Banana Mango Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients

For any of the fruit options, you can use fresh or frozen fruit. When possible, I opt for frozen fruit to provide a creamy texture.

Bananas - 1 banana - Frozen banana will make this smoothie extra creamy. Time permitting, cut a banana into 1-inch thick rounds. Place in a plastic bag and freeze for two hours (30 minutes if in a time pinch.)

Mango - 1 cup - If using fresh mango, I recommend cutting the mango into smaller pieces. I aim for a one-inch cube.

Strawberry - 1 cup - Hull the strawberries. If the strawberry is large, cut it into smaller pieces.

Liquid- ½ cup - The liquid helps to facilitate the blending. I like to use non-dairy milk, apple, or juice. There are several other options. See additions and substitutions below.

Instructions

The time needed: 5 minutes.

How to Make a Banana, Mango, Strawberry, Smoothie

1. Prepare the FruitsFresh fruits - Cut all fresh fruits into smaller pieces for easier blending. I aim for 1 - 2 inch sections. However, there is not an exact size needed. If time permits, freeze the banana to create a creamier smoothie. Hull the strawberries, slice the banana, and remove the pit and skin from the mango and cube.
2. Frozen fruits - I use frozen mangoes and strawberries straight from the bag. The fruit is already the perfect blending size. Freeze the banana, cut into 1 - 2 inch rounds, place in a plastic bag, and freeze for 2- 24 hours.
3. BlendPlace all of the ingredients in the blender. Start blending at a low speed and work up to a medium speed. If you start at too high of a speed, the ingredients end up on the side of the blender.
4. If your smoothie is not blending, add one tablespoon of liquid and use a wooden spoon to loosen any chunks at the bottom.

Substitutions and Variations

Fruit - Smoothies taste great with just about any fruit combination. If you are missing one of the fruits above or do not have the desired quality, substitute with another fruit at a 1:1 ratio.

Fresh or Frozen Fruit - I recommend using frozen fruit when making a smoothie. Frozen fruit blends into a cold, thick and creamy smoothie, which is what we want, right? If you do not have frozen fruit, try freezing your fruit for at least 30 minutes.

Don't have time to freeze? No problem, add a cup of ice.

Protein Powder - Add a typical serving size of protein powder at the start of the blending steps.

Yogurt - You can make a smoothie with yogurt if you prefer. I recommend using yogurt in place of the liquid in the recipe.

Storing/ Freezing/ Make Ahead

Refrigerator - Place smoothie in an air-tight container and place in the fridge for up to two days. I the fruit has separated, stir to recombine.

Freezer - Place smoothie in an air-tight container such as a mason jar. Remove the smoothie in the morning and enjoy it once it thaws a little.