Photos by Tanner Wildason
While it’s easy to become accustomed to the Sunlife favorites — the Brazilian or Hawaiian bowl, or maybe the Wolverine — there is so much more to the menu than those two things. Being an employee at Sunlife since last semester, I have taken note of the sometimes predictable orders of Pepperdine students. Being a Pepperdine senior, I understand that our time in Malibu isn’t forever, and in that spirit, I have a few recommendations to make the most of your Sunlife order.
1. Do not be afraid to substitute
Sunlife is no stranger to custom orders, and for those of you who enjoy mismatching ingredients, do not be afraid to exercise your right to sub at Sunlife. For instance, if you don’t like bananas on your bowl, substitute fruit for fruit — get blueberries, mango, raspberries, or extra strawberries instead. If you hate coconut? Substitute it out for cacao nibs and give your Dragon Bowl some extra flavor. Maybe you like the Fountain of Youth, but would like it to be less sweet. Don’t be shy to remove the apple juice and add hemp milk, or take out the strawberries and replace them with extra banana. At Sunlife, truly anything is possible — liquids can substitute for liquids, butters for butters, fruits for fruits, and various add-ons (bee pollen, royal jelly, cinnamon, spirulina, etc.) for add-ons. This way, you’ll be happy every time you leave Sunlife and really get your money’s worth.
2. Get the app
If you pull up to Sunlife and see the line out the door and almost to Chipotle, you can spend what seems like hours waiting to make it up to the front. If you have the Sunlife app, however, you can simply order and pay for your protein shake, drive down the hill, and skip the line. Just grab one of the employees and tell them your name and that you ordered online, and that Mystic superfood shake is yours for the taking.
3. Give the secret menu a try
Yes, it is hard to stray away from your favorite. I understand this. If you are in the mood to shake up your Sunlife game though, try one of the under-the-radar items. If you are into coconut with a ginger sting, try the Little Dume, a superfood protein shake. If you prefer more of a nutty, green taste, take a chance on the Yoda, another delicious smoothie. Or if you want to really turn eyes when you walk out of the store, get the Shark Attack — you’ll understand why.
Let’s face it — Malibu’s cuisine is not college student friendly. If you are just looking to make the amount you’re paying worth it, or change it up because you are tired of the usual order, take this advice. I promise, you won’t regret it.
___________
Follow the Graphic on Twitter: @PeppGraphic