If you're,
like me, looking for something to supplement your healthy lifestyle without breaking your bank (Let's get real, this is Malaysia where char koey teo can cost 3.50 and a protein shake 15 bucks) then your best bet is to either
1. Cut your own damn fruits, it isn't that hard.
2. Screw over said protein shake company in an ironic twist of Robin Hood-esque justice.
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| Mmmmmmm |
Okay, maybe not screw over. Like, I'm not going to divulge the secrets or recipes so if that's why you're here, the Close button can be found at your top right corner, please keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle.
1. The shakes that look so healthy, aren't so healthy.
So much for au natural, Boost drinks consist of three categories - smoothies, crushes and juices. All super yummylicious and all super over-priced. But lets focus on the first two for now.
Unlike the juices and a rarefied selection of smoothies and crushes, almost all of the blended drinks contain no fresh fruits. Favorites like the Berry Crush and Mango Magic are made with a simplistic combination of juice concentrate (Ick, ugh, sweet, blergh), frozen yogurt/sorbet (aka frozen sugar water - See: juice concentrate description) and ice.
So what can I do then?
For smoothies, try out the Tropical Pina Colada. Don't bother checking out the menu board, it isn't there.
This is my favorite because
a) Instead of using juice concentrate, they actually squeeze pineapple juice right there and then.
b) It's the same price and few people know about it! Extra hipster cred right there.
You can also order the watermelon-lychee crush, they use real watermelons and real lychees and it's so sweet you can even tell them to cut down on the sorbet. Super refreshing on a hot day.
2. The store is a fly infestation waiting to happen
Now, I'm not saying that all Boost outlets are maggot mommas. But based on personal experience and common logic, a place where fruits and juices are kept, cut, discarded, spilled and left in the open isn't exactly your neighborhood nurse's idea of clean.
All it takes is 5 days for bananas to rot and 1 week of non-cleaning for the concentrate dispenser to host fly larvae.
And lets not forget the grease trap.
[Click here if you WANT TO upchuck your last meal]
So what can I do then?
Don't let some nasty speculation get in your way of yummy, healthy, informed eating. Like all F&B outlets, some are well managed...and some have shit managers who don't give a flip about company hygiene policies.
The good thing about Boost, however, is that everything is out in the open with semi raised walls and glass screens. Just take a peek behind for any warning signs of neglect and filth.
Things like un-wiped pulp splatters near the juicer, milk left out in the open, an unnerving number of flies and blocked up sinks are all warning signs to GTFO.
3. They're the Abercrombie and Fitch of the juice industry
Remember the asshole CEO for H&F and his face tearing interview?
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Boost would want to put health on the face of their brand, however it still irks me that the company which recruited me could turn away my friends for being "too fat" when then area manager looked something like this.
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| Courtesy of www.myindiapictures.com |
So what can I do?
Nothing, really. Boost isn't as assholey in their policies and I wouldn't feel comfortable stretching the truth to get a few extra clicks, but that doesn't mean this form of corporate coolness doesn't get under my skin.
Then again, in a world where anorexic looking models are hired to promote weight loss equipment and supplements, discriminatory hiring doesn't seem like that outrageous a deal.
Not every company can be as awesome as target.
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| Together now: Awwwwwwwwwwww |
4. Their Gym Junkie isn't all that worth it
Unless your idea of a post workout meal is one egg.
The gym junkie contains three quarters of a teaspoon of protein supplement. A "protein booster" and that's if you order the largest size.
It also boasts frozen strawberries and some more TD4 yogurt which makes it a pretty yummy drink but for an actual gym shake?
You're better off with that egg.
So what can I do?
Thank the heavens, Boost is now offering a much larger additional serving of whey protein for just 2 rm. It's an entire mini-container instead of single 1/4 scoops. Forget fancy smoothie names, you can make you OWN gym drink out of anything on the menu board.
My favorite is a Rasberry Ripe with Whey Protein (Chocolate, rasberries, and a whop-ton of protein) for *12 bucks instead of *14 (Gym Junkie).
*Prices shown during the time of writing. They're cheaper now. Go figure.
