Summer Glow Smoothie with Mango, Orange and Banana
It’s another sunny morning in this hemisphere and with the extra sun comes the extra heat. It’s days like these where a generous dose of this Summer Glow smoothie with mango, orange and banana is required. Usually, when the hot days arrive, my breakfasts switch from overnight oats and porridge to vividly colored smoothies and bowls. This one is extra refreshing and bright! I can’t get over the color! I made a big batch so my parents could cool off with me and take a break from work. They, then, proceeded to rapidly chug their smoothie causing me to exclaim in alarm that there was “a whole orange slice in there”! I guess it truly must have been a scorching hot morning.
This drink isn’t called Summer Glow Smoothie for nothing. Firstly, mangoes are high in antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. All of which help protect the skin from environmental damage while cleansing it from the inside and out. Then, there is the added advantage that they taste so good. On top of the mango, I added some freshly sliced oranges which is a great fruit for fighting free radicals and keeping wrinkles at bay (no matter what age you are). The third fruit is another favorite, the banana which is full of hydration-rich nutrients for glowing skin. As a finishing touch, I added a pinch of turmeric for a beautiful golden color and increased anti inflammatory properties.
It’s a big deal for me to put local produce in the limelight. Despite the huge role that agriculture plays in my country, the industry is so often overlooked and unsupported. Although in recent years, I’m happy to see that this has been changing. More than ever, restaurants are shifting to more fresh seasonal ingredients and building connections with farmers to the point where everyday communication is the norm. Even better, there was some progress during this pandemic with harvesters selling their goods straight to the buyer. As a result, even small households like mine can order food that has just been picked from the stem hours ago. (you should see the amount of soil that rests on the bottom of my veggie delivery boxes!)
There are so many people/organizations you can approach if you want to get in on the fresh produce train. Teraoka Family Farm always has amazing harvests! Trust me when I say you can taste the difference in your food when you use their farm to table produce. A few other farms that have been doing deliveries are Igorot Fresh and Crate2Plate. You can also check out the Good Food Community where they connect you to various farmers and keep you up to tabs on what is in season. However, I want to let you know that none of this is sponsored. I’m just passionate about this topic and I love talking about it.
Just A Few Tips
- Use frozen ripe fruit for this smoothie. This way you get a nice creamy consistency and there won’t be any need to add additional sugars or sweeteners.
- Okay, you caught me! I did not freeze my oranges so don’t follow me. As long as you freeze the banana and mango, you will still get that dreamy consistency.
- You can use fresh turmeric root instead of ground. Start with the same amount that is stated in the recipe then add if you want a stronger turmeric punch.
- I like to add a pinch of black pepper to increase the absorption of the turmeric. I highly recommend it. You can try it in a small amount if you think it’s super weird then add more once you get more used to it.
- Play around with this smoothie by adding your fave plant based milk, fresh greens (i.e. spinach), protein powders, etc.
Summer Glow Smoothie with Mango, Orange and Banana
Ingredients
- 1 orange ,peeled, pith removed
- 1 ripe mango ,frozen
- 1 large overripe banana ,frozen
- 120 mL (½ cup) cold water
- ⅓ tsp ground turmeric*
- a few cracks of black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the orange into quarters and slide the knife between the peel and the fruit to remove the skin. Slice off any remaining white pith and throw away (or add to a compost).
- Place the orange, the rest of the fruits, water and turmeric inside a blender. Add a few cracks of black pepper into the mix then blend until smooth. Pour the smoothie into two small glasses. Top with orange slices and serve cold. Enjoy!
Notes
