New Report Finds Frozen Drinks Marketed as Healthful Actually Chock Full of Calories, Artery-Clogging Fat, and Added Sugars

WASHINGTON—In the dog days of August, nutrition professionals with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) have released a new report naming the five most fattening frozen drinks. PCRM’s analysis finds that even some items marketed as “healthful” are actually brimming with calories, fat, and sugar.

The five most fattening frozen drinks, which include smoothies, chillers, shakes, are ranked in order of worst to least bad. Robeks’ 32-ounce P-nut Power Shake tops the list with 1,125 diet-busting calories and 48 grams of fat. Steak ‘n Shake’s Strawberry Breakfast Fruit Smoothie, which derives almost 20 percent of its calories from fat (including saturated fat and trans fat), is number five on the list. All five drinks contain large amounts of dairy ingredients, which typically results in high levels of cholesterol and saturated fat. See chart below for the report’s complete list of rankings. 

“Many popular frozen drinks come with a hefty health price, so choose your smoothie wisely,” says Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., staff dietitian for PCRM. “Avoid drinks containing added sugar and dairy products. Choosing smoothies rich in fruit and low in calories, added sugar, and fat can help you stay trim and protect your long-term health.”

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.