Not all smoothies are created equal and more customers are seeking to make healthier choices when on-the-go. A note of caution; there may be hidden ingredients in the commercial smoothie mix supplies you are currently purchasing for your restaurant, coffee shop or café. These ingredients will compromise the overall nutritional benefit of the smoothie creations you are serving to your customers. Like fruit juices, some of the smoothies being served in popular restaurants, coffee shops and cafés could even be categorized with more sugary, carbonated beverages. The added sugars, GMOs, and artificial additives found in some commercial smoothie mix supplies drive up the sugar content, which can make them behave a lot like a soft drink in the body. Make sure the smoothie you serve isn’t the equivalent to drinking a can of soda. 

 

 

Smoothies, when made with the right ingredients, contain essential nutrients and soluble fiber, which provides your customers with important health benefits in a drinkable item. Convenient, especially considering the ever increasing market of consumers that are leading active and clean eating lifestyles. Offer smoothies on your menu for breakfast, as a light snack, or as a meal in itself. 

 

When choosing a commercial smoothie mix, it is important to read the label to understand exactly what is going to go inside of the smoothies you are selling. Food manufacturers go to great lengths to disguise the added sugars in their products. The food industry has over 50 names for added sugar, which can make it confusing for the average label-reader interested in the ingredients in their food and beverages. 

Finding a smoothie mix without added sugars is the first step to ensuring that you are serving a healthy snack. Sugars that have a high concentration of fructose may be more dangerous to consumers. While nearly every cell in the body can metabolize glucose, fructose is metabolized almost exclusively by the liver. Studies have shown time and time again that high fructose consumption has adverse metabolic effects on the body, including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes. 

Also, beware of food manufacturers that use other artificial ingredients to change the flavor or shelf life of their products. Avoid any products that use GMOs, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or other additives. Some food manufacturers even use apple and pear juices to sweeten their product, which also drives up the sugar content in the recipes for smoothies. 

Are the smoothie mix supplies you are currently using as good for your customers as you think?  If not, look for a company that provides 100% real fruit products infused with highly functional superfoods, without the unwanted ingredients that could be making your smoothie recipes the equivalent of a can of soda.