Tropical Banana Smoothies

Name: Tropical Banana Smoothies
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 ¾ cups milk; ½ cup frozen mango chunks; ½ cup frozen pineapple chunks; 1 small frozen banana, peeled; 2-3 pitted Medjool dates; 1 tablespoon ground flax seed; 1 scoop unflavored or vanilla protein powder (optional)

By Julie Andrews

I don’t know about you, but I generally have a full freezer, which generally consists of proteins, fruit and vegetables with a few other random convenience items. Lately I’ve been using up the frozen fruit to make smoothies, as it’s an easy way to get in essential nutrients without having to run to the store on a regular basis. This means I’m constantly making different concoctions with a variety of fruits.

However, what remains the same is my typical smoothie “formula”. I like it to have frozen fruit, greens (if available and appropriate), Greek yogurt and/or milk, some type of sweetener and what I like to call “extras”.

Fruit: I go for about 1 ½ cups of frozen fruit. Berries, mango, pineapple and dark sweet cherries generally find a place in my freezer (I also use these to top oatmeal and yogurt parfaits), but any fruit and fruit combo is free game! Generally I make some of this cup and a half a small sliced frozen banana because it adds depth and texture to the smoothie (and a dose of potassium!).
Greens: I usually keep a bag of frozen spinach and add a small scoop of it to my smoothie. If I have fresh, I use about a cup. It doesn’t really change the flavor, but adds a ton of nutrition and a beautiful green hue! I didn’t include it in this recipe, but feel free to add it if you have some. Oftentimes adding other veggies like cauliflower works well, too.
Greek yogurt and/or Milk: Regular yogurt is also great, but I prefer Greek yogurt because it has about double the protein of regular yogurt. Either way you’re getting a hefty dose of probiotics! The milk is there to make the smoothie blend nicely and to thin it out a bit. Any milk goes (soy, cow’s, almond, coconut, rice, kefir, etc.) – about 1 ½ to 2 cups brings it all together!

Sweetener: This is definitely optional, but I generally add a pinch of granulated stevia or monk fruit to balance out the tanginess of the yogurt. You can also add a bit of honey, maple syrup or agave, and in this case, a few dates to add to the tropical flavor AND sweeten the smoothie!
“Extras”: This could be pretty much anything to boost nutrition, such as a tablespoon or two of ground flax, chia or hemp seeds, oats, walnuts or other nuts, nut or seed butter, protein powder (make sure if it’s flavored it matches the other flavors of the smoothie ingredients) or any other ingredient that has some vitamins, minerals, protein and/or healthy fats.

This smoothie “formula” isn’t hard and fast – it comes down with how you like it, but hopefully this gives you a place to start. Now, tell us in the comments what you put in YOUR smoothie!