I'll be honest, orangesicle is not my favorite, but I know so many people who adore it and love anything that tastes similar. I started this recipe only wanting not to make a pink, red or purple smoothie (so no berries or beets today!) Choosing what I had around (being the end of the week, we are running low on supplies) I ended up with a mellow version of orangesicle flavor that actually appeals to me! I think orangesicle lovers and non-lovers alike will enjoy this smoothie as a result.
Sustainability Spotlight: Coconut water used to be a "throw away" product; a useless portion of the harvested coconut that consumers did not wish to purchase. Now, touted for its health benefits such as hydration improvement, antioxidants, and benefits post-workout for restoration of electrolytes (Healthline.com), coconut water is available in a wide-variety of sources (sweetened, unsweetened, with pulp, and flavored). There are arguments about our "over sourcing" of ingredients for coconut (valid). I look at coconut water as a more sustainable option because it ensures that humans are using all of a coconut which reduces food waste and maximizes the yield of our resources used to grow that crop. That incremental change is what it is going to take for us to earn environmental sustainability.
Ingredients:
1 cup frozen mango chunks
5 florets frozen cauliflower
1 cup orange juice
1.5 cups coconut water
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (Garden of Life - Plant-based Sport)
1 ripe banana
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender.
If you have a Vitamix with a Smoothie option - just turn it on and walk away; ~1 minute later pour into glasses and enjoy.
If you do not have a smoothie option; turn on the blender to low and gradually increase the speed in 20 second intervals up to high. Blend for 3-4 minutes (or until smooth) using a tamper or scraping down the sides as needed. Pour into glasses & enjoy.
With love & hope for a better future for all of us - Jamie