Starbucks Strawberry Banana Vivanno Smoothie Review

When I am not traveling, I actually don't get over to Starbucks much.  Alas, I accidentally missed my last hair cut appointment downtown (and the visit to Starbucks near the Sears Tower which always follows).  There I sat, with a brand new Starbucks gift card I had received for my birthday, and tormented by commercials about the Starbucks Strawberry Banana Vivanno Smoothie, one of the latest attempts by Starbucks to stealthily trick us into buying healthier stuff there.  So intrigued did I become by all this that yesterday, when I was at Dominick's, no matter how much stuff I was carrying when I left the store, I was determined to buy one of these smoothies from the Starbucks kiosk even if it meant stuffing the covered plastic cup down into my tote bag with other purchases and hoping for the best.

This beautiful frosty pale pink beverage survived the walk home in good shape and at $4.95 for the Grande size turned out to be worth the cost.  I love this drink but I won't lie to you -- the taste took a little getting used to.  This really is a healthy beverage made with only four ingredients:  a whole banana, real strawberry puree, 2% milk blended with ice and whey protein fiber powder.  Because of the purity of this concoction, it is much less sweeter than other Starbucks chilled beverages, also lower in sodium than most people are used to in a dessert drink.  Its lack of artificial flavorings makes this taste different than the sort of strawberry banana experience you may have savored in other commercial products such as yogurts or ice cream.  So, it did take a little getting used to but this is an excellent, refreshing beverage and dessert all in one which you can enjoy and still feel good about the next day.

STATS:

The contents of a 16 oz. Grande size cup is considered to be a single serving which contains 270 calories with only 5 calories from fat.  There is .5 gram Total Fat, zero each Saturated and Trans Fats, 5 mg. Cholesterol, 110 mg. Sodium, 56 grams Total Carbs, 7 grams Fiber, 41 grams Sugars, 16 grams Protein along with 4% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 100% Vitamin C, 10% each Calcium and Iron, and zero Caffeine.

TASTE TIP:

Unless I am with someone or simply killing a little time, I usually don't drink my Starbucks beverages at the store.  I find that the chilled drinks such as Starbucks Strawberry Banana Vivanno Smoothie actually taste a little better ten minutes or so after they are made.