After finishing a particularly hard workout, it’s common to crave a smoothie. They’re cold, refreshing and tasty. I also love having the option to use my meal plan to pay for smoothies on campus. However, are these smoothies actually as healthy as we may think they are? Most options include fruit and yogurt, but many smoothies can be packed with hidden ingredients that add calories and sugars. Not all smoothies are like this, so let’s talk about some of the healthier smoothie options on campus.

There are several places to grab a smoothie on campus. They’re available at some of the cafes on campus and in the Memorial Union. My personal favorite place to get a smoothie is Froots in State Gym.

One of my favorite smoothies at Froots is the Aloha Sunrise. The ingredients include mangos, peaches, pineapple juice and orange sherbert. Personally, I love mangos so this is where most of my money goes.There aren’t any ingredient that I would consider out of place, so the calorie count stays down while still providing essential nutrients. If you’re looking to cut calories even more, you can substitute the sherbet for some low-fat yogurt. This may be my favorite smoothie on the menu, but there are plenty of other good options.

Lately, there seems to be a fascination with acai. Luckily for ISU students, Froots offers two options with acai!

• Brazilian Berry: acai, vanilla soy milk, strawberries, raspberries
• Amazon Energy: acai, strawberry-kiwi, strawberries, bananas

Acai is packed with essential fibers that strengthen your heart. They also have antioxidants that are also great for your body. Next time you head to Froots, I suggest trying the acai smoothies, you won’t regret it!

Most of the smoothies are made with orange sherbert but you can exchange that for things like water to soy milk to make it fit your preferred eating habits or dietary restrictions. The options are endless when it comes to creating smoothies that are not only tasty but healthy for you too!