Eating healthy is no longer a trend but a way of life for many people. With this in mind, I decided to stop into Blissed Out in Vineyard Haven, a juice and smoothie shop that caters to those looking for healthy options.
Located on 65 Main Street, this all-organic juice and smoothie option is a family business. Jen Oliver (mom), Fred Natush (dad), and Miranda Tokarz (daughter) man the counter, serving up fresh juices and smoothies, along with fantastic acai bowls. A juice and smoothie restaurant on the Island was wishful thinking at first. In their travels, Jen and Fred would always stop into juice shops and think how great it would be if there was one on the Island. Then seven years ago, while walking up Main Street, they saw a “for rent” sign at their current location, and decided to take their juice shop dreams to the next level.
Stop at Blissed Out any day in season from 9 am to 4 pm, and step into a world of vibrant energy. Not only is the smoothie store a place to grab a quick treat, but Jen is also a great curator of gorgeous stones, succulents, and crystals that will balance you on the inside and out. Find pyrite, quartz, and aquamarine, with notes on what they can do for you; whether it’s to help with anxiety or decision-making, there’s a crystal for everything that ails you.
If you’re not into the magical power of crystals, to the right of the shop is an entire wall of options to choose from to nourish your body. Everything served up at Blissed Out is organic, from the granola used in the acai bowl to the bee pollen in the smoothies. First up, the acai bowls. They came into popularity a few years back, when they were all the rage (and still are) in Brazil, where acai palm fruit originally comes from. Today, you can find acai frozen purée in most grocery stores (the fresh fruit is unavailable in the U.S.), and when blended with banana, almond milk, coconut butter, topped with fresh fruit and granola, it creates one of the best and healthiest breakfasts on the Island. This is what Blissed Out calls the “Bliss Bowl” ($12), and is a dish that will bring you bliss — the flavor is fruity and naturally sweet, with the crunch of the granola on top. Other acai bowls include the Chocolate Bowl ($13, with acai, blueberry, raw cacao) and the Tropical Bowl ($13, with mango, coconut water, banana). The level of antioxidants in acai fruits, along with the combinations that Blissed Out creates in their bowls, is a delicious and nutritious way to start your day.
If you’re on the run and can’t indulge in an acai bowl, try one of Blissed Out’s smoothies. Ranging in price from $9 to $15, they are packed with great ingredients that will give you a burst of midday energy. With some of the best organic fruit and supplements (like bee pollen, protein, ginseng, and turmeric), the smoothies are a powerhouse drink. Popular ones like the Hulk ($14) include kale, pineapple, wheatgrass, banana, lemon, ginger, chlorella, coconut water, and coconut oil. The smoothies are a natural and healthy treat to enjoy on a hot summer day, maybe even better than a slice of chocolate cake.
Stop into Blissed Out, seven days a week from 9 am to 4 pm, at 65 Main Street, Vineyard Haven. Find them at the West Tisbury Farmers Market this season, serving up smoothies and acai bowls from their juice truck. Follow them on Facebook for updates on new menu items coming this summer at facebook.com/blissedoutmv/.
This article by Marnely Murray originally appeared on mvtimes.com.
