Lifeway Foods Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., will launch a new line of kefir drinks featuring vegetable juices this spring. The new Lifeway Veggie Kefir brand marks the first combination of vegetable juice and kefir in the U.S. market, the company says.

"Roughly half of our daily diet should consist of fruits and vegetables, according to the latest dietary guidelines, but most consumers fall short on the veggie side because vegetables aren't as easy to consume as a banana or an apple," said Julie Smolyansky, president and chief executive officer of Lifeway Foods, in a statement. "Our new Veggie Kefir is a simple way to increase your veggie consumption, drink your probiotics at the same time, and cut down on sugar without sacrificing taste."

Available in Beet, Cucumber and Tomato varieties, each 8-ounce serving of Lifeway Veggie Kefir drinks delivers one full serving of vegetables and 12 probiotic cultures. A serving also contains 11 grams of protein and 2 grams of fat. The beverages also are 99 percent lactose-free, are naturally gluten-free, and do not contain any added sugar.

Lifeway Veggie Kefir drinks will be available in individual 8-ounce bottles and four-packs this spring. The company officially will unveil the line at booth No. 3448 at the Natural Products Expo West tradeshow this week in Anaheim, Calif.