Start your morning off with a taste of the tropics! If you're feeling rushed to get out the door in the morning or are looking to add a few more fruits and vegetables into your diet, Registered Dietitian Casey Seamon recommends turning to a delicious smoothie. This Tropical Breakfast Smoothie is the perfect stand-in when you're pressed for time, and you can let the blender do all the work.

While the smoothie is green, you won't be able to taste all that frozen spinach. However, you will feel the benefits of the super-veggie's iron, which is important for bringing oxygen throughout your body. Spinach is also high in insoluble fiber, which is important for maintaining gut regularity. 

We've also thrown in frozen mango. There's no nutritional difference between fresh and frozen fruit, but opting for frozen means that the mango was picked and frozen during its peak growing season. This allows you a more affordable and flavorful option, especially in the fruit's off-season. And, frozen fruit adds to that smoothie-like consistency that we're after.

The creaminess in our tropical treat comes from coconut milk, which is made from the white flesh of mature coconuts. Most of the fat in coconut milk comes from medium chain triglycerides, which can be easier for your stomach to digest. 

Ready to get blending? Here's what you'll need.

Tropical Breakfast Smoothie

  • 1 cup frozen spinach (2 cups if using fresh)
  • 1 cup frozen mango chunks
  • 1/2 cup fresh kiwi
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup pitted Medjool dates, chopped
  • 1/2 cup vanilla, non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1-2 cups ice (if desired for added thickness)
  1. Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until thick and smooth.
  2. Add more milk or ice as needed to reach desired consistency. Serve immediately.

Expand your breakfast options with a few other healthy recipes! Enjoy freezer-friendly Breakfast Tacos, Veggie Egg Sandwiches, or Sheet Pan Pancakes (really!) and give yourself a boost of energy to start the day.