vegan tropical smoothie

I’ll be honest, what I really want to eat right now is a vat of macaroni and cheese, not a smoothie. But for myself and many others, January has evolved to be just as much of a mental reset as it is a dietary cleanse. I acknowledge that diet culture is damaging and body shaming in countless ways, but I appreciate the collective opportunity that many people take in the new year to focus on health, and of course food is a part of that. I find it’s easier for me to keep in sync with healthful habits if I start the day off with something other than cinnamon rolls or a pound of bacon (though I am greatly tempted by both). In this smoothie recipe I’ve included flax seeds, hemp seeds, and wheat germ which, in combination, bring a punch of omega fats, fiber, protein, vitamin E, thiamin, folate, potassium, and iron (just to name a few)! And if this tropical smoothie is not your thing, I have several other smoothie recipes on the blog (see this and this and this and this).

VEGAN TROPICAL SMOOTHIE
makes one 16-18oz smoothie

Ingredients:
1.5 cups frozen mango
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup coconut or nut yogurt
3/4 cup coconut or almond milk, plus more if needed
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds*
2 tablespoons hemp seeds*
2 tablespoons wheat germ*
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions: Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth.

* optional, but recommended