These tropical smoothie packs are loaded with ALL of the good things to keep you full and satisfied, plus, they can be made ahead of time for EASY on-the-go breakfasts throughout the week!
I have to admit, smoothies aren’t typically my go-to breakfast. I’ve *tried* time and time again to convert to a full-on smoothie girl, but I am usually left pretty underwhelmed, hungry, and over it after a couple of mornings of breakfast smoothies. Why? I find that a lot of smoothie recipes lack protein + healthy fat and instead just pack in the fruit (I LOVE fruit, but fruit alone doesn’t keep you full for long). NOT the case with these tropical green smoothies though! Hallelujah! The addition of protein powder, full-fat coconut milk, and chia seeds pack a punch of protein, healthy fat, and fiber, making this a smoothie that I continue to make day after day because it’s satisfying, easy, and INCREDIBLY delicious (if I close my eyes, I almost feel like I’m sipping this bright green beauty beachside, and I’m not mad about that one bit!)
Are frozen fruit smoothies healthy?
They totally can be! Here’s the deal though, if your fruit smoothie is just fruit + some sort of liquid (think: water, almond milk, coconut water, etc.), you’ll obviously get in a good dose of fruits (which is great), but you’ll be hungry in 30 minutes and miss out on SO many nutrients that you can *so* easily sneak into a smoothie. Making a smoothie at home vs. buying one is also a good way to ensure it is healthy! You may be surprised to find that the smoothies you regularly buy are packed with added sugar and juice, and missing the components that make a well-balanced meal.
We think the healthiest frozen fruit smoothie is a well-rounded one – meaning, one that also includes a leafy green (you won’t taste it, we promise!), and a good dose of fiber, protein, and healthy fat! These smoothies keep you fuller longer, are way more nutrient-dense than a fruit-only smoothie, and help keep your blood sugar from spiking.
Tropical Smoothie Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your grocery list to *feel* like you’re enjoying a tropical vacay ASAP:
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Mango – mango is the quintessential tropical fruit (right?!), so adding this immune-boosting fruit was a no brainer! Feel free to use frozen or fresh fruit – either way, you’ll need a ½ cup of mango chunks per smoothie!
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Pineapple – another must in the tropical fruit department! Pineapple boasts SO many benefits (promoting healthy digestion and reducing inflammation, to name a few!) Again, fresh or frozen work great here, and you’ll need a ½ cup per smoothie!
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Spinach – spinach gives the tropical green smoothie its vibrant green color and gives you a healthy dose of leafy greens! You can use fresh or frozen here, too. You’ll use 1 cup per smoothie either way.
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Full-Fat Coconut Milk – coconut milk (the full-fat kind!) adds SUCH a creaminess to the smoothie. Trust us, go full-fat here! The healthy fats in it will also help you to feel full and satiated until lunchtime.
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Protein Powder of Choice – we typically go with a neutral protein powder here – we don’t want the protein powder to overpower the delicious tropical flavors we’ve got going on! This collagen protein + this whey protein are our go-to’s!
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Chia Seeds – chia seeds are tiny little nutritional powerhouses, y’all! They’re loaded with antioxidants, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and SO much more, plus they add a great crunch to your smoothie.
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Liquid of Choice – this smoothie will have plenty of sweetness from the pineapple or mango, so we recommend skipping the usual orange juice and using water or coconut water for an electrolyte boost! The frozen coconut milk will give this smoothie a creamy consistency, but if you want yours to be even creamier, you can use almond milk, or another non-dairy milk, instead.
How to Make Tropical Green Smoothie Packs
Ok, so one of the best parts about these tropical green smoothies is that you can make a week’s worth (or more!) of smoothie packs in advance, keep them in the freezer, and toss them in the blender when you’re ready to enjoy! That means no measuring (or thinking, really!) on a chaotic morning, and a tasty, nutritious breakfast ready in 5 minutes or less! Here’s how you’ll prep 5 tropical green smoothie packs at a time:
If you’re using frozen fruit + spinach, grab a 16-ounce bag of each – this will make enough for all five smoothies with just a tad to spare! One can of full-fat coconut milk will do the trick for all 5 smoothies too!
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Portion! Spoon the mango, pineapple, spinach, coconut milk (yes, you’ll just pour the coconut milk right on top…it will freeze as one big ball of goodness!), protein powder, and chia seeds into individual baggies. Note that if you don’t have a high powered blender at your disposal, we recommend freezing the coconut milk into cubes instead so your blender can break it down more easily.
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Blend! When you’re ready to make your smoothie, empty the contents of your bag into a blender or bullet with ¾ cup of water and blend until smooth.
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Enjoy! Pour into your favorite glass, garnish with a pinch more of chia seeds (if you want), and enjoy your delicious tropical smoothie!
How to Freeze Fresh Fruit
While you can buy frozen fruit at your grocery store, you may want to use fresh fruit when it is cheap and in-season instead! If you put fresh fruit into the smoothie packs, they will stick together, so we recommend freezing them separately first. Simply cut your fruit into 1-inch chunks, then place on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and freeze for at least 3 hours, up to overnight. Now you’re ready to make your smoothie packs!
Reusable Bags for Smoothie Packs
Looking to reduce your consumption of single-use plastics? Us, too! You can easily wash, dry, and re-use plastic bags OR you can store/make your smoothie packs in a silicone bag (like these, these, and these).
Green Smoothie Subs and Swaps
Here are a few swaps that’ll still result in a delicious, tropical smoothie!
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Use different fruit. Pineapple or mango not your thing? Replace with with another tropical fruit! Instead of using a ½ cup of each, feel free to use 1 cup of just mango or pineapple, or even swap one of them for papaya, kiwi, or strawberries.
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Use any green! Feel free to use kale (or any other green that you love) in place of spinach here!
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Use yogurt instead of coconut milk. Greek yogurt or regular yogurt will still make your smoothie super creamy and delicious. Be sure to grab the full-fat variety so that you still get a good dose of healthy fats!
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Feel free to omit the chia seeds if you don’t have them or would just prefer to go without!
How long will smoothie packs keep in the freezer?
These frozen smoothie packs are good for up to 3 months in the freezer! So, if you find a big bag of frozen mango or pineapple on sale at the store, snag it and make as many smoothie packs as you can with it! Remember, a 16-ounce bag each of frozen mango + pineapple (or a 32-ounce bag of *just* pineapple or mango) yields 5 days worth of smoothies!
The Best Blenders for Green Smoothies
A high powered blender is a must in our kitchen. A good blender makes ALL the difference between a chunky smoothie and a silky smooth one, and we definitely prefer the latter! We love this blender for a full-size option and this one for an on-the-go single-serve option!
More Smoothie Recipes
Tropical Green Smoothie Packs
Ingredients
For 5 smoothie packs:
- 16 ounces frozen chopped mango
- 16 ounces frozen chopped pineapple
- 16 ounces fresh or frozen spinach
- 1, 13.5 ounce can full-fat coconut milk
- 5 scoops of protein powder or collagen peptides
- 5 teaspoons chia seeds
For a single smoothie:
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped mango
- 1/2 cup frozen chopped pineapple
- 1 cup packed fresh baby spinach may also use frozen
- 1/4 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 1 scoop protein powder or collagen peptides
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds additional for garnish, optional
- 3/4 cup water or coconut water
Instructions
- Spoon all of the ingredients into individual bags. (Yes! you'll just pour the coconut milk right on top.). It will freeze as one big ball of goodness. Note: if you don't have a high-powered blender, we recommend freezing the coconut milk into ice cubes first, then dividing between the bags.
- When you're ready to make your smoothie, empty the contents of your bag into a blender or bullet with 3/4 cup water. Blend until smooth.
- Pour in your favorite glass, garnish with a pinch more of chia seeds (if you want), and enjoy.
Nutrition
