New Favorite Fruit Smoothie!

 

Normally, when I make smoothies, they’re protein smoothies. But I recently picked up big tubs of Turmeric powder and Matcha powder from Costco and wanted to find more ways to use them in smoothies, so I’ve been experimenting with fruit smoothies.

Of course, making use of Turmeric and Matcha is what inspired me to make this smoothie, but you could certainly omit those two ingredients and still enjoy a delicious smoothie (though honestly, I really encourage you to try adding these two because they’re super beneficial! More on that in a sec.)

I generally try to give myself a well-rounded mix of foods so that the nutrients my body is receiving is also well rounded.

Why? Because typically when our bodies are feeling some kind of adverse reaction, it’s because it’s deficient in something ie, a deficiency in essential nutrients like magnesium and potassium can lead to muscle cramps, so if you’re having a muscle cramp, ask yourself, is your regular diet including enough potassium or magnesium? A pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a temporary solution to the pain, but proper diet and nutrition is a long-term preventative solution. I’ve been irritated by enough muscle cramps and other ailments to test this theory myself over the years. 😉 As an aside, dark leafy greens like spinach and kale are rich in potassium, with higher quantities of potassium than bananas, so for those of you who regularly avoid spinach but get muscle cramps, consider this as a possibility why.

By the way, please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, from which, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. I only recommend products and services I’ve personally used and believe can add value to your business. If you choose to purchase from any of my links, thanks so much for your support! 😊

Speeding Up the Smoothie-Making Process

To speed up the smoothie-making process, I prefer to use frozen fruits. Using frozen fruits speeds up the process because all you have to do is open the bag and scoop out your amount into the blender (vs peeling, washing, and prepping fresh fruit). Plus, it’s easy to store your frozen fruit so it’s readily handy (instead of regularly replenishing fresh fruit week after week).

This can limit the available fruits to what is actually available in the frozen section. This was another inspiration for this recipe: I spied both mango and cherries in the frozen section and decided to see how I could use them.

I like to pick up frozen fruit in bulk, so I typically get them from a store like Sam’s Club, BJ’s, or Costco (and now that I’m in Florida, I’m much closer to these stores than I was when I lived in the country in Pennsylvania which makes me quite happy indeed 😊).

Another reason I like using frozen fruit is that I don’t like adding ice to smoothies. I’m not really sure why, it’s just always felt odd to me. So by using fruit that’s frozen, it eliminates a need to add ice. (Really, I know I’ve got some strange quirks and this is definitely one of them.)

Getting a Smooth Smoothie

However, any blender I’ve ever used still has difficulty blending smoothly without adequate liquid to find grip, so the recipe compensates for this. Still, if your blender has trouble blending, you may need to just add a little bit more water (just a little at a time).

Vitamix is my current favorite blender, it’s a bit heavier duty (and as such, costs a bit more). I replaced my former blender with this one because I make smoothies so regularly – almost daily –  that my previous Ninja blender burned out in less than a year. (RIP 💔) If that was to be a consistent expectation, then after 2-3 replacements (on a yearly basis), I will have paid the same amount as my current Vitamix. If my current Vitamix lasts at least 5 years, then it’s definitely a more cost-effective option in the long run. But even to not have to replace it each year would be a stress relief. And I’ve had former blenders of high quality last much longer than 5 years (I daresay my mom has a blender that’s older than me! 😅)

If you only use your blender like 2-3x per month, then perhaps the more budget-friendly Ninja blender option might suit you.

Benefits of Our Inspired Ingredients

Both Turmeric and Matcha have excellent benefits.

Turmeric is said to have excellent anti-inflammatory benefits due to curcumin it contains. Being in the ginger family, it has a subtle ginger taste. (Found at Costco.)

Matcha is a form of green tea where the leaves have been turned into powder and is stronger in flavor than the regular tea It contains a low amount of caffeine. Like many teas, it contains antioxidants (antioxidants can help protect your cells from damage). You may find it has a slightly grassy flavor. (Found at Costco.)

I’ve noticed that when I add turmeric and matcha to my smoothies, I feel full longer. I don’t start getting hungry so soon.

To keep unnecessary hunger pains at bay, it helps that I drink plenty of water daily. A lot of times hunger pains are actually misinterpreted; we think we are hungry when we’re actually thirsty and dehydrated. If you’re following me on Instagram, you’ve seen me mention the 64 oz water bottle I now keep clutched to my side. 😂 I am for a minimum of one full bottle per day. You can find the 64 oz bottles that help me reach my daily water goals here.

Benefits of Mangoes and Cherries:

Speaking of magnesium and potassium, mango contains both of those as well as being packed with antioxidants and vitamin C and a good source of fiber (which you know helps move things through the body). Pretty cool that both share some very similar benefits, don’t you think? 😊

 

I wondered if I would taste turmeric in the smoothie. It’s possible there’s a taste, but there isn’t much of one. I mostly just taste the fruit and a hint of the matcha.

 

Putting it all together

Personally, I love drinking my smoothies from a mason jar. Something about that makes it feel so refreshing. Plus, the quart-sized mason jars are always big enough for my smoothies. And I love using silicone straws. I picked these up from Bed Bath and Beyond (one of my favorite stores ever!).

 

Ok, enough chatter. Let’s get to your smoothie recipe!

 

 

Mango-Cherry Smoothie 

Calories: 244 (according to myfitnesspal)

Carbs 53 g; protein 2 g; fiber 11 g; sugar 20 g; fat 2 g; sodium 93 g; potassium 782 g; Vitamin A 20 g; Vitamin C 28 g; Calcium 24 g; Iron 24 g

• 1 banana (fresh or frozen, whichever you have on hand)
• 1/2 cup mango (frozen)
• 1/2 cup cherries (frozen)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or your preferred milk)
• 1 cup water
• 1 scoop Turmeric powder (optional but so recommended)
• 1 tsp matcha powder (optional but so recommended)

 

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.

Pour into your favorite smoothie cup or a quart-sized mason jar, add your straw (optional but makes the experience so much more fun!), and enjoy!

 

If you try out this recipe please let me know in the comments below how you like it!

And come back for more recipes, I’ll definitely be thinking up more ways to use up the turmeric, matcha, frozen mango, and frozen cherries (I already have a quick and easy snack in mind for these cherries!)