When I think of summertime I think of laying in the sun at the beach, windows rolled down in the car, the smell of flowers and fresh cut grass, and fresh tropical fruit- like watermelon and PINEAPPLE! I love fresh fruit- how sweet and juicy it is when it’s in season, and it’s so good for you too! Pineapple is packed with vitamin C, manganese, thiamin (vitamin b-1), and bromelain which aids in digestion of protein.
For more information on the health benefits of pineapple click HERE. HealthAmbition.com has an excellent article about pineapple’s health benefits and you can read that HERE.
I love to freeze fresh pineapple chunks to use in smoothies during the hot summer months. The result from using fresh frozen fruit to replace much of the ice is a more flavorful, less icey, more smooth, smoothie!
I made this smoothie extra thick, so you can eat it with a spoon and it feels more like a meal than a drink.
Everyone in your family, kids included with love this smoothie! It tastes much like the Pina Colada Julius from Orange Julius- creamy, smooth and sweet, but made with healthy and simple ingredients!
Pineapple Rise & Shine Smoothie Bowl
Healthy pineapple smoothie bowl- vegan, gluten free, paleo
- ¾ cup frozen pineapple chunks
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (you can reserve this much juice when cutting up your pineapple or use canned pineapple juice)
- 1/2 cup of almond milk
- ¼ cup of full fat coconut milk (the canned kind)
- 5 + ice cubes
- a few drops of stevia or maple syrup if needed for sweetness
- optional- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (whey, or soy/veggie-based, chia, hemp, coconut flakes on top)
- Blend all the ingredients in a high speed blender. I use my Vitamix. It has a super high powered motor that blends thick smoothies exceptionally well!
