Make one of these low-sugar smoothies that are both nutritious and delicious.
from votes
If you’re looking for low-sugar smoothies that taste delicious and pack nutrition, you’ve landed in the right post!
Below you’ll find a variety of recipes that yield thick, great-tasting smoothies without packing on the sugar or calories. And as a bonus, you’ll find some low-sugar smoothie bowls too!
How to Make a Low-Sugar Smoothie
Generally speaking, a smoothie that falls in the low-sugar category is either a veggie smoothie or the amount of fruit is significantly reduced.
These lower-sugar smoothies also do not contain fruit juices or dairy since these liquids contribute many grams of sugar.
When adding fruit to a low-sugar smoothie, the general rule of thumb is no more than one serving, and depending on the fruit, it can be ½ cup or 1 cup, 1 small piece, etc.
Low Sugar Smoothie Ingredients
Reducing sugar doesn’t mean your smoothie will have less flavor. On the contrary! Many low-sugar smoothies are both delicious and highly nutritious.
Below are some ingredients commonly used to make this type of smoothie:
- Frozen cauliflower: it’s tasteless in a smoothie and adds lots of nutrition and volume to make up for having less fruit.
- Frozen berries: a lower sugar ingredient that is highly nutritious, high in flavor, and lower in the glycemic index.
- Avocado: gives smoothies a thick and delicious texture and the benefits of healthy fats into your diet.
- Cinnamon: gives simpler smoothies flavor without any sugars.
- Vanilla extract: similar to cinnamon, it adds sweetness without any sugar!
- Unsweetened Greek yogurt: a great option for extra protein and creaminess in your smoothie instead of dairy.
- Beets: Packed with folates, this is a great ingredient to blend into your smoothies. A few pieces go a long way!
- Spinach: this superfood is a fantastic add-in to any smoothie recipe.
- Diced zucchini: similar to cauliflower in that it doesn’t have a strong flavor or odor and adds volume and nutrition to the smoothie.
- Unsweetened Coconut Flakes: delicious flavor with no added sugars!
- Nut Butters: they add flavor and calories but not sugars, and a little is a great way to make a smoothie more filling without extra sweeteners.
- Carrots: naturally sweet and lower in sugar than fruit with similar nutritional benefits.
- Citrus fruits: lemons, limes, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits are high in vitamins and naturally low in sugar, so they are great options for your smoothies. You can even zest it into the blender for all the flavor and none of the sugar.
- Protein Powder: they’re not all created equal, so make sure to select the best protein powder that fits your nutritional needs. Many are very flavorful and contain no added sugars.
- Cucumber: adds volume, moisture, fiber and almost not noticeable flavor wise especially when mixed with ½ banana.
- Chia Seeds: they’re high in fiber and omega 3s perfect for thickening up any smoothie without having to add a banana. Use 1-2 teaspoons per serving.
- Flax meal: another great way to thicken a smoothie without adding fruit as well as being an excellent source of fiber, omega 3s, and other nutrients. Use 1-2 teaspoons per serving.
How to Reduce Sugar in Smoothies
Great-tasting smoothies don’t need to be full of sugar or contain a lot of fruit. Reduce the amount of fruit in the smoothie to ½ cup up to 1 cup at most per serving. The best-kept secret is to swap fruit for frozen cauliflower. It’s nearly tasteless and adds volume while thickening your smoothie.
Another easy way to reduce sugar in smoothies is by using a lower-sugar liquid such as water or unsweetened plant-based milk for blending.
Omitting unnecessary added sugars such as honey, agave, and fruit juice will further reduce the sugar content in your smoothie.
Best Low Sugar Fruits for Smoothies
Fruit is a great way to naturally sweeten a smoothie and get fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients into your diet. Below is a chart that compares the sugar content of the top fruits used to make smoothies.
| Fruit | Serving | Sugar | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banana, sliced | ½ cup | 9g | 68 |
| Orange | ½ cup | 9g | 85 |
| Pineapple, chunks | ½ cup | 8g | 41 |
| Strawberries | ½ cup | 4g | 25 |
| Blueberries | ½ cup | 7g | 42 |
| Peaches, sliced | ½ cup | 12g | 50 |
| Raspberries | ½ cup | 3g | 32 |
| Triple berry mix | ½ cup | 5g | 30 |
| Mango, chunks | ½ cup | 12g | 50 |
| Kiwi | 1 med | 6g | 42 |
Low-Sugar Liquids for Smoothies
The best low-sugar liquid for smoothies is unsweetened plant-based almond milk or water since both have 0 grams of sugar per serving. Water is an easy ingredient to add, while almond milk offers a little more flavor and creaminess.
Try one of these:
- water
- unsweetened almond milk
- unsweetened oat milk
- skim milk
- coconut water
- unsweetened black coffee
- unsweetened herbal tea
Liquids to Avoid in Low-Sugar Smoothies
While fruit juices and flavored milk are popular additions to smoothies, they also carry a lot of added sugar per serving. Orange, apple, and cranberry juice are the highest contributors, between 24 and 30 grams of sugar per 8 oz/1 cup of liquid.
Other liquids to avoid are chocolate milk (up to 30g of sugar per cup) and sweetened plant-based milk (up to 28g of sugar per cup). Unflavored dairy milk has between 10 and 12g of sugars per cup that are naturally occurring in milk, but sugar is sugar nonetheless.
Low-Sugar Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies made with minimal amounts of sugar can taste great. The secret is the right combination of ingredients for both nutrition and flavor.
Here are my top low-sugar smoothie recipes to try, all yielding 1 serving each. Note: I linked the original recipe so you can learn to adapt your favorite smoothie recipes into a low-sugar version.
Blueberry Green Smoothie Recipe from votes
½ cup frozen blueberries, large handful of spinach, ½ ripe banana, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice. Adapted from the original recipe below
Original Recipe
Chocolate Smoothie from votes
½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 ripe banana, frozen and quartered, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original Recipe
Mango Sunrise Smoothie1 cup frozen cauliflower floret, 1 cup frozen mango chunks, 1 fresh mango, peeled and deseeded, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original Recipe
Yummy Green Smoothie from votes
½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1 large handful of spinach, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, optional, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original Recipe
Strawberry Banana Smoothie½ cup frozen strawberries, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, ½ ripe banana, fresh or frozen, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipe
Nut Butter Smoothie½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 ½ tablespoons nut butter, 1 ripe banana, frozen and quartered, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original Recipe
Green Berry Smoothie from votes
1 cup frozen triple-berry mix, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 handful spinach, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, your choice, 2-3 ice cubes (if using fresh berries) Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original Recipe
Watermelon Smoothie from votes
1 ½ cups fresh watermelon, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 cup unsweetened plant milk, 2-3 ice cubes. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipe
Coconut Smoothie from votes
1 ripe banana, frozen and quartered, ½ tablespoon peanut butter, ½ cup coconut milk, 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes, ¼ teaspoon vanilla, 2-3 ice cubes. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipeLow Sugar Smoothie Bowls
Love smoothies so thick you need to enjoy them with a spoon? I’ve got you covered with these low-sugar smoothie bowl recipes.
Here are my top low-sugar smoothie bowls to try, all yielding 1 serving each. Note: I linked the original recipes you can print. Toppings are not listed since those add sugars too.
Strawberries and cream smoothie bowl from votes
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, ½ cup frozen strawberries, ½ avocado, 1 cup ice, 2 teaspoons chia seeds, 1 scoop unsweetened vanilla protein, optional.
Print this recipe
Blueberry Protein Smoothie Bowl from votes
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, ½ cup frozen blueberries, ½ avocado, 1 cup ice, 2 teaspoons chia seeds, 1 scoop unsweetened vanilla protein, optional.
Print this Recipe
Mocha Smoothie Bowl from votes
½ cup brewed coffee, 2 espresso shots, ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 teaspoon chia seeds, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, Water, added slowly for blending. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipe
Chocolate Smoothie Bowl from votes
½ banana, frozen and quartered, ½ avocado, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 teaspoon chia seeds, 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder, ½ cup unsweetened almond milk. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipe
Peach Smoothie Bowl from votes
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, ½ cup frozen peaches, ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 scoop vanilla protein, unsweetened. Adapted from the original recipe below.
Original recipeHow to make low-sugar smoothies thicker
Smoothie recipes typically call for fresh or frozen fruit to accommodate for texture. Fresh fruit will yield a thinner/runnier smoothie than using frozen fruit. If your low-sugar smoothie lacks the desired texture and is too runny, you can make it thicker by adding 1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds, 1-2 teaspoons of flax meal, ice cubes, a scoop of protein powder, or even a teaspoon of coconut flour.
10 Low-Sugar Smoothies that Taste Great
Make one of these low-sugar smoothies that are both nutritious and delicious.
from votes
Servings 1
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen cauilflower florets
- ½ ripe banana, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup unsweetened plant milk
Instructions
Place all the ingredients inside the blender jar, cover, and blend until smooth.
Pour the smoothie into a cup and enjoy.
Notes
Consider adding 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, hemp seeds, or flax meal to your smoothie for added nutrition.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 smoothieCalories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 341mgPotassium: 471mgFiber: 5gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 325mgIron: 1mg
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