Juice Plus Unexpected Guests

Advertised all over television as the latest way to forcibly cram healthy food (in this case, fruit) into your mouth, Fruit2day is based on a slightly disconcerting concept: Instead of fruit juice, how about you drink a bottle of juice-suspended, minced-up fruit pieces? The bottles boast of containing “real fruit bits” and state: “Snack on real fruit bits in a splash of natural juice. You’ll see.”

The “you’ll see” is presumably there for all normal-thinking people who are mentally saying: “Fruit bits? What the hell?”

Although the minced-fruit texture takes some getting used to, the little bits of fruit do, in fact, release extra bursts of flavor as you swallow/chew your bottle of Fruit2day. Evidently they carry some nutritional value along with the texture, as each 6.75-ounce container counts for two servings of fruit as per USDA dietary guidelines.

The quality of any given flavor depends upon personal preference. Mango Peach is not entirely unlike eating a really juicy, finely minced mango: It’s sweet without being syrupy, with plenty of bright, peach kick up front. Strawberry Orange has a nice citrus edge, a sloppy texture that encourages lip-licking, and a body comprised of a lot of natural strawberry flavor. The Pineapple Banana variety is a bit more austere, with the banana playing a subtle, almost undetectable role in the overall flavor. Cherry Grape, by contrast, has wonderful red bits that deliver a strong, splashy cherry flavor.

If you can get past the chunks, you’re in for a very pleasant (if pricey) way to tackle your daily fruit. If not, you can always go back to drinking plain old juice or, God forbid, actually eating something that resembles a plant.

James Norton edits the Upper Midwestern food journal Heavy Table. He's also the coauthor of a book on Wisconsin's master cheesemakers. For his Supertaster column, he samples offerings from supermarket aisles and fast-food menus. You can follow him on Twitter and fan him on Facebook. His wife, Becca Dilley, takes the photographs for Supertaster. She specializes in weddings and food photography, and is the coauthor of and photographer for the book on Wisconsin's master cheesemakers.