The easiest way to get fruits and veggies into your diet is smoothies. I love how customizable smoothies are, and sometimes I need a reminder that they exist. *Here is your reminder.* This vegan green tropical smoothie combines fresh spinach, a frozen tropical fruit medley (usually bananas, mangos, pineapples) etc.) and some juice and water. This nutritious combination creates a powerhouse of a smoothie ready in 5 minutes or less. Add chia seeds for extra protein, a dose of fiber, and omega-3s, just to name a few health benefits.
If you are new to new chia seeds, do not shy away. Chia seeds are a superfood, and if you’ve read the novel ‘Born to Run’, by Christopher McDougall, you know these are a major component/secret ingredient Tarahumara ultrarunners consume to provide energy for long periods. Now I’m no runner, but the health properties are in abundance with chia seeds. The best part is they don’t taste like anything. Unlike many other seeds, chia has a very neutral flavor, they become gelatinous and create a fun texture if you leave them to soak and swell. If you’re grinding them up in a blender, then they are unnoticeable. Perfect for picky eaters (kids and adults.)
You can customize your vegan green tropical smoothie by changing ingredients, but I would keep the spinach or else you lose the healthy green factor.
-Use mango juice or peach juice in place or orange juice
-use your own mix of ‘tropical fruits’, like papaya and coconut
-chia seeds are optional, but highly recommended!
-this recipe is dairy free and vegan as written; no need for yogurt or milk.
How to achieve vegan green tropical smoothie
Begin with the basics: fresh spinach, and a frozen tropical fruit medley.
Lastly add in a scoop (1 tbsp.) of chia seeds. Adding the chia seeds and into the liquid portion of the smoothie will prevent them from sticking like glue to the sides of the blender. Ask me how I know!
Blend on low, slowly increasing the speed to high, until you’ve achieved a smooth consistency. Voila, you’ve just made super healthy and delicious dairy free and vegan smoothie!
Things that helped in the kitchen for this recipe, and can help you too:
tropical fruit medley– Whole Foods or amazon- our personal, current favorite frozen fruit mix
Vitamix blender– amazon- or Costco! This is another kitchen tool I’ve had forever. After many years, I had to replace the pitcher, but I’m guilty of throwing it in the dishwasher sooo YMMV ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Kitchen scale -from amazon, this one I used for 1-2 years, its inexpensive but gets the job done! The one I currently have is unavailable, but maybe your luck will change that when you stumble upon this post!
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Vegan Green Tropical Smoothie With Chia Seeds [nut Free, dairy free]
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Fresh spinach Approx. 2 cups, packed
- 8 oz Frozen tropical medley 2 cups approximately
- 1½ cups Orange juice mango or peach juice would work well too
- 1/2 cup filtered cold water
- 1 Tbsp Chia seeds (optional)
Instructions
- In order, put: spinach, frozen fruit medley, orange juice and water into blender. Add chia seeds. Cover and turn on low, slowly increasing speed to high for as long as it needs to be a smooth consistency. Scrape down the sides with dedicated blender tamper if necessary. Makes approximately 3 US cups.
I usually hate anything green but boy was this good! Even the kids loved it!
Love to hear that, thanks!