Parents hosting a children’s birthday party
A 150ml pouch makes it straightforward to offer one measured smoothie. The NHS advises a combined daily limit of 150ml for fruit juice and smoothies, so plan another drink for refills.
Who is this for?
Hosts looking for a drink with no sugar
Look beyond “no added sugar” on the front of a smoothie. The sugars value on the nutrition panel tells you what the selected drink contains per 100ml.
Hosts serving a larger group
Multipacks offer individual servings, while 750ml smoothies need someone to pour portions. Check whether each chosen pack needs chilling before and during the party.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether the drink needs to contain no sugar or whether a limited fruit smoothie is acceptable. Then match the serving format and storage instructions to your party plan.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read “of which sugars” per 100ml on the exact drink. A no-added-sugar smoothie can still contain fruit sugars: Waitrose & Partners lists 10g per 100ml for innocent Kids. | I need a drink with no sugar, rather than simply one with no sugar added. |
| Portions | Check the pouch size or measure what you pour from a bottle. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to 150ml combined per day. | For children’s drinks, I want to know how much smoothie each guest is served. |
| Pack format | Compare individual servings with the portions you plan to pour. Waitrose & Partners lists an innocent Kids 10x150ml pack; Tesco and M&S list 750ml smoothie bottles. | A multipack would simplify handing out drinks; a shared bottle would need measured pouring. |
| Ingredients | Check the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information. M&S describes some smoothies blended with yoghurt, dates and oats, so recipes differ. | I need to choose drinks that fit my guests’ stated ingredient or dietary requirements. |
| Storage | Read the selected pack’s chilling, opening and date-label instructions. Keep drinks that require refrigeration chilled until they are served. | I want to put drinks out in manageable batches rather than leave chilled packs on the table throughout the party. |
Party-planning pitfalls
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Assuming “no added sugar” means no sugar
Waitrose & Partners lists 10g sugars per 100ml for innocent Kids despite its no-added-sugar wording. Tesco lists 9.8g per 100ml for Naked Fibre Machine.
If no sugar is a requirement, compare the “of which sugars” value on the exact drink rather than relying on its front-of-pack wording.
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Offering smoothies as unlimited refills
It is easy to lose track of portions when guests pour from a large bottle. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to 150ml combined per day.
Plan measured smoothie servings and offer other refreshments for refills.
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Assuming every smoothie has the same ingredients
Recipes differ: M&S describes smoothies containing yoghurt, dates or oats. A product’s dietary suitability cannot be assumed from its brand or bottle size.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutrition panel for the particular flavour and pack you intend to serve.
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Leaving chilled drinks out without a serving plan
Storage and after-opening instructions depend on the product. A party table is not a substitute for following the selected pack’s chilling directions.
Keep drinks that require refrigeration chilled until needed, put out smaller batches and follow the pack instructions once opened.
Brands and retailers to compare
These examples illustrate formats and label checks; a retailer’s wider range will not necessarily share the characteristics of one listed drink.
innocent
Its fruit-and-vegetable smoothie range includes a Kids Strawberries, Raspberries & Apples 10x150ml pack listed by Waitrose & Partners.
- The Kids pack provides individual 150ml servings.
- Its no-added-sugar wording does not mean sugar-free: the listing states 10g sugars per 100ml.
Naked
Tesco lists Naked Fibre Machine in a 750ml bottle.
- Tesco’s label information states 4.2g fibre per 150ml serving.
- The same 150ml serving lists 15g sugars, so check it against any requirement for a drink with no sugar.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label Mango Passion Fruit and Strawberry Sensation smoothies in 750ml bottles.
- The bottle format can be divided into planned servings for a group.
- Check each flavour’s ingredients, sugars value and storage instructions before choosing it for particular guests.
M&S
M&S describes ready-made smoothies in 350ml and 750ml bottles.
- The two listed bottle sizes give hosts different ways to plan servings.
- Some recipes include yoghurt, dates or oats; check the selected drink’s ingredients and allergens.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists the innocent Kids Strawberries, Raspberries & Apples 10x150ml multipack.
- The listing identifies ten individual 150ml smoothie servings.
- Its stated sugars value applies to that product, not to every smoothie sold by the retailer.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists Naked Fibre Machine in a 750ml bottle.
- Its listing identifies a shared-bottle option for guests who specifically want that smoothie.
- Naked Fibre Machine contains sugars; it should not be selected as a drink with no sugar.
Joybuy drinks for the party
These cartons and cans are alternatives to fruit smoothies for party refreshments. Ribena is labelled no added sugar, while the other packs are named Zero or Sugar-Free; check the sugars value on the current pack if a drink with no sugar is required.
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Ribena Strawberry No Added Sugar Cartons 24x250ml
Individual cartons provide an alternative to pouring smoothies at a party.
This is a juice drink, not a fruit smoothie. Check the current carton’s sugars value rather than treating “no added sugar” as a sugar-free claim; also check its sweetener and phenylalanine information if relevant to a guest.
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7 Up Lemonade Zero 24x330ml
This multipack offers individual soft drinks instead of shared smoothie bottles.
It is a carbonated drink, not a fruit smoothie. Check the pack’s sugars, sweetener and phenylalanine information, and confirm the exact lemonade variant before ordering.
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7UP Zero 24x330ml
The individual cans offer another way to serve party drinks without pouring smoothies.
This is a carbonated soft drink rather than a smoothie. Check the current can’s sugars value and ingredient information, including its sweetener and phenylalanine statements.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24x330ml
Individual cans provide a sugar-free-labelled alternative to a shared fruit smoothie.
This is an apple-flavoured carbonated soft drink, not a smoothie. Check the current can’s sugars value and ingredients, including sweeteners, against guests’ requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a smoothie contains no sugar?
No. Waitrose & Partners lists 10g sugars per 100ml for innocent Kids despite its no-added-sugar wording. Check “of which sugars” per 100ml on the exact pack if the amount of sugar matters for your choice.
How should I plan smoothie portions for children?
Plan a measured serving rather than repeated refills. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to 150ml combined per day; a 150ml pouch makes that amount easy to identify, but any juice or smoothie already consumed that day also counts towards it.
Can smoothies stay on the party table?
Follow the storage and after-opening instructions on the exact pack. Keep drinks that require refrigeration chilled until needed, and put out smaller batches if they will not all be served at once.
What if guests have allergies or follow a vegan diet?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on each selected product. M&S describes some smoothies blended with yoghurt, dates and oats, so neither a retailer’s range nor the word “smoothie” establishes suitability for every guest.
Can I buy smoothies ahead of the party?
Yes, if you can follow the selected pack’s date label and storage instructions through to serving. GOV.UK distinguishes use-by dates, which concern safety, from best-before dates, which concern quality.