Durrah TaqiahMilkshakes and smoothies contain ingredients that pile on the weight. And what isn’t helping is the wave of such joints sprouting up islandwide, making it oh-so-easy to pop by for a drink on a hot day. Fortunately, healthier are alternatives available, especially when they switch up ingredients to include low-fat dairy products and fresh fruits giving you with a nutritious drink with fewer than 300 calories in every serving. UrbanWire checks out some of these.
Here’s where you can get your fix:
1) Once Upon a Milkshake
“Premium milkshakes at non-premium prices” is how the Singaporean-bound milkshakes store, Once Upon a Milkshake, describes its treats..
OUAM milkshakes have a velvety thick texture that makes drinking through a straw a little bit tough. Despite that, the rich taste in its milkshakes provides you with the authentic, sweet taste of the fresh fruits used. OUAM strives on using low-fat ice-cream and milk in its milkshakes – making it a healthier choice for everyone, and the mini size drink is enough to engulf your taste buds in the richness of an OUAM milkshake.
The flavours to try: Matcha Green Tea, Baa Baa Na and Agent Strawberry.
Be warned, however: with its distinct, overpowering taste, Matcha Green Tea is strictly for the green tea lover. The banana and strawberry versions are undoubtedly sweet yet resistible, delicious and creamy – overall making for a bona fide fruity experience.
- Location and opening hours:
Raffles City (Takeaway Kiosk)
252 North Bridge Road #B1-51 Opening Hours:
11am to 10pm daily (last order at 9:45pm)
Pasir Ris SRC
120 Pasir Ris Central #01-09
noon to 10pm daily (last order at 9:30pm)
Maxwell Chambers
32 Maxwell Road #01-08
Monday to Thursday: noon to 10pm (last order 9:30pm)
Friday to Saturday: noon to 11pm (last order 10:30pm)
Sunday and Public Holidays: Closed
- Average waiting time: 5 mins
- Prices: $2.90 (mini size), $4.50 (regular), $5.50 (large)
- Taste: 4/5
- Ambience: 4/5
2) Smoothie King
We got excited when we first learnt that popular US-based franchise Smoothie King was opening its first Southeast Asia Flagship store in Singapore in December 2012.
Its store offers a variety of smoothies tailored to suit the Singaporean taste buds, and true enough; it satisfies all types of fruity cravings one might have! Dieters will rejoice that each smoothie sticks on less than 250 calories, and what makes Smoothing King unique is that every item in the menu has its cal-count listed. Way to go in keeping your calorie-count in check, yes?
The drinks range from Refreshing (fat-free and filled with vitamin A and E), Slim and Lite (under 200 calories), Nutritious Meals (containing up to 13 grams of proteins), to Enhancer (with antioxidants, fibre blend and probiotics).
These smoothies are blended to perfection, with a delightfully thick and icy consistency. With the combination of sweetness and a twist of tanginess in a single cup, the taste of the drink is impeccably balanced. In all, they make for excellent thirst-quenchers because they’re so refreshing.
The flavours to try are the Strawberry X-Treme(146 Calories), Banana n’ Berry (242 Calories) and the High Protein Almond and Chocolate(181 Calories).
- Location and opening hours:
176 Orchard Road, The CentrePoint Mall
Monday to Sunday: 10am to 10pm
- Average waiting time: 5 mins
- Prices: $5.30 (small), $6.30 (regular) and $7.30 (large). Prices differ according to the different smoothie categories.
- Taste: 4/5
- Ambience: 4/5
3) Boost Juice Bars
Much like Smoothie King, Boost Juice Bars from Australia, organise their smoothies and juices into various categories, from low-fat smoothies to indulgence smoothies. Mostly 98% fat-free and made with real fruit, Australian yoghurt and low-fat milk, these ice-cold beverages definitely give you a bang for your buck. Breakfast alternatives, such as the ‘Meal In A Cup’ super smoothies and super juices for energy and detox, are also included in the variety.
We recommend All Berry Bang—a delightful blend of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apple juice and strawberry yoghurt—and the playfully named BrekkieTo Gogo. The latter comprises a generous amount ofbanana, balanced out nicely by toasted muesli, honey, vanilla yoghurt, an energizer booster and the option of either low fat milk or soy.
The All Berry Bang smoothie has a viscous and icy texture, with a sweet and distinct taste of blended real fresh fruits. It quenches your thirst instantly – which makes it perfect for hydration in Singapore’s humid climate.
For those unwilling to sacrifice their sleep for a proper, sit-down breakfast, the Brekkie To Gogois perfect to slurp on while making your way to work or school. It has a rich and flavourful taste to fill your growling tummy until lunchtime and packages the right amount of nutrients you need in the morning!
- Location and opening hours:
ION Orchard (basement 4 level, #B4-65)
Monday to Friday: 11am to 10pm
Saturday to Sunday: 10.30am to 10pm
One Raffles Place (basement level, #B1-03B)
Monday to Friday: 730am to 7pm
Saturday: 11am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed
VivoCity (2nd floor, #02-134)
Monday to Friday: 11am to 10pm
Saturday to Sunday: 10.30am to 10pm
JCube (basement level, #B1-08)
Monday to Friday: 11am to 10pm
Saturday to Sunday: 10.30am to 10pm
Changi Airport Terminal 3 (Departures Area. Level 2)
Monday to Sunday: 5.30am – 12.45am
- Average waiting time: 3 mins
- Prices: Ranging from $4.50 (kids size) $5.50 (regular) $5.90 (original). Prices differ according to the different smoothie categories.
- Taste: 4/5
- Ambience: 3/5
4) Smoosh Juice Bars
Smooth Juice Bars offer their drinks in 3 categories: Thirst Quencher, Coffee Smoothies and Meal Replacement, all blended from fresh fruits and ingredients.
Both drinks provide a good mix fruits, striking a just-right balance of sweet, tangy and it perks you up all at once. While Smoosh loses points for its ambience, given its layout is that of a typical juice stall, its drinks are never too thick or sweet (and if so, it’s all natural goodness, so drink up!). These concoction are ideal for fruit lovers and health junkies alike.
The flavours to try are Sweet Grass (from the ‘Stay Healthy’ range), made from wheatgrass, pineapple and red apple and Pink Me Up (from the ‘Specialty Smoothie’ range), made from strawberry, pineapple and strawberry yogurt.
- Location and operation hours:
#B3-43A, 313@Somerset
Monday to Sunday from 11am to 10pm
- Average waiting time: 5 mins
- Prices: $4.90 (regular) $5.90 (large)
- Taste: 3.5/5
- Ambience: 2/5