Packed full of nutrition, this vegan Pina Colada Green Smoothie recipe will make you think you're on a beach in paradise! It's a great way to get your vegetables in, but all you’ll taste is sweet pineapple and coconut.
The first time I had a real Pina Colada was on a beach in Thailand. It was served in a coconut shell, and I still remember how refreshing it was as I lay in the sun with my feet in the sand reading a book. For me, a Pina Colada represents vacation!
And Green Smoothies represent busy days when I want to get a lot of nutrition in without taking a lot of time to do so.
Vacation, meet nutrition, in the form of this beautiful drink.
I’m not even kidding when I say that this Pina Colada Green Smoothie tastes just like the real thing. Give it a try for yourself and see if you don’t feel like you’re sunbathing on a tropical shore. And with today marking the unofficial start to summer, what better way to celebrate?
Happy Memorial Day to all, and heartfelt gratitude to all who have sacrificed for our country.
How to Make a Green Smoothie
You can use any number of leafy greens to make a Green Smoothie, such as spinach, kale, collard, etc. However, try not to pick something that’s too bitter because you’ll be drinking it raw. You can just go with any green veggies and fruit you have on hand, or you can customize a flavor like I did with this Green Pina Colada Smoothie.
No matter what combination of flavors I’m whipping up in a green smoothie, I like to include some kind of healthy fat, such as coconut oil, coconut milk, nuts avocado, grass-fed dairy, etc. to make it a more satiating meal.
Pro Tip: Put the greens into the blender first, and then the other heavier ingredients on top to help push down the greens.
Can Green Smoothies be Used as a Weight Loss Tool?
Green Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of different nutrient-dense foods into one meal. However, there really isn’t a magic weight loss food.
In order to lose weight, you need to burn off more calories than you take in.
How to Fit Smoothies Into Your Meal Plan
Smoothies come together in just a matter of minutes! (If your smoothie takes longer than 5 minutes to whip up, there’s something strange afoot!). This means they’re an easy fit into a busy schedule right off the bat.
You can mix one before heading out to work and sip on it on the way, or enjoy it pre-workout or post-workout. And I even enjoy making a smoothie for dessert. Depending on the flavor, smoothies can be a good replacement for ice cream!
Other Delicious and Healthy Smoothies to Try:
- Minted Blueberry Balsamic Smoothie from An Edible Mosaic
- Strawberry Mango Chai Smoothie from Sweet Peas and Saffron
- Paleo-Friendly Snickers Smoothie from Healthy Sweet Eats
- Cinnamon Sweet Potato Almond Butter Smoothie from Spoonful of Flavor
- Almond + Joy Smoothie from An Edible Mosaic
- Wild Blueberry Zucchini Smoothie from Life is But a Dish
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith
Pina Colada Green Smoothie
Ingredients
Smoothie:
- 1 ½ cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ¾ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped frozen pineapple
- ¾ cup chopped frozen mango
- ¼ cup canned unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup water
Topping Ideas:
- Chia seeds
- Bee pollen
- Unsweetened shredded coconut
- Frozen berries
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender in the order listed and process until smooth, tamping down the ingredients as needed.
- Serve immediately, with any toppings you like.
Faith's Tips
- Nutrition information was calculated without any toppings.
- Instead of coconut milk you can substitute the following: ¼ cup heavy whipping cream + ¼ teaspoon coconut extract.
- I find that the pineapple and mango make this smoothie sweet enough without the need to add sweetener. I recommend tasting it before you add sweetener. If you decide you want it a touch sweeter, you could try adding honey or stevia.
- Use a vegan milk, vegan sweetener (if desired), and skip the bee pollen topping.
- Note that the longer you blend a smoothie, the less thick it will be. I like to just blend until the smoothie is combined so my smoothies start off really thick, almost with the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. That way I can take my time drinking them and they’re still pretty thick even after 20 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!
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