g per day before exercise and 20g otherwise.
Smoothie King Keto Options – Final Thoughts
Smoothie King has options for those following the keto diet. If you are looking for a quick meal that is low-carb and sugar, then Smoothie King can work, but it may not be your best bet.
Even the 3 keto-friendly options have a high amount of carbs in them, and you will probably find yourself starving for the rest of the day as you avoid carbs. You should ask yourself if a Smoothie King smoothie is worth it when you can make your own smoothie at home with 0 net carbs.
The different types of Keto Champ smoothies can vary in taste so I recommend trying out all their options to find what suits your needs best.