The Odwalla Smoothie Dilemma

Great review and advice! I feel the same way about smoothies like that.

Sagan on June 23, 2010

Great article and a good reminder for those of us who grab these little gems on the way out the door.
Thanks!

Beth on June 23, 2010

One thing I've learned in my forever of dieting is that I need to chew my calories. Drinking smoothies/slim-fast/meal replacements is totally lost on me because my brain still thinks I'm hungry so I just end up eating that much more! Thanks for the review - I totally agree.

Lindsay on June 23, 2010

This is why I am a fan of smoothies over juices - there are a lot of people that juice at home, and while I figure that those juices must have lots of great nutrients, I'm a big fan of getting my fiber too! So I bet you could replace this also with a mango smoothie made at home, at a much lower price!

Alta on June 23, 2010

I make my own "mango soft serve" using a frozen banana, frozen mango chunks, plain yogurt, and milk. I swear it tastes just like ice cream, mango flavored.

Candice on June 23, 2010

wow - I would rather peel and eat a Mango.

Sneeka on June 23, 2010

Another drawback to packaged juices is that they're all pasteurized. That makes them not the same as fresh raw fruit, regardless of what the juice makers' tell you. I also go with the fresh mango smoothie, made with almond milk (homemade preferably), a frozen banana, coconut oil and 2 raw organic eggs.

stanmrak on June 24, 2010

Another great post. You do a great job on providing solid info for your audience to make healthier choices. Keep it up!

Adam Hart on June 24, 2010

I agree with you! Not worth it. And I need to chew my calories too, like another reader said. If I drink my calories I will gain. Eek!

Renee on June 27, 2010

Not a huge fan of smoothies and other "health" drinks. For all the processing and sugar that goes into them, I'd frankly rather get the sickly sweetness and caffeine rush of a coke... Or stick with regular fruit juice. @annfeld (my wife) likes her fruit whole.
Best for me is one of those juices that only uses other juices to sweeten. Cranberry with grapes for example.

Observ3 on June 29, 2010

Just a couple asides from things that you posted & comments that were made
Odwalla started out as a small company outside of Santa Cruz, CA. It was not started by Coke

There products used to be non-pasturized until they got a much larger distribution area & had some problems w/ spoilage, etc.

I am not saying that "smoothies" or bottled juices are good replacements for fruit but to compare them next to Coke doesn't really seem like a fair comparision to me.

Aimee on July 1, 2010

What I do for fiber with these type smoothies that have removed the fiber is use non flavored psyllium Husk. You can buy huge containers of it at walmart or wholesale stores. So any time you have these, just add some this and you can gain back the fiber contents that was lost.

Justin on October 3, 2011

Hi, I'm a bit late to your post but I just wanted to point out that not all sugars are created equally. The sugar in Odwalla is different from the sugar in Coke. You have to judge sugars by the glycemic index. And whereas the sugar in Coke is refined and added, the sugar in Odwalla is from the fruit.

Elsewise, I agree about the fiber, although I don't think it is completely missing.

That said, we're left to wonder what quality of fruit they use.

Ashleyist on December 2, 2011

I add a tablespoon of chia seeds to my Odwalla smoothies to add protein, fiber, omega 3, lower the overall glycemic index and increase the length of feeling satisfied.
Oh and to Alta- Odwalla is unpasteurized, that's why you MUST keep it refrigerated...

Holly Andersen on November 9, 2012

1 bottle of your favorite odwalla

+ ~6oz organic, plain greek yogurt (fat free or whole, your choice!)

+ a dash of psyllium husk

= an easy, delicious breakfast smoothie, packed full of protein, micro nutrients and fiber.

Elizabeth on February 6, 2013

Where do you get the idea that Odwalla is non-GMO? Their juices aren't Organic.

elle on October 11, 2013

Where do you get the idea that it is?
It says on the bottle. "non GMO

Milton Mitchell, Jr on May 8, 2016

I have had a year of health problems, my son who lives in Brazil wants me to try these drinks to build up my energy,he swears they will help me.

Lisa Rodriguez on October 15, 2016

Make mango smoothies yourself, if you have a blender, much cheaper too. Get frozen mangos, vanilla yogurt, and a juice that you feel would go well with it, and throw an ice cube or two in and blend it. Comes out AMAZING

Austin Pesce on May 9, 2018