Is a Jamba Juice smoothie really the "world's freshest, most 'fruit-filling' experience?" Well that's what Jamba Juice claims. I'd like to know when a smoothie became more "fruit-filling" than an actual piece of fresh fruit. Here are a few facts about the smoothies and their long-lost rival... fresh fruit.
Benefits of fresh fruit (with peel on if possible):
- Cheap... at least cheaper than a smoothie.
- Delicious. Who doesn't like fruit?
- Usually portable.
- Healthy:
- Full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. According to Wikipedia, "Regular consumption of fruit is associated with reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer disease, cataracts, and some of the functional declines associated with aging.
- All natural. Sounds obvious, but many people don't realize the amount of processed junk that ends up in our food. Even something a simple as fruit juice can be full of high fructose corn syrup and other additives.
- An apple has around 50 calories, a banana has about 100.
Downsides of fresh fruit:
- Not always available in urban areas, and sometime more expensive than other snacks.
- Sometimes messy and not portable.
Benefits of Jamba Juice smoothies:
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- Healthier alternative to other fast food.
- Portable
- Widely available
- Tasty
- Some have soy or dairy for protein.
- Contain some fresh fruit; have vitamins
- Snazzy names like Mango-a-go-go!
Downsides of Jamba Juice:
- Lots of sugar and not very filling-- an original 24 ounce smoothie has over 35% of your daily value's worth of sugar, and around 500 calories.
- Relatively expensive (about $3-$5)
- Creates landfill with cup, lid, and straw, and guaranteed not to use local ingredients.
