Smoothies are a crowd-favorite treat that are a hit any time of year. They are customizable, refreshing, delicious, and can be easily incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. Most people are tempted to just grab a pre-made smoothie while on the go, but those options tend to be loaded with added sugar, making them a less-than-healthy treat. 

Sugar-free smoothies are the right combination of delicious and healthy — a fun treat without the extra sugar. Here, you’ll learn about what sugar-free actually means, which fruits and veggies are best for smoothies, and some healthy, sugar-free smoothie recipes you can make in your Blendtec.

What Does Sugar-Free Actually Mean?

According to the Food and Drug Administration, a food must contain less than 0.5g of sugar per serving to be considered sugar-free. It is important to note that naturally occurring sugar and a small amount of added sugar are still acceptable for sugar-free claims. If a food contains artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, it cannot be considered sugar-free.

What You Need to Know About Fruit Sugars

All fruit contains two types of natural sugars: fructose and glucose. Both of these sugars have a different effect on the body: glucose raises the blood sugar, whereas fructose is broken down by the liver. Fruit sugars, when they come from whole fruits, are safe when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Fruit Sugars Ranked

Let’s rank the most popular smoothie fruits by their sugar content — highest to lowest. 

Grams of sugar are measured per 1 cup.

• Mangoes — 22.5 grams 
• Tangerines — 20.6 grams 
• Bananas — 18.3 grams 
• Oranges —  16.8 grams 
• Pineapple — 16.3 grams 
• Kiwi — 16.2 grams 
• Blueberries — 14.7 grams 
• Apples (with skin) — 13 grams 
• Peaches — 12.9 grams 
• Watermelon — 9.4 grams 
• Strawberries — 7.4 grams 
• Blackberries — 7 grams 
• Raspberries — 5.4 grams 

Building a Sugar-Free Smoothie

Veggies Belong in Smoothies — Add Them!

Most smoothies are fruit-based, but veggies belong in smoothies, too. Some fruits and vegetables can be combined in one smoothie recipe and can be mixed to individual tastes.

Here are some popular smoothie vegetables: 

• Zucchini 
• Cucumber
• Beets 
• Cauliflower
• Carrots 
• Celery 
• Spinach 
• Kale 
• Chard 
• Avocado 

Most vegetables have very low natural sugars and are typically not considered for sugar-free recipes — but they should be!

Healthy Sugar-Free Smoothies From Blendtec

Your Blendtec is the perfect smoothie-making companion for your kitchen. Check out some of our popular sugar-free recipes to find your new favorites.

Organic Green Smoothie

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cups organic spinach
• 1 large organic kale leaf
• 1 organic date pitted
• 1 organic apple cored and quartered
• 1 organic banana
• 1 cup organic fresh pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup ice cubes

Layered Watermelon Smoothie

Ingredients

Green Layer

• 1 cup watermelon rind peeled
• 1 cup green grapes frozen
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. agave nectar (or your choice of sweetener, to taste)
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds

Red Layer

• 2 cups seedless watermelon
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 tsp. agave nectar (or your choice of sweetener, to taste)

Orange Greensicle Smoothie

Ingredients

• 3 medium oranges peeled
• 1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 tbsp. honey (or sweetener of choice, to taste)
• 1 cup fresh spinach loosely packed (more if desired)
• 2 cups ice cubes

Berry Smoothie 

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)
• 1/2 cup plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder optional
• 1 tbsp. honey (or sweetener of choice, to taste) optional
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 1 cup frozen berries (your choice)

Carrot Cake Smoothie 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp. honey (or sweetener of choice, to taste)
• 3 medium carrots trimmed, peeled & cut into chunks
• 2 tbsp. walnuts chopped
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 1/2 cups ice cubes

Paleo Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients

• 13 1/2 oz. coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp. powdered egg whites
• 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 kiwi peeled
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder

Note: The above smoothie recipes include naturally occurring fruit sugars and some include natural sweeteners such as honey and agave. Without artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, these recipes are considered sugar-free.

Add Sugar-Free Smoothies to Your Recipe Rotation

With your Blendtec and endless ingredient options on your side, your sugar-free smoothie options are endless. Use the recipes above, find new recipes here, or experiment on your own to find the perfect sugar-free smoothies to add to your recipe rotation.