Pineapple Mint Smoothie

Pineapple Mint Smoothie – Bright, fresh, and (thanks to the protein boost), they’re a beautiful, well-balanced breakfast or snack! 

I used to HATE mint. In fact, I’m sure in the archives, there’s a post that says something to the effect of “not wanting my food to taste like toothpaste.”

I’ve come way (way WAY) around this year, as I learned that the key is adding just enough to make the other flavors sparkle. This pineapple mint smoothie is a perfect example. They’re bright, fresh, and (thanks to the protein boost) they’re a well-balanced breakfast or snack.

Milo has been on a “pineapple smoofie” kick for the last four months. It’s his very favorite. We’ve had pineapple peach smoothies on repeat all summer, but now that peach season is gone, I’ve been looking for other pineapple combinations he might enjoy. Happily, these babies passed the test and have been one of our go-to after school snacks in the last few weeks.

He’s sort of my golden child when it comes to smoothies. He won’t touch a vegetable voluntarily, but he’ll drink almost anything in a smoothie. This one is a lovely.

Pineapple is the perfect blend of tart and sweet, the greens give it a nutrient boost (without impacting the flavor), and the mint wakes up and ties everything together. I used light coconut milk (I got the SoDelicious unsweetened kind from the refrigerated section) to give these a subtle coconut flavor without too much richness. Then, for a protein boost, I use collagen peptides (but you can use any unflavored protein boost you like).

Whether you need a reset after too much holiday indulging or just a little pick-me-up, these Pineapple Mint Smoothies are hard to beat.

Notes on the Recipe:

Don’t have a high-speed blender? I’ve been there. High-speed blenders, like Blendtec or Vitamix are unmatched when it comes to getting the smoothest smoothies around, but if you’re working with a standard blender, try blending your greens with the liquid (in this case, the milk and water) before adding the other ingredients. I’ve found I can get a really smooth finish that way (and no big pieces of spinach left over!)

Don’t do mint? If you’re really not a mint fan, it’s okay! I understand. Feel free to skip it, though you may want to add a little squeeze of lime juice (a la this recipe).

Don’t do greens? If you or someone you cook for can’t do greens, feel free to skip them. That said, I’ve found that pineapple’s sweet-tart flavor is the perfect “mask” for greens in smoothies for my crowd especially if I call them something like “Jedi Juice” or “Shrek smoothies”). If I’m making this for myself, I even add an extra handful of greens and an extra few leaves of mint.

Working with fresh fruit? If you’re making these with fresh instead of frozen pineapple, I suggest adding at least 1 cup of ice to the blender for a frosty finish.

Like this recipe? You might also like…

• Pineapple Peach Perfection Smoothies
• Honey Sweetened Berry Lemonade
• 5 Smoothie Bowls to Make Right Now