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Healthy Tropical Smoothie Recipe
We just love this healthy tropical smoothie! Light, refreshing, and easy to consume on-the-go.
Plus, it’s loaded with feel good ingredients, has no added sugar, and will keep you full (1 scoop of Vital Protein Collagen Peptide powder has 9 grams of protein).
Is a smoothie a sufficient meal replacement?
The tricky thing about store-bought smoothies, is they often lack protein leaving you hungry even after downing a 40oz drink and most have hidden added sugars that come from frozen fruit blends and juices.
Making a homemade smoothie like this healthy tropical option, is more cost effective, allows you to control the ingredients, and quite frankly, is quicker than going somewhere and waiting in line.
What makes this smoothie “tropical?”
We’re glad you asked!
Fruits like coconut, papaya, pineapple, and mango grow in tropical climates (think hot and humid).
These are the kinds of fruit you’d want to eat if you were lounging on a beach somewhere.
While we are usually proponents of customizing our recipes, the combination of fruits we have in this smoothie are what keep this recipe feeling tropical and breezy.
Of course, you can change out the sweetener and milk to what you have available and this will still feel like a tropical beverage.
Berries are a typical go-to as far as smoothies are concerned and while we love a jewel-toned beverage, this healthy tropical smoothie filled with tropical fruit gives beach vibes from the comfort of your own home.
There’s just something about coconut and pineapple that can really transport you.
And who doesn’t want to feel beachy on a Monday morning?
We think if you stick a paper umbrella in this drink and try to enjoy it near a body of water (a kitchen sink will do), you’ll be in vacay mode in no time.
About the Ingredients in our Healthy Tropical Smoothie
Light Coconut Milk
It’s hard to picture “tropical” without an image of a coconut.
Coconut milk can be found refrigerated or canned.
We like to keep a few cans stashed in our pantry for desserts, oatmeal, and of course smoothies.
If you’re not a huge coconut milk fan, you can substitute almond milk, oat milk, or any milk of your choosing.
However, while we chose coconut for its tropical vibes, it also has a rich creaminess that other dairy-free milks like almond and soy don’t quite match.
Whole Frozen Banana
We use frozen fruit for the entirety of this recipe because it thickens the drink and keeps it cold.
If you have a room temperature banana, you can still use it. We recommend adding a couple cubes of ice in this case.
For future reference, when you have bananas that are on the verge of becoming overripe, peel them, cut them into smaller pieces, and throw them in a sealed ziplock bag to keep in your freezer for recipes like this!
Frozen Pineapple and Mango Chunks
Same rule as before: if you only have fresh fruit or canned options, feel free to use it and add some extra ice to your blender.
Honey
A little sweetness goes a long way. We think honey pairs well with the other ingredients in this recipe but if you prefer agave or maple, go for it!
You can also opt to leave this step out entirely for a slightly less sweet but just as delicious smoothie.
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla of course adds its own flavor to recipes but also helps to balance things out. We think the splash of vanilla brings cohesion to this smoothie but it can also be omitted.
Protein Powder
We use Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. As we age, collagen becomes more fragmented and less compact leading to changes in our skin’s elasticity—think sagging, wrinkling skin.
While there’s no magic product that can promise to keep your skin looking like it did at 16, consuming products high in collagen, like this protein powder, can supplement some of this collagen loss we all go through as we get older.
If you want to learn more about collagen and other collagen supplements we recommend, we have an article on that! Check it out here.
Without protein in this smoothie, this recipe serves more as a snack or dessert than a viable meal replacement.
Protein is what will make you feel satiated and full so be sure to check how much protein powder your supplement contains and note that if you are skipping this ingredient, pairing it with a protein source, like a hard-boiled egg, can keep this a balanced meal option.
Healthy Tropical Smoothie Recipe
Healthy Tropical Smoothie Recipe
A high protein, refreshing, and healthy tropical smoothie perfect for summer!
Ingredients
- ½ cup light coconut milk
- 1 whole banana frozen
- ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- ½ cup frozen mango chunks
- ½ tbsp honey
- Splash of pure vanilla extract
- 1 scoop Vital Proteins® Collagen Peptides
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high speed blender.
- Blend on high and stop to scrape the sides until smooth if necessary.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
You can top it off with some shredded coconut flakes and a maraschino cherry to make it extra tropical!
Nutrition
Calories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 19gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 196mgPotassium: 294mgFiber: 3gSugar: 37gVitamin A: 952IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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