There has been much controversy about juice bars lately. A Booster Juice opened up on my campus the other day and is being promoted as a healthy alternative to campus food. Personally I am skeptical about Booster Juice. Here is why:

The boosters in the juices are marketed as health products. But there is no evidence that they necessarily have any health benefits. Even if they did, taking it once in a drink is not enough to benefit your overall health. It would have to be taken periodically (like a multivitamin) to give you any of the health benefits.

One large container of juice is approximately maybe 5 servings of fruit at once. We know how much a serving of juice is. According to Canada's Food Guide (it's 1/2 a cup - 125 ml). Here you are taking in many more servings of fruit... all in at once! Which ideally you want to spread out your fruit intake for the day.

Many of the drinks unknowingly to most people have 400-500 calories, which is enough for a meal! And most of what is in the drink is fruit, boosters of some sort and possibly yogurt. This is not sufficient to replace a meal, ideally you should try to get 3-4 servings of food groups in each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

I think Booster Juice has potential, but it confuses people as to what healthy is. I just don't get the juice industry: Wouldn't you rather drink water and eat fruit - pure and unprocessed? That is better for you as a snack and not worth 1/4 of your day's worth of calories. That could be saved for real food!

I'm not saying Booster Juice is bad at all. But there is a reason why it is called Booster Juice, they are meant for when you are active and need a quick fix, energy or a protein shake after a workout. I'll admit that if I ever was in a rush on a busy active day, I just might consider getting one. If you are inactive and drinking it as a snack, then you are just over consuming liquid calories! And not all of the boosters are meant for everyone, you have to be careful about what you put into your drink!

Just remember, water is the best thing you can put in your body!

I'm officially addicted! They offer a wide selection of yummy smoothies and boosters, I always have trouble when picking which one I want. Though pretty much anything I choose turns out to be a good choice. Since they're made with real fruits and yogurt, and not loaded with sugars I feel good after having one of these. They're about $5 each, but for the serving size and fresh products used, I don't mind paying it.

Ok, so having worked at Booster Juice for quite some time, my review is kind of biased.

HOWEVER, I have a really thorough knowledge of all the recipes and boosters, so here are my ratings:
The smoothies - Excellent. High quality fruit, very little added sugar (in the frozen yogurt or sorbet), and large portion sizes. Also, Booster Juice features Acai (a Brazilian berry that's slowly becoming more popular in Canada for it's antioxidant benefits), which is hard to find elsewhere.
The cost - A little bit expensive, but you pay for quality.
The boosters - Nutritional supplements that could be better described on the menu boards. Certain boosters aren't recommended for people with existing conditions, etc, so as with any supplement, you should check with a doctor before you start taking them. ALSO, the dose of many boosters is below levels that are effective, so don't be looking for a miracle.

Personal favourites: Sonic soy, Brazilian Thunder.

Booster Juice serves as an excellent alternative for those who seeks a freshing jolt. They provide a wide selection of beverages, which also includes a warm selection of drinks. It's the perfect thing for my smoothies cravings.

Booster Juice is a great treat that fills you up, but at $5.00 a pop - it'll stay a treat.

There's a big selection of juices, and they come with a free boost each drink! There are a lot to choose from, I usually choose the Power boost or I think it's called the Health boost? but it's for when you need extra vitamins. My favorite flavor is the Mango Hurricane. But I've tried many others and you can't go wrong. Even the regular size is HUGE so you get a lot for your money, and the drinks are prepared really quickly. Definately good for those who want to start drinking healthier drinks, as opposed to carbonated soft drinks.

Although I love Booster Juice, I'll admit that Orange Julius will always be number one to me out of the two. I do however, enjoy the "boosters" that Booster Juice has to offer such as the Protein Booster (Soy-based vegetarian protein powder to add that "extra") or the Power Booster (Is a source of food energy. Specially designed with Creatine). There are about ten different boosters to choose from, and you get a free one with every full sized smoothie. When I don't feel like Orange Julius, I come here instead, and get a 'boost'. It too, is really thirst quenching in the summer, and good for you too!