As a health freak and ex-vegetarian, I’m always interested in fresh foods and drinks. And so I’ve just come across something that is supposed to make you go bananas, literally.

Starbucks has come up with a new banana-based concoction called Vivanno. There are two versions of this Starbucks creation to choose from: Orange Mango Banana or Banana Chocolate, and all this wholesome goodness for less than 300 calories. Plus you can choose the kind of milk or even add coffee to the Chocolate version. Sounds yummy, but why are there only two? Whatever happened to the more the merrier….or does that just apply to people? In addition, as part of their attention grabbing proposal they’ve decided to include Naked Juice in the mix (available in Orange Mango Banana). As a fan of fresh, the combination definitely appeals to me. But, hasn’t Jamba Juice already come up with this? They’ve been offering fresh and fruity smoothies for years. So, even though competition has come a-knocking, I’m still not convinced.

So, why did Starbucks decide to join in on the juicy fun? It could very well be an attempt to bounce back after the decision to close down 600 Starbucks outlets. Personally, I am not a big Starbucks fan and am sick of seeing them everywhere. While living in Seville I witnessed two sprout up on opposite sides of the Cathedral in less than a year. Thank goodness Italy won’t let them in. It’s a shame to see them take over when there are so many nice, authentic coffee shops around. Nonetheless, since consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious the big names are responding. People want fresh and people want natural. In fact, Taco Bell and Dunkin’ Donuts have already introduced smoothies based on this concept.

But, unlike at Jamba Juice, the potential competition is lacking in a key area: variety. I like having a lot of selection. Plus, I’m not a big coffee fan, not to mention anti-Starbucks. So if Starbucks wants me to go bananas over them, they’ll have to offer me a lot more than just chocolate.

Photo credits: Starbucks