It’s mid-way through February already!  Do you know what that means?  It is American Heart Month, and Juice It Up! locations everywhere are celebrating by promoting some extra heart-healthy juices, smoothies, and açaí bowls.  Seriously yummy stuff!  I met with one of the scientists who makes sure that the menu is not only nutritious but delicious, and it was really eye-opening.  They really put a lot of time into researching health benefits and flavor combinations to make sure the best of the best ends up on the menu!

Let me show you through some of the favorites I tried, plus one secret off-menu item that I absolutely loved!

This was my first trip to the newest Huntington Beach location because it officially opens in a couple weeks!  In fact, if you are available for the grand opening on March 1st, make sure to join the festivities and show up early (first 50 customers) to enjoy a free juice or smoothie!

Now, to the sweet stuff!

I am a fan of smoothies like the Red Fusion because the natural fiber is intact, which helps you feel more full and also lowers cholesterol levels.  Also, I thought the purple-y color was just gorgeous!  On a nutritional level, the smoothie is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, potassium to help balance blood pressure and B-vitamins (which lower homocysteine levels).

Now, for the off-menu item.  I loved this one!  Sometimes green juice can taste “too green” or too sugary to cover up the taste.  The sweet/tart pineapple paired perfectly with the kale and spinach, and I’ll definitely keep this one in mind for my next trip back.

I have tried açaí bowls in the past, and although I liked them, they were overwhelmingly huge with a million ingredients in them.  The bowls at Juice It Up! keep it simple and perfect for breakfast on the go.  Also, isn’t it absolutely gorgeous with the colors?  On the nutrition front, this bowl is a good source of omega fatty acids from the granola, which is linked to tons of health benefits.

Lastly, I had the Revitalizer, which I honestly thought would be a bit strange with so many vegetable ingredients.  It was a total revelation!  Yes, it still did taste like red bell pepper, but I loved it.  Also, sometimes I have a problem with juices tasting thin or watery and then being completely hungry afterwards.  This was a substantial juice!  I might have skipped this on first glance at the menu, but I am so glad I tried it.

Ready for the nutrition breakdown?  Once again, there are lots of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as lycopene from the red bell pepper, beta-carotene from the carrot, resveratrol from the red grapes, and betalain from the beets.

It is super easy to celebrate the rest of American Heart Month with some of these delicious items.  And of course, the nutrition information for all of the menu items can be found easily in store or on the website.

Also, remember to head out to the new Huntington Beach location for the grand opening with free smoothies to the first 50 customers, free smoothies for children 5 years old and younger all day, 50% off all menu items between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., a live in-store DJ, bounce house, face painting for children, and a gift card raffle with Juice It Up! gift cards up for grabs.  Fun!

Now, I just have to decide on which menu item I’ll want to try next…

Juice It Up!
21008 Beach Boulevard
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-5053
www.juiceitup.com