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Pineapple Mango Smoothie

This pineapple mango smoothie is bright and refreshing… but the best thing about it is that it will help your digestion!

pineapple mango smoothie

I make smoothies all the time. I mean, every day. My Vitamix gets more use than any kitchen tool I’ve ever owned. I just love the idea that I can pick out whatever food and herbs and supplements I need at a particular moment, toss them all in the blender, and have a healing cocktail of sorts that will boost my energy, fix my digestion, decrease my inflammation, or lift my mood in a matter of seconds.

To me, it’s like magic. Smoothies are the epitome of food is medicine.

When I was in school getting my Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine, we learned all about the value and the amazing healing powers of Chinese herbs. And, I  cook with Chinese herbs all the time. One of my favorite things to do is to introduce my clients to these amazing plant-based medicines.

While it was my culinary school training that started my obsession with more traditional food herbs, like basil, it was my Chinese herbal medicine training that taught me the healing abilities and properties of these more traditional herbs. This pineapple mango smoothie includes a large amount of basil. And basil, is one of the most healing food herbs around. Not only is it great for your immune system, but it’s also a spiritual herb and will lift your mood.

Healing. Delicious. Simple. Those are the 3 words that describe the perfect smoothie.

But… yes, there’s always a but… sometimes I get stuck in a smoothie rut. I fall into the trap of using the same ingredients way too often. I find that green, brown, and red are the colors of most of my smoothie creations.

Okay, if I’m being totally honest — if I’m just making one for myself, oftentimes it’s really ugly. Really healing, but really ugly. I’ve been told sometimes that they are the color of baby poop. Wow, that’s pretty unappetizing… but honesty’s worth a lot, isn’t it?

So, I’ve made a pact with myself (do you ever do that?) that I will make new smoothies, with new combinations of ingredients.

Another thing I’m trying to do is to use fewer ingredients in these recipes. Yes, I do love my powders, potions, and supplements, but sometimes less is more.

This pineapple mango smoothie is one of my newest blended recipes. And look… it’s YELLOW. This one makes me happy just to look at it. But, when you taste it, you will really smile.

The combination of the pineapple with the mango is like a tropical explosion in your mouth. The banana gives it just the right amount of creaminess, and then… for the piece de resistance… a big handful of fresh bright green fragrant basil leaves. The aroma itself is incredible!

Okay, have I talked you into making this pineapple mango smoothie yet?

I hope so. And, if you want another great awesome, colorful smoothie creation, try my Pink Pitaya Mango Smoothie Bowl recipe.

pineapple mango smoothie

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a smoothie with your name on it…  So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

pineapple mango smoothie

Each ingredient in this pineapple mango smoothie really packs a healing nutritional punch:

Pineapple is great for your digestion and it can help stop diarrhea. It’s especially good in the summer because it fights against heatstroke. And, if you haven’t tried drinking pure pineapple juice when you have a cough… you’ve really been missing out because pineapple juice is the best cough suppressant around!

Mangos are great for digestion and they help if you have one of those annoying dry coughs that just won’t go away. This delicious fruit will also help strengthen your bones and is good for your heart.

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they offer a great natural sweetness and a nice creamy texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Extra-virgin olive oil is amazing. It is good for just about everything. It is great for your heart and has even been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks when added into a healthy diet. It’s also good for your brain, and can reduce some of the inflammation in your body. I recommend buying extra-virgin olive oil because it is less processed than some other olive oils. Also, with olive oils, sometimes you get what you pay for, so if you are able to taste the oils before you buy, that’s a great thing to do.

pineapple mango smoothie

If you make this Pineapple Mango Smoothie, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Pineapple Mango Smoothie
5.0 from 1 reviews
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Recipe type: smoothie, fruit, breakfast, snack
Cuisine: paleo, whole30, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1
This pineapple mango smoothie is like sunshine in a glass. It only has a few ingredients, and it will help your digestions... and it is delicious!
Ingredients
  • ½ of a fresh pineapple, cut into chunks (discard the outer rind)
  • 1 mango, pit and peel discarded
  • ½ of a banana (if you have a frozen one, even better)
  • 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • large handful of fresh basil leaves
  • ice (optional)
Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a blender (I used my Vitamix, so it was pretty quick).
  2. Whiz it up until smooth.
  3. Pour into your favorite glass.
  4. Enjoy!

pineapple mango smoothie

Pink Pitaya Mango Smoothie Bowl

This pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl is the perfect thing to keep you hydrated on a hot summer day… and it’s as delicious as it is pretty!
pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl

Color is so important. We’ve all heard the saying “eat the rainbow”… and that’s because the way to stay healthy is to eat as many colors as possible. I eat tons of greens, lots of reds, there’s plenty of yellows and oranges too. But, pink… well that’s a little harder to find. This beautifully healing pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl is the perfect way to get your pink on.

In Chinese medicine, each organ in the body is associated with a different color. Black/blue is great for the kidneys and red is for the heart. Mix blue and red together, and you’ve got pink. The more prominent a color is, the more healing power it has — and just look at this pink color!

It’s no secret that I am a huge smoothie lover. Okay, I might even have a slight obsession with them.

But, my smoothies are just for me. I whip them up in the mornings, add all of my greens and superfoods, pour the mixture into a big mason jar, and I drink it without any regard do what it looks like. And, let me tell you, sometimes it aint pretty…

Smoothie bowls are a whole different animal.

They are celebratory bowls. I mean, if you serve somebody this pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl, they are going to feel pretty special. I know I’d be pretty happy if you made one for me. This is worthy of company. Important company.

And, you get to let the artist in you come out when you decorate the top…

Have you tried pitaya yet? OMG… if you haven’t, you must!

Pitaya powder is made from dragonfruit. The first time I ever tried dragonfruit was in Aruba. It came on my fruit platter at lunch and it was love at first sight. It’s so sweet and tropical that it can’t help but make you smile. But, aside from being truly delicious, research has shown dragonfruit to be helpful in lowering the risk of certain types of cancer. And it only makes sense that a fruit as beautiful as this would be good to enhance your outer beauty as well.

And let’s talk about mangos. This is another tropical winner of a fruit. Mangos help hydrate you in the most delicious way. Perfect for summer. I managed to get mango into this pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl in two ways — I used a mango infused coconut water (see the recipe below for more info) and fresh mango. All I can say is yum!

Another great smoothie bowl you should try is my Pineapple Protein Smoothie Bowl.

pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl

Here are the details on some of the amazing healing ingredients in this pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl recipe:

In Chinese medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. I used mango infused coconut water for this recipe.

Mangos are great for digestion and they help if you have one of those annoying dry coughs that just won’t go away. This delicious fruit will also help strengthen your bones and is good for your heart.

Dragon Fruit (pink pitaya) is an anti-aging food and it’s great for your heart. It contains lots of vitamin C, so it’s great for your immune system and it’s a great friend to your skin — it helps keep it from sagging and getting wrinkly. Research has shown that this gorgeous fruit can help protect against some forms of cancer — prostate and skin cancers especially.

Peaches moisten the body; they can alleviate a dry cough, help with dry mouth, and can be good if you are experiencing constipation. In Chinese medicine, we have an herb that is made from the peach kernel (Tao Ren). This herb is great for constipation and some menstrual problems. Isn’t it great when something so delicious is also so healthy?

I use cauliflower for breads, crusts, rice… everything. One of my favorite uses is in smoothies — when used frozen, it’s a great thickening agent that really has no taste, so it’s a perfect base for whatever you are adding into your smoothies. Cauliflower can be used in so many forms… and, it’s really good for you. In Chinese medicine we use it to aid in digestion and help with constipation. One of the things I find most amazing about this cruciferous vegetable is it’s ability to help with age-related memory loss. (My menopausal friends will appreciate this benefit!). It contains a healthy amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cauliflower also helps the body with detoxification and with reducing inflammation.

I love to add bananas to smoothie bowls; they offer a great natural sweetness and a nice creamy texture. Bananas are good for your intestines (an old Asian remedy was to eat a banana every day to relieve hemorrhoids) and your lungs, and they even help relieve the effects of overindulging in alcohol.

Bee pollen is considered one of the most nutritious substances you can put in your body. It is higher in protein than anything animal-based and it contains an amazing amount of amino acids. It’s good for your energy, your skin, your breathing and your allergies. Add a spoonful to whatever you can. I know there are differing opinions as to whether bee pollen is vegan; so if you would prefer to leave it out, that’s just fine.

Raspberries are an anti-aging fruit. They are great for men who are experiencing frequent urination and for men and women with vision issues. They have anti-cancer and anti-inflammation properties. In Chinese medicine, raspberries are an herb called Fu Pen Zi. This Chinese herb is prescribed for impotence, premature ejaculation, poor vision, and frequent urination. Raspberries are great for you, but if you are experiencing difficulty urinating, that’s when this berry should be avoided.

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

Raw cacao is a superfood. It is packed with magnesium, iron, zinc and other minerals. Not only is it packed with health benefits, but it actually has properties that help the body absorb nutrients better and it’s filled with antioxidants. Cacao can actually be translated as “food of the gods”… Raw cacao can help lower blood pressure, promote healthy heart function, improve digestion, and may even help increase the libido.

Mint is a Chinese herb called Bo He. It’s one of the best things to fight a cold, sore throat, or fever. It’s also good for some abdominal issues too, like bloating, nausea, and some stomach pains. Mint also helps cool of the body in cases of heatstroke, so stock up in summer!

pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl

If you make this Pink Pitaya Mango Smoothie Bowl, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Pink Pitaya Mango Smoothie Bowl
Print
Recipe type: smoothie bowl, summer, blender, Vitamix, fruit
Cuisine: vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 3
This is the prettiest, easiest, and healthiest way to stay hydrated this summer... and it's so delicious!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients into the blender, except the toppings.
  2. Whiz it up until smooth.
  3. Pour into bowls and become an artist with the toppings.
  4. Enjoy!

pink pitaya mango smoothie bowl

Chicken Sandwich With Mango Salsa

This chicken sandwich with mango salsa can be made with leftover chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken!

Chicken Tartine With Mango Salsa-0292

Last week when I discovered the wonders of cooking a whole chicken in my slow cooker (get the recipe here), I had the good fortune of having so much delicious shredded chicken left over that I was able to make the best sandwiches.

Sandwiches always excite everyone in my house. I mean, really, anything between bread is good… but part of the excitement is due to the fact that I almost never make them… absence makes the heart grow fonder I guess…

I don’t eat a lot of bread, so I made these pretty little open-faced sandwiches.

This chicken sandwich with mango salsa is a great recipe to make with leftover homemade chicken or with the chicken from a store-bought rotisserie chicken.

It’s so pretty.

It tastes yummy.

It’s really good for you.

And, you can customize these beauties any way you like. I wanted a little spice so I used jalapeños and radishes. I wanted a little sweetness, so I made some mango salsa. And, let me tell you, this was the perfect combination!

Chicken Tartine (in hand)-0349

Here are the healthy ingredients I used:

Chicken is something I always buy organic. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first.

Radishes are good for your tissues, blood vessels, teeth and bones. They also can help regulate your blood pressure and can ease the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory ailments. In this tartine, they also add a good amount of crunch and peppery bite.

Hot peppers contain more vitamin C than any other vegetable and they are good at fighting off the common cold. So, if you like spice, as I do, use a generous amount of whatever hot peppers you like. The main component of hot peppers is capsicum. Capsicum actually works with your body and mind to make you feel happy. It’s also good for reducing swelling and can relieve arthritic joint pain. If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before eating too many hot peppers because they can actually raise the blood pressure in some people.

Cilantro is also known as Chinese Parsley. It is good for the common cold, indigestion, and energy flow in the body. An old Chinese remedy for the common cold and even for measles was to drink cilantro and mint tea. Cilantro is one of those herbs you either love or hate; I’m a lover…

Mangos are great for digestion and they help if you have one of those annoying dry coughs that just won’t go away. This delicious fruit will also help strengthen your bones and is good for your heart.

Chicken Tartine (single)-0329

Chicken Sandwich With Mango Salsa
Print
Recipe type: sandwich, lunch
Cuisine: american, french
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 to 4
This pretty open-faced sandwich is perfect to make with leftover chicken or with a store-bought rotisserie chicken. It's spicy and sweet and juicy and so good!
Ingredients
  • about 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken
  • 4 radishes, thinly sliced
  • 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup cilantro leaves
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste (this is the fine sea salt I just bought)
  • 4 slices pure rye bread (or your healthy bread of choice)
  • For mango salsa:
  • 1 mango, peeled and cut into chunks
  • juice of 1 lime
  • ¼ tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp avocado oil (or healthy oil of your choice)
  • tiny pinch of sea salt
Instructions
  1. Put all of the salsa ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Toast the bread if you like, and cut each slice in half diagonally.
  3. Divide the chicken, radishes, hot pepper slices, and cilantro among the slices of bread. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Drizzle with mango salsa.
  5. Enjoy!

Chicken Sandwich With Mango Salsa