8 Differences Between Smoothie and Shake

Difference between smoothie and shake – These are the two confusing yet refreshing drinks you often encounter.

Though their names may differ, smoothies and shakes look similar. This article will explain the key differences between them.

Further, both of the drinks differ based on several factors that are taken into consideration. 

Difference Between Smoothie and Shake – A Brief Overview

A short introduction about smoothies and shakes and what they are mostly made up of. 

What is a Smoothie?

A smoothie is a refreshing drink mostly made from fruits and vegetables. You will not require milk or other products like yogurt or ice cream to make this drink. 

Take a blender and mix all the ingredients. Here, the smoothie’s ingredients can be strawberries, pineapple, and green vegetables.

Meanwhile, if you order a smoothie at the restaurant, you might get it made from different ingredients, which is sometimes unhealthy. 

Smoothies are recommended for people going to the gym or for a pre-workout session. Secondly, many people take smoothies as a nutritional or meal supplement. 

Example of a smoothie: 2000 Calorie Smoothie

What is a Shake?

Shake is another refreshment drink made entirely from milk, often called a milkshake. Because it contains milk, it contains many calories and fats. Many people love to add whipped cream or other toppings to shakes. 

You can use bananas, mangoes, or any other fruit with a mix of milk when making a shake. Milkshakes are also eaten as a dessert. 

Example of a shake: 2000 Calorie Shake

Difference between Smoothie and Shake - Find the Difference

Difference between Smoothie and Shake – Learn to Differentiate!

How Do Smoothies and Shakes Differ?

Well, there is not one such point that we can share here about the differences between both drinks. Smoothies differ from shakes in many factors and are based on nutrition, popularity, and composition. 

Here are the 8 Differences Between Smoothies and Shake

1. Popularity of Drinks 

Talking about the smoothies, they are not an old refreshment drink but have come into existence recently. However, the smoothie has taken the world by storm, and people have found it a popular drink. 

Meanwhile, shakes or milkshakes date back to more than 100 years. 

2. The Addition of Toppings 

To make the drink different, the addition of toppings makes sense. Smoothies often have toppings of mint leaves, sometimes adding fruit slices and much more. 

Milkshakes or shakes have toppings of whipped cream, fruits, and chocolate candies. 

3. Nutritional Values They Carry

When talking about smoothies, they are liked by the gym because they contain fewer calories and fats and are low on carbs, too. Nutrition-wise, smoothies are healthier drinks than shakes. They are made from a mix of fruits and vegetables and don’t contain milk products. 

In contrast to the smoothie, shakes are heavily packed with fats, calories, and calcium, as they contain milk. Further, sugar is added to give the perfect taste; meanwhile, protein is in good quantity. 

4. When Do You Consume Them?

You often drink smoothies in the morning time as recommended as a pre-workout session drink. At the same time, people consume shakes either at noon or in the evening as dessert. 

5. The Extra Protein 

When it comes to smoothies, they don’t contain any protein content. However, it is rare to see that some people add protein to the drink. Meanwhile, the shakes, as they are made using milk products, contain protein and protein powder. 

6. Composed of Smoothie vs Shake

You know smoothies are made from a mix of fruits and vegetables without milk products. On the other hand, shakes are made from milk products, with whipped cream, ice cream, and chocolate. Some people do like adding different flavors to the shakes. 

7. The Color Makes a Difference

Talking about smoothies, they look bright and can appear red, yellow, or green. It depends on the mixture of fruits and vegetables.

However, shakes are primarily white and contain a touch of milk. Other colors can be pink or brown and may be mixed with color additives. 

8. The Texture

Smoothies are thick and rich in consistency, whereas shakes are less thick with more fluid content in them.

Shakes can sometimes be thicker and frothier. However, some restaurants have different recipes for both drinks, which can confuse the texture of smoothies and shakes. 

Are You Ready to Drink a Smoothie or a Shake?

You can opt for a smoothie or a shake based on your liking and taste. Some standard drinks people are crazy about are banana smoothies, orange smoothies, chocolate smoothies, etc.

Meanwhile, for the shakes, people opt for a banana shake, mango shake, chocolate shake, or vanilla shake. 

Difference between Smoothie and Shake - Learn More!

Difference between Smoothie and Shake – The Real Difference

Wrapping it Up

There you are. If you like thick blended beverages, choose a smoothie or a milk-based shake. It is your call, as both drinks provide different nutrition and energy.

See Also

4000 Calorie Shake

Damla Sengul

Damla Sengul, a seasoned Food Editor at Dietsmealplan.com, boasts a 5-year worth of expertise as a digital editor, with a specific focus on authentic recipe content. Her expertise extends to various crucial aspects of the cookery world, including in-depth research on renowned chefs worldwide and innovative recipe development. Additionally, Damla is an enthusiastic baker who dedicates part of her time crafting delightful celebration cakes for her friends.