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It’s a disturbingly common sight. From college cafeterias to mall food courts, people with their lunch smoothies peddle back and forth, happily sipping on fruit goodness, and that’s great - or it would be if they didn’t also have a tray of food to go along with it.

I guess the assumption is that a smoothie is a healthy “drink” that’ll provide fruit servings alongside your Sbarro pizza or Subway wrap. What’s being overlooked is that smoothies are designed to be the meal, not to accompany it. The calorie count generally runs anywhere from 250 - 500 calories in the small serving (20 oz) smoothie portions.

The thing is, a lunch smoothie is a good meal choice, as long as it isn’t one of those massive 40 oz monstrosities, or the ice cream or peanut-butter based kind that is more akin to a milkshake than anything else. But - and let me emphasize but - if you decide to go for the smoothie stand on your lunch break, stick to the smoothie - that’s your lunch.

If you love smoothies, but really want something solid to go along with it, try some of the accompaniments that your smoothie stand most likely offers, like a slice of pumpkin loaf. Or, ask for the 12 oz “snack size” smoothie, which still may have enough calories to be counted, and spring for the chicken tenders sans fries and coke.

The key to a balanced diet is calorie maitenence, so just make sure you consider what you’re consuming before you dig into it. Most places, especially smoothie franchises like Planet Smoothie and Smoothie King will have nutrition guides right at the register for you to take a look at before placing your order.

You don’t want to make a would-be healthy decision only to find that you’ve sabotaged your calorie intake for the day.