Homemade juices and smoothies are both great ways to get quick nutrition, but is one better for you than the other?  Of course, the most important factor is the ingredients you use.  Smoothies are generally a blend of whole foods, which means you are keeping all the nutrients from your fruits and veggies intact. Another big benefit to smoothies is the ability to add in extra-nutritious ingredients. For example, you can pump up the protein by adding Greek yogurt or a nutritious powder.  You can also toss in a healthy fat, in the form of avocado, chia seeds, or almond butter.  The nutritional balance of a smoothie is what can make it a legit meal replacement or post-workout recovery drink.

You can cut up and measure out the ingredients ahead of time, freeze them, and then blend with a cup or so of liquid when you are ready to enjoy.  Here are a few recipe ideas to get you started:

1. Peanut Butter Banana: Cut up and freeze a banana.  Blend it with 1 tablespoon of smooth peanut butter or peanut butter flavored protein powder, Greek yogurt, and almond milk for desired consistency.
2. Green Pineapple: Cut up and freeze a banana and a cup or so of pineapple.  Blend it with a cup of spinach and almond milk for desired consistency.
3. Strawberry Mango: Cut up and freeze a small banana, a cup of strawberries, and a half-cup of mango.  Blend with ½ cup of oats, a spoonful of honey, and almond milk to desired consistency.
4. Mango Berry: Cut up and freeze a small banana, mixed berries and a small container of mixed fruit.  Blend with orange juice to desired consistency.
5. Very Berry: Cut up and freeze 2 cups of mixed berries.  Blend with a tablespoon of almond butter, Greek yogurt, and ice water to desired consistency.

Juice is a great way to boost your intake of fruit and vegetables.  For people who have a hard time getting their daily requirements, juice is a great way to consume produce and get the vitamins and minerals the body needs.  One drawback of juicing is that it usually extracts the nutrients in the produce but leaves the fiber behind.  Not only does this make the juice less filling than whole fruit and vegetables, but it also omits the health benefits of fiber, which is important for moving material through the digestive system.  In addition, when juice is made with fruit or vegetables with high sugar content, like carrots, it may cause a blood sugar spike, particularly if it is consumed without other food at the same time. 

Whether you are making juice or a smoothie, just be mindful of the ingredients and the portions.   Sometimes people have juice or a smoothie with a meal, for example.  This is fine, but if you are trying to lose weight, you will want to ensure that you are not consuming more calories that you will burn.