Fruit smoothies are a popular, refreshing choice at juice bars.
Chain-owned juice bars have become popular additions to many shopping centers and malls based on the success of smaller, local outlets that maintain a base of faithful clients. Working people and mothers with active children are always looking for a quick, tasty, healthy alternative for lunch or a mid-afternoon infusion of energy. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Fruit Smoothies and Milkshakes
Fruit smoothies and fruit milkshakes are a popular staple at juice bars. They are thick, creamy, easy on the stomach, and satisfying. Classic fruit smoothies contain yogurt as a base, but buttermilk and kefir are delicious alternatives. For a milkshake, use high fat, low fat or non-fat ice cream blended with fresh pineapple, strawberries, mangoes, orange juice, blueberries or fruit sorbet. It's probably a good idea to offer chocolate or vanilla shakes while you're at it, and maybe a cappuccino shake, too. If you want to keep your customers coming back, use real ice cream and skip the artificial thickeners.
Non-Dairy Fruit Smoothies
Vegans and lactose-intolerant customers will appreciate a selection of non-dairy smoothies using soy milk, rice milk, or non-dairy sorbet or ice cream as a base. Bananas are a great base to thicken smoothies, too. Some people prefer fruit-only smoothies blended with ice. Almonds or pecans can be thrown in the blender at the last minute to offer a little texture and crunch.
Additions for Smoothies
Juice bars often have a list of extras that can be added to a smoothie for an additional charge, such as wheatgrass juice, protein powder, spirulina, ginseng, St. John's Wort, nutritional yeast, green tea powder, wheat germ, peanut or almond butter and Ginko biloba. Good alternatives to sugar are honey, brown rice or date syrup and stevia extract.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juices
Fresh-squeezed fruit juices can be served full strength or with added mineral water for a refreshing fizz. Seasonal fruit juices such as pomegranate, passion fruit and kiwi are welcome additions to apple, orange, grapefruit and lemon. Vegetable juices are often mixed together to produce delicious and nutritious drinks. Try adding lemon, red lettuce and an apple to your carrot juice. Fresh organic tomatoes, celery, cucumber, sea salt, and cayenne pepper make an invigorating afternoon pick-me-up.
Veggie Salads
A selection of fresh veggie salads provide a colorful and mouth-watering display. Each one is a crunchy, savory delight when prepared by a skilled salad maker who knows make a piquant dressing that doesn't overpower the food. When packaged in plastic boxes, they can be sold as carry-out fare for the lunch crowd. A few of the many salad possibilities include avocado-tomato salad, bean salad with walnuts and feta, goat cheese and walnut salad, beet salad, cole slaw, Greek salad, couscous, lentil salad, pasta salad, porcini-fennel salad, potato salad and salad nicoise. Include a packet of your original homemade herb crackers or croutons for a garnish.
Sample Bar
It's a good idea to have a sample bar of additional items you are thinking of offering---new salad ideas, exotic teas, savory soups, a slice of pastry, or a new smoothie concoction. Customers love to sample, and they will provide you with valuable opinions about your efforts.
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