Monkee on a Mission: Driving Healthier Eating

No, you haven’t gone bananas – those ARE monkeys and palm trees adorning the mini school bus heading down the street. And those monkeys are on a mission: Bringing fresh, protein-rich shakes to people where they work and play.

The “Monkee bus” took to the streets in April, but the Fresh Monkee, created and owned by Glastonbury’s Judy Flynn, has been serving healthy meal-replacement shakes in shops around the Greater Hartford area for three years.

Flynn says she “bootstrapped” the resources for the first Fresh Monkee, which opened in Wethersfield in June 2014, following up with a Glastonbury store in June 2015. Her vision was to bring the shakes she was making at home to the public – offering an alternative to sugar-laden, sweetened pureed fruit drinks, while providing more protein than a juice bar product.

“I set out to create a true meal replacement beverage with protein as the base. Around this I built recipes full of fiber, fruit, some vegetables and other fun items you’d find in your own kitchen,” she explains. “Fresh Monkee shakes have a milkshake texture and a this-can’t-be-good-for-you taste.” Flynn says retaining the fiber in the shakes helps fill you up while moderating the digestion of the fruit sugars.

Those who have discovered the Monkee business tend to return. Often. Some go ape for a favorite concoction – the most popular shakes include the Chunkee Monkee, Strawberry Moon, and Ultimate Green – while others work their way down the a-peeling (sorry) menu, including the Maui Colada, Blueberry Pie, Chocolate Coconut, Antioxidant Berry, and many more. Customers can add any combination of extras such as flax and chia seeds, spinach, almonds, even Nutella. Every drink is customizable, with nondairy, gluten-free and vegan options.

The Fresh Monkee has continued to branch out, setting up a small shop in Avon last November, but until now, Flynn has had to figure out how to respond to numerous catering requests. With the Monkee bus, Flynn found a way to bring the blenders, coolers and fresh fruits and vegetables to those who “crave the Monkee!”

The bus is now bookable: Consider it for graduation celebrations, company snack/lunch events, races, gym and sports events, school functions, private parties, fairs and festivals, community markets and pop-up gatherings. Recent and upcoming Monkee bus events include 5Ks, charity walks, Relay for Life, and the summer concert series.

For details or to book the bus, please contact judy@thefreshmonkee.com. Visit www.thefreshmonkee.com or www.facebook.com/thefreshmonke... for drink listings and more about the shop.