Following on from my popular blog post a few years ago, A Guide to Summer Shakes and Smoothies, I thought it about time I brought you the healthy version. No ice cream this time.
Just as the nationwide trend for healthy eating continues, Brighton has likewise gained more and more places to buy fresh, organic smoothies packed full of the good stuff.
Here's my selection of the best places to buy a healthy smoothie in Brighton.VBites
Located closest to the seafront, VBites is in a great spot on East Street just around the corner from Brighton's lively Pier. Serving a selection of vegan meats, fish, cheeses, deli pots and sauces, their fruit and vegetable smoothies are a great way to enjoy a cooling drink while consuming some essential nutrients and minerals. Choose from their Detox Zing, the Hulk, Pash 'n Shoot, Big 4, Berry Go Round and Strawberry Split. I chose the Pash 'n Shoot, a combination of passionfruit, mango and carrot. The fruit had come from the frozen section and tasted good although a little too ice-cold for the perfect smoothie.
Smoothies £3.25
Shakeaway
Smoothies - regular £3.15, large £4.15, 'named' regular £4.15, large £5.15
Eat Naked
This is a great place, although difficult for me to find, the first time I went looking for it. It's up the arcade opposite Molton Brown and just at the back of Cath Kitson to give you a few well known shop markers. They have recently celebrated their 1st birthday and yet it feels like they have been there longer. Co-owned by Stacie Stewart, a trained chef and her partner Ryan Brown, the ingredients used in the superfood smoothies are a testament to the amount of thought and passion that goes into everything they make. The smoothie options are made up of The Elixir, Energise and Glow. To give an example of the type of ingredients the smoothies contain, The Elixir combines avocado, kale, cold pressed celery, ginger, apple and pear juice and bentonite clay. In fact, all of their food is pretty amazing, free from chemicals and processing, as well as free from gluten, wheat, refined sugars and with the exception of the odd dash of fat free greek yoghurt, dairy free too. If you haven't already, Eat Naked is definitely worth seeking out.
Smoothies - £4.50
Eat Naked, 16 E Street Arcade, Brighton BN1 1HG
42 Juice
This place is also relatively new and brand new to me, even though it is situated prominently in the square opposite Brighton Town Hall. I love their branding, it's all so instagrammable! Promising 100% raw, cold-pressed and organic, they sell smoothies, juices and juice cleanses. It's the kind of place I'd been looking for for years. I'm still a bit confused about how it took me so long to spot it. When I asked how long they'd been open they said a year and half and yet I only found it about a month ago. *Anyway, move on Sarah.* Again, this place was super busy when I went in and when I went back for a second and a third time. So far I've tried their almond milk, then almond with turmeric, then with strawberry and a rose water. My favourite is still the first one I tried, the almond milk, which tastes lush. Just go for it.
42 Juice Bar, 19 Market Street, Brighton, BN1 1HH
Raw Health Bar
The Raw Health Bar is my latest find and it's all thanks to the Wake Up to Organic event that I first discovered them. Situated in London Road's recently revamped Open Market, the Raw Health Bar is passionate about organic. Everything Dandy and Ray make and sell is organic and they definitely want to shout about it. Feeling a bit under the weather the day I visited them I went for their Echinacea Boost of echinacea, propolis, acai, pomegranate juice, blueberries and banana. Of all the smoothies I've tried so far this one tasted the freshest and best in flavour. The Raw Health Bar also offer the cheapest deal with a small smoothie costing a mere £2.50. Enjoy.
Smoothies - £2.50, £3.50 and £5.00
Raw Health Bar, Marshalls Row, Unit 39, The Open Market, Brighton BN1 4JU