All the signs seem to indicate that green is the new black. It feels like every other picture on my Instagram feed is of a green smoothie, perfectly styled in a mason jar with a colourful paper straw. In photographs they certainly look delicious – but are they really as good as they look? I went to find out.
Nestled in Little La Trobe St, entering Five Plus makes you immediately feel healthier. Freshly fitted out with light timber and accents of plants and greenery, it’s light, welcoming and most importantly not too clinical.
Looking at the drinks menu, I’m a little concerned. Although there are a decent number of smoothies on offer, the mention of avocado, cucumber and kale as ingredients are enough to start a little panic about what I’m getting myself in for.
Luckily the brains behind Five Plus, Vivian Lam, had the same concerns at first. Inspired by Instagram and the need to look after the body as it gets older, she tried her first green juice last year. It was disgusting. But she saw potential in the idea, and took the leap. “I thought to myself ‘How hard can it be!?’” Lam laughs. Probably easier when your learn her credentials – Lam’s family are responsible for Melbourne’s favourite Mekong and Rice Paper, both down the road from Five Plus.
Opening in August, Lam has been surprised that students are the most frequent customers, who, like the workers of Melbourne, are looking for a healthy fix at lunchtime. “It’s actually really difficult to clean eat,” Lam says. “Food is such a big part of our lives, but for Five Plus to be successful it had to be fun and not boring”.
Working with a nutritionist, Lam created several staple flavours including ‘The Perfect Date’, ‘Smooth Skin’ and ‘The Good Life’, each benefiting different areas of the mind and body. Fresh and local ingredients were also a must, with all fruit and veg used in the smoothies coming from local farmers. The actual smoothies come in clear packaging with little branding – it’s about letting the ingredients and smoothies for themselves, (although she toyed with using jars before dismissing them as inconvenient and expensive!)
After explaining that I’m a newbie to the whole green juice thing, Lam steers me towards ‘Choc Mint’, a mix of spinach leaves, almond milk, avocado, dark chocolate, mint, dates and ice. The chocolate reassures me a little. The avocado does not. But I smile and brace myself. Alright. Lifting the straw gingerly up to my mouth, I take a little sip. I taste fresh mint. I keep on sipping – now I’m getting the rich chocolate flavours and to my utter surprise, it’s actually quite delicious. I no longer have to consciously remind myself to sip while I’m talking and instead I’m actually wanting to. I’m also extremely surprised at just how filling they are – making them perfect for breakfast on the go. It seems I am converted – as long as there’s chocolate involved.
For those a little more accustomed to the healthy smoothies – or perhaps just more adventurous than I – Lam recommends The Perfect Date (oats, almond milk, banana, dates and cinnamon) to help your muscles, brain, skin, energy and weight management, or ‘The Good Life’, a refreshing mix of kale, almond milk, bananas, pineapple, mint and lime that is perfect for boosting energy and enriching your nail, skin, hair and immune system.
If you’re a hardcore health lovers, ‘New Leaf’ is the one for you. With no fruit in sight, the bright green combo of spinach leaves, coconut water, cucumber, celery, parsley, mint, ginger and lemon is great for your immune system and liver detox, but definitely not for the faint hearted.
Lam’s biggest piece of advice for newbies like me is just to give it a go. “There’s no side effect from trying something healthy,” she said. “Drinking is quicker than eating, so it’s an easy way to soak in the goodness of fruit and veg and a great way to stop yourself from snacking”.
Five Plus is all about encouraging you to take the small steps towards a healthier you. Healthy food is not just for the elite, it’s for everyone – and Five Plus couldn’t make it much easier to have, no matter whether you’re a keen kale drinker or a green smoothie virgin.
Good for your mind – and your insta feed too – Five Plus, we like you.
Five Plus Smoothie, 265 Lonsdale St, Melbourne.
