JUICE & SHAKES

Styled like a vintage ice cream parlor , Juice & Shakes serves cold-pressed juice made from local , non-GMO , organically grown produce ; as well as shakes , coconut milk-based ice cream , blended frozen fruit bowls , and kombucha and cold-brewed coffee on tap . Some customers jump-start their days with the shot board : three 2-ounce glasses of special blends such as beet , mangosteen , lemon and ginger .

The North Coast Highway shop opened last fall , and is an indication that the juicing sensation shows no signs of slowing down . “ It has been growing ,” says Chris Keller , co-owner of Juice & Shakes . “ I want to say 2010 is when it really started to surface ; … it ’ s definitely taken hold and now it ’ s become more popular . I think the easiest way to describe it is

people just want to feel good and they want to feel healthy .” ( 949- 420-2222 ; juiceandshakes . com )

PROJECT JUICE

This retail shop offers non- GMO , USDA-certified organic , cold-pressed juice , which is incorporated into the smoothies , cleanses , nut mylks , cold-brewed coffee and a variety of grab-andgo plant-based foods .

For a green drink that ’ s more approachable , Lori Kenyon Farley , a partner at Project Juice , suggests Potion 10 , a blend of kale and other rich greens mixed with pineapple , pear , cucumber and lime . “ For people who are new to juicing or feel like they don ’ t have a palate for green juices , they can still get the benefits of the leafy greens , the romaine and the spinach , without actually having to get the taste of it ,”

Lori explains . ( 949-484-0239 ; projectjuice . com )

NEKTER JUICE BAR

Cold-pressed bottled juices and cleanses ( which involve ingesting only juice for several days ) are sold here , as well as fresh-pressed options made to order using a centrifugal machine . Conventional produce , instead of organic , keeps the drinks affordable .

The health benefits may be plentiful , but a clear cup filled with thick , green liquid can still be intimidating . Nekter has plenty of options that are both nutritious and delicious ; co-owner Alexis Schulze isn ’ t opposed to incorporating apples — at least initially — to make the vegetables tolerable , as long as you ’ re aware of the increased calorie content . ( 949-415-5588 ; nekterjuicebar . com )

THE ART OF JUICING

Inside the Art of Fitness gym , organic juices , smoothies and “ cures ” are offered as well as hummus wraps and kale salad . Cures are special blends created to aid in the body ’ s recovery from headaches , fatigue , indigestion and more ; the cold cure , for example , features a nutrient-rich combination of ginger , parsley and carrot to give the immune system a boost .

The shop maintains the quality of its fruits and vegetables by cleaning them with alkaline water , and using pressed juicers to ensure that the enzymes , vitamins and minerals remain intact . ( 949- 464-0203 ; theartofjuicing . net )

For more information on these and other Laguna restaurants and bars , see our Dine listings on page 42 .

Project Juice ’ s Deep Green is high in vitamins A and C .