Is Drinking a “Liquid Salad” Actually Good for You?

The Trend: Sippable pouches filled with juices and liquified fruits and vegetables are super hot in the wellness world right now. The category, nicknamed “liquid salad,” includes squeezable pouches of blended greens with added vitamins, as well as powders boasting dozens of concentrated forms of produce. And the brands that make these products often promise better gut health and improved energy levels for busy people looking for easy ways to eat healthy.

What People Are Saying: Conceptually, liquid salad is really just juicing with better branding. They still offer many of the vitamins and minerals found in whole produce, but the skins and seeds (where most of the fiber lives) are usually discarded. Many of these packaged products contain only a gram or two of fiber per serving, and processing can also chip away at certain vitamins, too.

What to Know: Drinking your produce is way better than getting none at all, so these can work in a pinch when you’re busy. But check the labels when shopping for these products and select some with at least five grams of fiber. Also, keep an eye out for whole-food ingredients rather than fruit concentrates or added sugars.