http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492 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?&nbsp; Have you ever substituted one for a meal?&nbsp; Were you still hungry?&nbsp; Do you buy smoothies for health reasons or because of how they taste? 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?&nbsp; Have you ever substituted one for a meal?&nbsp; Were you still hungry?&nbsp; Do you buy smoothies for health reasons or because of how they taste? en-us Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:39:49 PDT <p>Remember the Frozen Yogurt craze of the early 90's?   I predict that all of these fruit smoothie shops will go the way of the frozen yogurt shops.  </p> <p>I actually can't order fruit smoothies from outside the home.  Most, if not all, of the shops use pineapple (and I'm allergic).  Plus, I looked up the nutritional content on a few of them and they're really very caloric and sugary.  So...I guess your answer is: "no. I don't drink them."</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121726 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121726 <p>Remember the Frozen Yogurt craze of the early 90's?   I predict that all of these fruit smoothie shops will go the way of the frozen yogurt shops.  </p> <p>I actually can't order fruit smoothies from outside the home.  Most, if not all, of the shops use pineapple (and I'm allergic).  Plus, I looked up the nutritional content on a few of them and they're really very caloric and sugary.  So...I guess your answer is: "no. I don't drink them."</p> I love the Jamba Juice's Orange Dream Machine&nbsp;with an extra Fiber Boost (colon blow).&nbsp;&nbsp; I think that's the reason&nbsp;smoothie joints&nbsp;are so popular, beause they offer many healthy additives, but people forget to count the calories on what they think is a &quot;health drink&quot; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121764 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121764 I love the Jamba Juice's Orange Dream Machine&nbsp;with an extra Fiber Boost (colon blow).&nbsp;&nbsp; I think that's the reason&nbsp;smoothie joints&nbsp;are so popular, beause they offer many healthy additives, but people forget to count the calories on what they think is a &quot;health drink&quot; No. No. No. And neither. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121992 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_121992 No. No. No. And neither. I occasionally buy smoothies as snacks, but don't usually substitute them for meals because they tend to not fill me up.&nbsp; I also like knowing that I am getting some valuable nutrients, although you have to check the full ingredient list to see how many calories are in it and if it has processed sugars, etc. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122006 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122006 I occasionally buy smoothies as snacks, but don't usually substitute them for meals because they tend to not fill me up.&nbsp; I also like knowing that I am getting some valuable nutrients, although you have to check the full ingredient list to see how many calories are in it and if it has processed sugars, etc. <p><font face="Verdana" color="#008080"><strong>I drink them because they're refreshing and better then a burger on a hot Bakersfield day.&nbsp; They don't give you that heavy filling like food would.&nbsp; Whether they're healthier or not, do we smoothie junkies really care....</strong></font></p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122130 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122130 <p><font face="Verdana" color="#008080"><strong>I drink them because they're refreshing and better then a burger on a hot Bakersfield day.&nbsp; They don't give you that heavy filling like food would.&nbsp; Whether they're healthier or not, do we smoothie junkies really care....</strong></font></p> I'm addicted to Jamba's Carribean Passion.&nbsp; On a hot day it's so refreshing. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122247 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122247 I'm addicted to Jamba's Carribean Passion.&nbsp; On a hot day it's so refreshing. Since I'm allergic to all fresh fruit, I haven't even tried a fruit smoothie.&nbsp; The look good, smell good and seem refreshing..but not worth the burning, itchy mouth and throat or the blistered lips. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122268 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122268 Since I'm allergic to all fresh fruit, I haven't even tried a fruit smoothie.&nbsp; The look good, smell good and seem refreshing..but not worth the burning, itchy mouth and throat or the blistered lips. <p>Nancy</p> <p>That's the same reaction Cat and I have to oranges.&nbsp; I just don't try to&nbsp;eat citrus or apples because of the&nbsp;stomach&nbsp;upset and blistering around the mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; BTW don't even get me started on what pineapple does to me.&nbsp; It ain't pretty.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122715 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122715 <p>Nancy</p> <p>That's the same reaction Cat and I have to oranges.&nbsp; I just don't try to&nbsp;eat citrus or apples because of the&nbsp;stomach&nbsp;upset and blistering around the mouth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; BTW don't even get me started on what pineapple does to me.&nbsp; It ain't pretty.</p> Audrey..we'd be up a stump if we were stranded on a tropical&nbsp;island where all we had to eat was fruit.&nbsp; ;-) http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122722 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_122722 Audrey..we'd be up a stump if we were stranded on a tropical&nbsp;island where all we had to eat was fruit.&nbsp; ;-) <p>Yes I have substitued a meal for a smoothie only to have an allergic reaction.&nbsp; I have only tried the Jamba Juice ones. I went back for a second try with the same reaction.&nbsp; Third times was a charm.&nbsp;&nbsp;I found that you can ask them nice to rinse the containers well and then only put the few items that I am not allergic to with no problems.&nbsp; They are were very helpful in making the perfect smoothie for me.&nbsp; I think the sugar content is way to high but a great way to cool off.&nbsp; I do remember the Frozen Yogart Craze of late 80's.&nbsp; I think I sunk a fortune in McCarthey's up on Columbus. I wonder how big of a cut into Starbucks market this smoothie craze is having on them? Like everything else they are not cheap but a good alternative.&nbsp; I wonder what the comparison to a Milk Shake from Dewars' vs a smoothie from Jamba Juice is???&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_126271 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_126271 <p>Yes I have substitued a meal for a smoothie only to have an allergic reaction.&nbsp; I have only tried the Jamba Juice ones. I went back for a second try with the same reaction.&nbsp; Third times was a charm.&nbsp;&nbsp;I found that you can ask them nice to rinse the containers well and then only put the few items that I am not allergic to with no problems.&nbsp; They are were very helpful in making the perfect smoothie for me.&nbsp; I think the sugar content is way to high but a great way to cool off.&nbsp; I do remember the Frozen Yogart Craze of late 80's.&nbsp; I think I sunk a fortune in McCarthey's up on Columbus. I wonder how big of a cut into Starbucks market this smoothie craze is having on them? Like everything else they are not cheap but a good alternative.&nbsp; I wonder what the comparison to a Milk Shake from Dewars' vs a smoothie from Jamba Juice is???&nbsp;</p> <p>I saw a report a while back which suggested that there's a rise in food allergies, specifically to fruit, possibly due to the introduction of exotic fruits such as kiwi&nbsp;imported from elsewhere.</p> <p>.</p> <p>Although more people *THINK* they have food allergies than actually do.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_126275 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/schuster80/12492/#c_126275 <p>I saw a report a while back which suggested that there's a rise in food allergies, specifically to fruit, possibly due to the introduction of exotic fruits such as kiwi&nbsp;imported from elsewhere.</p> <p>.</p> <p>Although more people *THINK* they have food allergies than actually do.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>