Product Review: Freshens Smoothies

Are you looking for a healthy yet tasty option while on the go? Does this option have to be made so you can get to your next destination as soon as possible? If you answered yes to both questions, a Freshens Smoothie may be the answer.

The Freshens product line can be found in over 1,500 locations across the United States, including shopping malls, colleges, healthcare facilities, and stadiums and arenas. 20 kinds of smoothies are available and each one is made with a different juice, fruit, and syrup combinations. The four categories of smoothies are yogurt based, fruit juice, low calorie, and tropical drinks. The tropical drinks are made with orange juice/sherbet mix and the low calorie drinks are made with a sugar free version of the yogurt and fruit juice mixes.

Smoothies are available in regular 21 ounce sized or large 32 ounce sized. They are made with eight or 12 ounces of base mix, as many as three scoops of up to three kinds of fruit, and one or two scoops of ice. In some drinks, fruit flavored syrup known as puree may also be used. These drinks can be made in 60 seconds or less. The many different kinds of fruit available for your creation are bananas, strawberries, pineapples, mangos, blueberries, raspberries, and peaches. The puree flavors are blueberry/cranberry, mango, peach, and coconut.

If you need your daily vitamins, Freshens offers different supplements called boosters for your drink. Your first booster is free and there is a small charge if you want an extra one. Each booster has different vitamins in it and fits people of different lifestyles, whether you need a pick me up or a metabolism boost. The protein booster, for example, is a scoop of a powder that helps build muscle and maintaining an overall fitness level. The other boosters come in tablets, but all blend right in with your fruit and drink mix. Other available supplements are: energy, immune, slim down, femme support, and multi-vitamin.

I don't want to sound too biased because I work at a Freshens stand at my job, but employment aside; I have always enjoyed these smoothies. Even in a long line, you never have to wait long as the stand worker can make more than one smoothie at a time. All the ingredients come together to make a refreshing drink on any day and you can always taste the fruit even after it's all been blended together. My personal favorite smoothie is the Jamaican Jammer, which is made with yogurt mix, bananas, and strawberries.

The only problem with the Freshens product is the quality if your server does not make them properly. Sometimes if not enough ice is added, the smoothie can come out too watery and you may need more ice to make it even out more. Other times, there may be too much of one ingredient and this makes the drink chunky and difficult to drink.

After working with the Freshens smoothies and having some of them on my own time, this product is a must have if it is offered near you. The smoothies are now all one price so you will never pay more than you have to. Also, you can't go wrong with the healthy options. The menu outlines the ingredients in all smoothies and emphasizes the nutrition benefits. There is even a booklet on hand about the nutritional information for all the boosters.

If you do not have a Freshens stand near you, you can still learn more beyond this review. Head on over to www.freshens.com to look up nutritional information and ingredients and learn more about the other products the brand offers.