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Add an extra dose of greens and fruit to your little one’s day with this copycat Tropical Smoothie Cafe Island Green recipe! Made with two types of greens and three tropical fruits, this homemade smoothie is lusciously creamy and vibrantly green with a refreshing tropical flavor. The best part? It’s ready in just a few moments!
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Island Green Smoothie
Tropical Smoothie Café is known for their delicious smoothies, but their portions tend to be super-sized and the cost can quickly add up too. Just like this Tropical Smoothie Peanut Butter Cup Recipe, we’re here to give their smoothies an equally delicious, yet healthier spin!
This kid-friendly Tropical Smoothie Cafe Island Green Smoothie recipe incorporates banana, pineapple, mango, coconut milk, spinach and kale – for an extra creamy texture without any added sugar.
It’s a fantastic way to convince even picky eaters to consume some dark leafy greens since it tastes just like tropical fruit!
Island green smoothie
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Why We Love This Tropical Smoothie Recipe
- Great for kids: I formulated this healthy smoothie recipe specifically for kids. I wanted to make sure it still had a sweet, fruity flavor and a creamy texture without any added sugar. The coconut milk adds extra healthy fats to support their growing brains, and the fruits and veggies offer an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, especially chlorophyll and vitamin K (from the greens), and plenty of vitamin C from the fruits. They’ll love the sweet flavor and fun green color!
- Naturally sweetened: A little ripe banana adds just enough sweetness to balance the tart flavor of the mango and pineapple. You don’t need anything else!
- Loaded with fruits & veggies: Depending on how large a serving you offer your child, just one smoothie can offer several servings of fruits and veggies in one sitting! Since most kids should have between 2-3 servings of fruit per day and 3-4 servings of vegetables, this is an easy way to reach that goal.
Ingredient Notes
- Coconut milk: I love adding coconut milk to smoothies because it’s so creamy and adds a subtle coconut scent that amps up the tropical flavor. You can use coconut milk from the carton or can, but the variety from the can will be more rich and creamy.
- Banana: Ditch the sweetener and add an overripe banana instead. You can also freeze ripe bananas to have them on hand for your favorite smoothie recipes at all times.
- Mango: Grab a bag of frozen mango cubes from the store to make it simple.
- Pineapple: I like to use frozen pineapple to avoid adding any ice cubes, but you can use fresh pineapple if needed.
- Baby spinach: The vibrant green color comes mostly from fresh baby spinach, which has a really mild flavor in smoothies. Frozen spinach can be used too.
- Kale leaves: Add a little fresh kale for extra nutrients and flavor. You can also use baby kale.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a high-speed blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to scrape down the sides a few times while blending to ensure all of the ingredients are blended evenly. Serve immediately as is or with a sprinkle of coconut flakes.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- For the coconut milk, you can also use unsweetened coconut water, regular milk or another plant-based milk alternative.
- To add more protein, add some Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, or protein powder (for older children or adults).
- If the smoothie is too sweet, add more greens. If not sweet enough, add a bit of extra banana, honey or maple syrup.
Recipe FAQs
According to the Tropical Smoothie Cafe website, one serving of the original recipe has 420 calories, 0g fat, 102g carbohydrates, 4g fiber, 88g sugar, and 3g protein. That’s a lot of sugar in one serving!
Since this homemade recipe has only 187 calories, 29g carbohydrates, and 17g of sugar per serving, it’s a better fit for your child’s dietary needs and won’t give them quite the sugar spike (and crash). You can always add additional protein as well to help manage that spike.
There aren’t a lot of secrets to making great smoothies. It’s all about having the right balance of liquid and frozen ingredients and using a high-speed blender. This is the most important part! You really need to let the smoothie blend at high speed until it comes together, and the quality of the brand matters. Most smoothie shops use Vitamix or Blendtec mixers for a reason.
Yes! Tropical Smoothie adds turbinado sugar to most of their recipes, and you can see from the nutritional facts that the Island Green smoothie has way more calories in the original version than the Splenda-sweetened one. All that sugar will spike your blood sugar, especially with such low fat and protein. Technically, an Island Green smoothie should be served more like a dessert unless you make this healthier homemade version.
Storage Guidelines
Homemade smoothies are always best served fresh.
If you have any extra, we love to pour the leftover smoothies into popsicle molds or ice cube trays for a cold, sweet treat any time.
Serving Suggestions
I typically like to serve smoothies as part of a complete meal or snack when possible. This copycat recipe for the Tropical Island Green Smoothie can really be served at any time of day. For breakfast, pair it with these protein-packed Mini Egg Bites or Zucchini Frittata.
Turn it into a healthy afternoon snack with these 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Muffins or Banana Pumpkin Bars, or enjoy it as a cold dessert on those hot summer days!
Recipe Variations
- Add some seeds: I love adding chia seeds or hemp seeds to smoothies because they blend up nicely and are a fantastic way to offer your child extra fatty acids. The additional fiber will help keep them full longer, as well.
- Use yogurt: For an extra creamy texture, add a dollop of Greek yogurt. Kids can benefit from the extra fats, so full-fat yogurt will work well here.
- Try fresh fruit: If you don’t have frozen fruit on hand, you can certainly use fresh fruit for this copycat Island Green Tropical Smoothie, but you will need to add ice in some way. Ice cubes work well but can water down the smoothie. Consider adding frozen banana pieces or at least one type of frozen fruit to make it cold and creamy.
- Add extra fat: Add 1/4 to 1/2 of an avocado for a lusciously creamy texture and extra healthy fats.
More Delicious Smoothies
- Ninja Fruit Smoothie Recipe
- How To Make A Smoothie Without Yogurt Or Banana
- How To Make A Strawberry Banana Smoothie Without Yogurt
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Tropical Island Green Smoothie {Copycat Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 medium overripe banana
- 1/2 cup diced frozen mango
- 1/2 cup diced frozen pineapple
- Large handful of baby spinach (about 3/4 cup)
- Small handful of kale leaves (about 1/4 cup)
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a high power blender in the order listed. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to scrape down the sides a few times while blending to ensure all of the ingredients get blended evenly. Serve immediately.
