Five days ago I said goodbye to this…
And yesterday I said hello to this.
This has been a brutal winter for most of us. It’s actually been warmer in the Chicago area over the last two days than it has been in Charlotte. My friends at home have been reporting tons of rain, cold and freezing rain. Yuck!
Before I left Thursday morning I whipped up a tropical-inspired green smoothie to get me back in that Mexico mindset before I flew up north.
The star ingredient was this new coconut almond butter from MaraNatha. This stuff is good! The coconut taste is subtle and you get it more at the end but it’s a great twist on their regular almond butter and I’ll definitely be using it on oatmeal and toast and in smoothies.
I gave the smoothie a tropical spin by using pineapple, mango, bananas and coconut almond butter. I was out of coconut milk so I used almond but I think coconut would have put it over the edge and made it even more amazing. I loved the vibrant green color of this smoothie. They’re so much more fun to drink when they’re bright green! One of my tips for a pretty green smoothie is not to use berries. When you add blueberries/strawberries/raspberries it always turns the smoothie a brownish shade. I also just really love how the tropical fruits taste in smoothies and gravitate towards them often.
This smoothie also had a great texture and was thick, cold and a refreshing way to start the morning.
Tropical Green Smoothie with Coconut Almond Butter
1 small banana or 1/2 large
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/4 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup baby spinach
1 cup milk (coconut, almond, skim, etc)
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt (optional, I like it for the tang!)
1-2 tablespoons coconut almond butter (also good with regular almond butter!)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until completely combined and serve.
Yield: 1 smoothie
What are your favorite smoothie fruit combos?
My absolute favorite green smoothie recipe is: 1 yoplait very vanilla yogurt, 1 banana, 1 small can pineapple chunks (with juice), fresh cantaloupe, almond milk, scoop of vanilla whey powder, 2 tbsp coconut oil, big hand full of spinach, big handful of kale, and a large cup of ice. It is sooo good! The coconut oil is a must (make sure it is melted before you add it)
I love anything with berries and peanut butter! Add in some spinach and it is a perfect green smoothie!
I haven’t been making fruit smoothies, but in the afternoon I like a shake of almond milk/water with 1/2 growing naturals vanilla rice protein and 1/2 vega recovery accelerator.
I made my own almond coconut butter this week, 2 c dry roasted almonds, 1/3 c unsweetened coconut, 1/4 t sea salt and a spoonful of maple syrup, blend in food processor for about 10mn.
My favorite favorite smoothie combo is frozen bananas, spinach, frozen blueberries, peanut butter and almond milk to get it moving. Hands down I will drink that for every meal!
I LOVE frozen bing cherries in my green smoothies. I have also been adding frozen peaches too and that’s been delicious. I typically do not mix fruits together…I don’t know why, it is just the way I roll…LOL! Chicago looks oh so tropical…Glad you are back home safely! 🙂
Looks delicious! May I ask what type of blender you have? I’m contemplating a Vitamix, but not sure I’m ready to splurge. 🙂
I really need to start making smoothies again. I guess with the cold weather I have gotten out of the habit but I LOVE them! This looks great!
Love green smoothies and I have made very similar ones. By accident the other day I used a spinach arugula mix. Arugula doesn’t work in a smoothie.
Hello!
I have been reading your blog for awhile now and I love it! I have found it SO INSPIRING! I love how you changed your life around by choosing to begin a new career 🙂 It has also motivated me to train for a marathon and start yoga!
My fav smoothie recipe
1 frozen banana
1 scoop protein powder
1 tbsp peanut or almond butter
almond milk
lots of spinach!!
Oh and I am reading your blog alllllllllll the way from New Zealand ( if you even know where that it :))) )
Thanks for sharing your experiences with all of us. I
Enjoy reading about the places, exercises and foods.
I also love the vibrant green color . It isn’t as appetizing
If the smoothly turns out brown. I too will get back into
Making more in the spring when we
Get in peaches , mango and pineapples.
Yum! I love mango in smoothies! Coconut almond butter would really make it though!
Have you ever tried a little fresh ginger juice in your smoothies?
no but i’m sure i would LOVE it because i like ginger everything! drinking ginger tea right now!
You inspired me to go back to smoothies! I love them but with the cold Chicago weather definitely have taken a break. Just made one though that delish w almond milk, spinach, banana, whey protein, cinnamon + ice. Bright green