When you think of pina coladas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Is it images of sitting poolside in a tropical location, lounging back in the sunshine and sipping on a delightful drink that may or may not contain a shot of rum or two? While those pina coladas are certainly enjoyable in their own right, this recipe has something a little healthier in mind. It makes a delicious pina colada smoothie using all natural ingredients (and minus the rum of course) that tastes just as good as anything you’ll find on any beach in the Caribbean.
Homemade Tropical Smoothie
Pina coladas are famous for their amazing blend of flavors that fuses pineapple and coconut together in one unbelievably good smoothie. After rum was added into the mixture, it was all game over from there as it quickly became one of the most popular vacation drinks of all time. Thanks to this recipe, you can enjoy a paleo-friendly version made entirely from scratch right from the comfort of your own home in no time at all. All you need is some fresh chunks of pineapple, shredded coconut flakes, coconut milk, lime juice, honey, water, ice, and five minutes of your time.
Not only is this tropical smoothie amazingly yummy, but unlike the rum-filled version that most people tend to enjoy, it’s actually really good for you as well. Pineapple contains an enzyme known as bromelain, which has a wide range of incredible health benefits. It can be used to lower inflammation, to treat bowel conditions, to heal burns, as a muscle relaxant, preventing cancer, and even helping the body to burn fat. (1)
The shredded coconut flakes and coconut milk complete the classic pina colada flavor, providing you with plenty of dietary fiber, fats, iron, zinc and even a bit of protein as well. And unlike most sources of saturated fats, the kinds that are found in coconuts are actually quite beneficial for your health. They lower the bad levels of cholesterol (LDL) in your body while increasing the HDL cholesterol levels, which is the good kind. (2)
Upgrade Your Pina Colada Smoothie Into An Ombre Smoothie
The pineapple in your pina colada smoothie will provide a vibrant yellow color that will attract the eyes just as much as the appetite, but if you’re going to a complete “wow!” effect, take it a step further and make it an ombre smoothie instead. Add a layer of watermelon, strawberry or even blueberry for some additional antioxidant content as well as a contrast of color that is sure to catch anyone’s attention.
Use A Single Serve Blender for Minimal Clean-Up
Use a single serve blender such as this one to minimze your clean-up time. We know that having to wash a full blender set-up can be quite the deterrent, so we recommend using something small and multi-purpose. The serving cup also serves as the blending pitcher, so you won’t have to wash two sets of dishes when you’re done.
While drinking this pina colada smoothie isn’t quite the same thing as lounging in a beach chair on a white sand beach with the waves rolling in, it will still give you the exact same great taste of pina coladas that you would find down in the tropics. Even better, your homemade smoothies will be made fresh from scratch with all natural ingredients. After you make them, the rest is entirely up to you.
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 2 tbsp finely shredded coconut flakes
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp honey
- ¼ cup ice cubes
- Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Serve immediately.
Pina Colada Paleo Smoothie (All-Natural Treat)
Jess (Paleo Grubs)
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