By Cara Bertozzi
Summer is fast approaching, and the changing weather is providing ample opportunities to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and exercise. I always find myself craving lighter food options this time of year, and what better way to showcase fresh fruit and vegetable produce than cold-pressed juices and smoothies? From exotic blends to straightforward flavors, read on for a list of tempting local squeezed or blended beverages.
Marlene’s Deli
Check out the deli counter at Marlene’s for a completely customizable fresh pressed juice or smoothie experience. If it’s juice you’re craving, select a base of carrot, apple, orange, grapefruit or cucumber juice, and add a combination of your choice of celery, parsley, beets, spinach, kale, broccoli, ginger or lemon. For a smoothie, start with apple juice, cranberry juice, coconut water, milk or milk alternatives, and add spinach, kale, mango, raspberry, banana, blueberry, peach, pineapple or strawberry. Specialty options are also available, such as the Tropikale smoothie with kale, spinach, mango, pineapple, coconut water and apple juice or the Green Giant juice with kale, spinach, broccoli, parsley, celery, cucumber and apple juice. Boosters are add-on that can enhance the nutrient content of your smoothie and include hemp and whey protein, Marlene’s greens, a super concentrated mixture of greens high in anti-oxidants, and spirulina, a blue-green sea algae from Hawaii.
Marlene’s Deli
2951 S. 38th St.
Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Whole Foods — Chambers Bay
Everyone is buzzing about the fancy new Whole Foods market that just celebrated its grand opening. They are the proud purveyors of a range of vegan juices, smoothies and Vega One protein powder meal replacement shakes available at their in-house juice bar. Smoothie base options include apple juice, orange juice, coconut water, almond milk, vanilla soy milk, hemp milk and coconut milk. They carry a range of fruits that are flash frozen at the farms where they are harvested to lock in nutrients, and bananas are prepped and frozen at the store to add creaminess to the smoothies without the dairy. Bonus: no ice is needed to concoct a cool, frothy treat! Add-ins include matcha, spirulina, unsweetened cocoa powder, shredded coconut and peanut and almond butters. The juicer works best with denser veggies, so typical juices might include blends of apple, beet, carrot, celery, lemon, lime, ginger and turmeric squeezes. Wheat grass shots with ginger and turmeric are a popular way to kick off the day, as are wellness shots with apple, lemon, ginger, turmeric and cayenne. The best part is that everything is completely customizable, and with the produce department nearby for inspiration, it’s easy to construct an invigorating beverage. Cold-pressed juices with a shelf life of 3 days are also available in the produce section.
Whole Foods — Chambers Bay
3515 Bridgeport Way West
University Place, WA 98466
Hours:
Sunday — Saturday: 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., opens an hour before the store opens
Happy Belly
Formerly home to Smooth and Juicy, Happy Belly offers the same delightful smoothies and juices as their predecessor, but with Jennifer Johnson at the helm, they have branched into a wider array of food offerings. Happy Belly is all about packing healthy flavor and variety into their rotating seasonal menu, with a full spectrum of vegetarian and vegan options plus nutritious proteins. Their tasty salads are also available all summer long at the Broadway Farmers’ Market and at food festivals around town. Like other local establishments, they also offer sporadic educational food classes.
Happy Belly
1122 Market St.
Tacoma, WA 98402
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt Shoppe
A locally owned business that believes in giving back to the community, Gibson’s Frozen Yogurt Shoppe has two brick and mortar establishments in the Stadium and Westgate neighborhoods as well as a new food truck that can be found popping up at events all over the city. In addition to its frozen yogurt offerings, espresso, soups and sandwiches, Gibson’s also offers nutritious, low-fat smoothies. Customers can choose from four different Island Oasis fruit blends — strawberry, banana, mango or raspberry — that are then added to a sweet vanilla or tart euro-style yogurt base. Add in any number of fresh fruits that are cut up daily, such as peaches, kiwi, strawberries, mandarin oranges, lychee and pineapple, as well as any of the frozen yogurt toppings that catch your eye. You can’t go wrong with a little Oreo.
Stadium location:
8 N. Tacoma Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98403
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Westgate location:
5916 N. 26th St.
Tacoma, WA 98407
Hours:
Sunday – Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Jamba Juice
Ever since trying my first acai bowl in Hawaii, I have been a tad obsessed with hunting down various versions of these tart little treats. Needless to say, I was thrilled to find that Jamba Juice now offers acai among their energy bowl options. A frozen blend of acai berries and Greek yogurt is topped with granola, coconut, honey, almonds and fresh blueberries and bananas. Pure goodness. With locations in Tacoma and Puyallup, what are you waiting for?
Tacoma Mall
4502 S. Steele St., Ste. #381
Tacoma, WA 98409
Hours:
Sunday – Saturday: 6:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
South Hill Mall
3803 Meridian South
Puyallup, WA 98373
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Java and Clay Café
Gig Harbor’s Java and Clay Café is a great spot to grab a cup of joe and watch the world go by along the harbor, or better yet, pick out a piece of pottery and custom paint it to your fancy while sipping on a smoothie. Choose from an all-natural liquid Cascade Valley blend of banana, blueberry, pomegranate, lemonade, mango, marionberry/blackberry, peach, raspberry, or strawberry. The juice can be blended with ice and water or cow’s milk, soy milk, or almond milk and topped with whipped cream.
Java and Caly Café
3210 Harborview Drive
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Hours:
Sunday – Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
20 oz. Green Sunrise Recipe (courtesy of Happy Belly)
1 quarter size piece of fresh ginger
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup orange juice
1 ripe banana
1 cup (packed) equivalent of fresh kale (de-stem if using a less powerful blender like a Magic Bullet)
1/4 cup fresh pear
1 cup of ice
Blend all of the ingredients together and enjoy the tasty benefits of eating raw fruits and vegetables. Your body will thank you!
