As Americans search for more healthy options and take less time for meals, fruit smoothie shops have gained in popularity both locally and nationwide.
Fruit smoothie sales in the United States have shot up more than 80 percent in the last five years, topping $2 billion last year, according to recent research.
Some use smoothies as meal replacements or as snacks.
Do you like fruit smoothies?  Have you ever substituted one for a meal?  Were you still hungry?  Do you buy smoothies for health reasons or because of how they taste?

A recent report from the American Bankers Association says that credit cards and debit cards are Americans' first choices when paying, while cash and checks combine for less than half of consumers' monthly payments.
Do you still use cash and checks?  How often do you use credit cards and debit cards?
I know people who use debit or credit cards at the drive up window for fast food purchases, which I think is a bit excessive.
I only use checks for paying bills, but I have started paying as many bills as possible online using a bill pay service through my bank, which is quicker, more efficient and allows me to pay a bill right when I am thinking about it and decreases the chance I will forget about it.
Stores have to pay extra for services allowing customers to use credit cards or debit cards and some have raised prices or added per-purchase surcharges for paying with plastic.