This tropical green power smoothie is crisp, hydrating, and ultra refreshing. Frosty frozen pineapple + mango are blended with electrolyte-rich coconut water, baby spinach, protein powder (if you please), fresh ginger, and a splash of lime juice. Sip on this simple vegan smoothie for breakfast on a steamy summer morning or enjoy it for an energizing mid-afternoon pick-me-up!
Smoothies have long been my go-to breakfast, especially during the summer months, and since the start of my pregnancy, I've found myself becoming even more serious about smoothie making.
In the past, I'd leisurely pick whichever one of these liquid beauties I had a taste for and promptly blend it up. But given that pregnant women are supposed to consume a whopping 70g of protein per day, I've had to get a bit more creative with my food choices. Creative as in adding heaps of pumpkin seed protein powder to each and every smoothie I consume.
Heck, I've even been stirring the stuff into coconut yogurt on the rare occasion I opt for a chia pudding parfait instead.
Prior to being pregnant, I'd venture to guess I averaged about 40 to 50 grams of protein per day. Now, with the helping hand of a daily protein smoothie, I've been able to hit 60–70 grams of plant-powered protein on the regular. (Since I'm a wee 5'3", I figure a flexible range is fine to aim for each day.)
My go-to protein smoothie for the first several weeks of pregnancy was this bloat busting veggie powerhouse, but once the morning all-the-damn-day sickness ratcheted up a notch around the six-week mark, I couldn't stomach the thing. Thus, from about April to early June, I relied on a straight banana-strawberry or banana-blueberry protein combo. Totally basic, totally delicious.
But now that I'm (mostly) in the nausea free and clear, I've been craving more adventurous morning blends like this tropical green power smoothie...
Frozen pineapple + mango are blended with a couple heaping handfuls of baby spinach, a cup (or more) of coconut water or filtered water, a splash of lime juice, a thumb of fresh ginger, and generous dash of protein powder.
The result is a refreshing, hydrating, and super crisp smoothie with a tropical vibe and a swift kick of plant-based protein.
📖 Recipe
Tropical Green Power Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups frozen pineapple chunks
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
- 2 heaping handfuls baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ to 1-inch thumb of ginger, peeled
- 1 to 1 ½ cups coconut water or filtered water, as needed to thin and blend
- 2 heaping scoops (i.e., 1 serving) pumpkin seed protein powder or other pure plant-based protein powder (optional)*
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender, and blend on high until smooth.
- Pour into a glass (or two).
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Celeste Jackson says
At the end of a warm day like today this is drawing me in. I'm stopping for the ingredients on my way home.
Ashley says
Hope you enjoy! :)
Susan says
Sounds yum! The perfect sort of smoothie for when I have just done a sweaty bikram yoga class.
Ashley says
Thanks, Susan!!
Alex says
The pineaaple-mango combo has been my go to for a while! I'll probably skip the protein powder, since it changes the texture too much for my taste. Or maybe I didn't find the right protein powder yet? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Fingers crossed your morning sickness goes away soon!
Ashley says
Hi, Alex! You can definitely skip the protein powder if you prefer—totally hear you on the textural changes that most protein powders impart on smoothies. Hope you enjoy it! :)