What's the Healthiest Drink at Jamba Juice?

December 14, 2025 •

4 min read

With many Jamba Juice smoothies containing over 50 grams of sugar, it can be challenging to make a healthy choice. Discover what's the healthiest drink at Jamba Juice, from green blends to fresh-pressed juices, by focusing on low-sugar and high-fiber options that won't derail your diet.

Quick Summary

This guide analyzes Jamba Juice's menu to identify the most nutritious drinks, prioritizing options with lower sugar and higher fiber. It covers smoothies, fresh juices, and customizable choices for health-conscious consumers.

Key Points

Low Sugar is Key: Many Jamba smoothies are high in sugar from juice concentrates and sherbet, so look for options with alternative milk bases.
Choose the Right Base: Opt for smoothies that use unsweetened almond milk or water instead of juice blends to significantly reduce sugar intake.
Vanilla Blue Sky is a Winner: The Vanilla Blue Sky smoothie is a top contender, offering low calories and moderate sugar with nutrient-rich ingredients like spirulina.
Purely Carrot for Juices: For a pure juice, the Purely Carrot is one of the healthiest, providing a massive dose of Vitamin A.
Customize for Better Health: Ask to hold the honey, use non-dairy milk, and add nutritious boosts like chia seeds or protein powder.
Size Matters: Ordering a smaller or Kids' size is an easy way to cut down on calories and sugar without giving up your treat entirely.
Prioritize Fiber: Smoothies with whole fruits and veggies retain fiber, which is important for satiety and slowing sugar absorption, unlike pulpless juices.

Navigating the Jamba Juice Menu for Optimal Health

Jamba Juice has long been a popular destination for a quick and flavorful pick-me-up. However, not all drinks are created equal when it comes to nutritional value. Many of the brand's classic smoothies, made with sweetened juice bases and sherbet, can pack a serious sugar punch, sometimes containing more sugar than a can of soda. For those focused on wellness, knowing how to find the truly healthy options is key. By paying close attention to ingredients and customization options, you can enjoy a delicious Jamba drink that aligns with your health goals.

Smoothies: Best and Worst Choices

When looking for a healthy smoothie, prioritize those from the "Fruit & Veggie" or "Plant-Based" sections that use a non-dairy milk base rather than juice blends. A smaller size is also a simple way to control sugar and calorie intake.

Best Smoothie Choices

Vanilla Blue Sky: This smoothie, made with almond milk, coconut milk, bananas, and pineapple, also contains a blue spirulina boost, adding nutrients and fiber. A small size offers a moderate calorie and sugar count. This is a top-tier choice for a balanced option.
Apple 'n Greens: A small Apple 'n Greens smoothie blends kale, mango, peaches, and bananas with a juice base, offering a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Customizing by swapping the juice for water or unsweetened almond milk can significantly lower the carb and sugar content.
Greens 'n Ginger: Featuring kale, ginger, and mango, this smoothie is rich in vitamins A, C, and K. Like the Apple 'n Greens, it's a smart choice for a nutrient-dense blend.

Smoothies to Approach with Caution

Peanut Butter Moo'd: This smoothie is one of the most calorie- and sugar-dense items on the menu. A small alone contains a significant amount of sugar, and larger sizes can be comparable to an entire meal in terms of caloric impact.
Classic Smoothies (with sherbet): Many classic smoothies rely on sherbet or frozen yogurt for flavor and texture, dramatically increasing their sugar and calorie counts. It's best to steer clear of these or ask for them to be modified.

Fresh Juices vs. Smoothies

Jamba offers a selection of fresh-squeezed juices that can sometimes be a better choice, though they also contain naturally occurring sugars. A key difference is the fiber content. Smoothies, which blend whole fruits and vegetables, retain the fiber, which helps slow down sugar absorption and promotes satiety. Juices, by removing the pulp, strip away this beneficial fiber.

Purely Carrot: A small Purely Carrot juice is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamin A from the carrots. Despite its sugar content from the concentrated carrot juice, its ingredient list is clean and focused. It remains one of the healthiest pure juice options available.

Comparing Healthy Jamba Juice Options


Feature	Vanilla Blue Sky (Small)	Apple 'n Greens (Small)	Purely Carrot Juice (Small)
Calories	~210	~250	~190
Sugar	~27g	Varies (Customizable)	~22g
Protein	~2g	~3g	~4g
Fiber	~5g	~3g	~0g (Pulp Removed)
Key Vitamins	C, Antioxidants	A, C, K	A, K, C
Customization	Excellent for dairy-free	Swap juice base for water/almond milk	Less flexible due to pure juice

How to Customize Your Order for Maximum Health

Beyond choosing the right base drink, customizing your order is the most powerful way to make a healthier choice. This can help reduce calories and sugar while adding valuable nutrients.

Swap Juice Base: For many smoothies, you can replace the juice blend with water or unsweetened almond milk to dramatically cut down on sugar.
Choose the Right Boosts: Instead of high-sugar add-ins, opt for natural boosts like chia seeds, Greek yogurt, or protein boosts. These add fiber, protein, and healthy fats that increase satiety and nutritional density.
Adjust Size: Ordering a smaller or kids' size is a straightforward method for portion control, keeping calories and sugar in check.
Ask for No Sweetener: Request that no honey or other added sweeteners are included in your bowl or smoothie. The fruit already provides plenty of natural sweetness.

A Final Verdict on the Healthiest Option

While personal preference and nutritional needs will dictate the ultimate choice, the most consistently healthy options come from the "Fresh Juice n' Shots" and "Fruit & Veggie" menu categories. The Vanilla Blue Sky smoothie and the Purely Carrot juice emerge as standout choices based on low calorie, moderate sugar, and high nutritional value for their respective categories. However, with a simple customization like swapping the base, a drink like the Apple 'n Greens becomes an incredibly versatile and healthy pick. Ultimately, understanding the menu and making mindful choices about size and ingredients is the best strategy for getting a truly healthy drink at Jamba Juice.

Here is a link to the Jamba Juice official nutrition page for further details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Among the pre-formulated options, the fresh-pressed Purely Carrot juice is one of the lowest in sugar for its size. For smoothies, customizing the Apple 'n Greens with water or unsweetened almond milk instead of the juice base drastically lowers the sugar content.

No, smoothies containing sherbet are generally not considered healthy. Sherbet is a major source of added sugar and calories, which can significantly raise the overall sugar content of the drink.

Yes, you can. The PB & Banana Protein smoothie is one option, and you can also add a whey or soy protein boost to virtually any smoothie to increase its protein content.

It depends on your goal. While fresh juices like Purely Carrot offer potent nutrients, they lack the fiber found in whole fruits and vegetables, which are included in smoothies. Fiber helps with satiety and slows down sugar absorption.

You can make most smoothies dairy-free by opting for a non-dairy base like unsweetened almond milk or oat milk, and ensuring no sherbet, yogurt, or dairy protein boosts are added.

For a low-calorie option, the small Vanilla Blue Sky smoothie is a great choice. You could also opt for a Ginger Orange Cayenne shot, which is very low in calories, or a basic cold brew coffee.

For a smoothie, the Vanilla Blue Sky is relatively low in sugar compared to many other options on the menu, especially in the small size. It contains less sugar than many of the classic and all-fruit smoothies.