Have I ever mentioned that we house a handful of picky eaters? And by “handful” I mean the firstborn and me? It’s true. It only took me about 32 years to outgrow a few of my idiosyncrasies, so, to be fair, Toodle’s got time. This means we often drink smoothies, more smoothies, and then a few smoothies more. Thank God for Pineapple Mango Smoothie because it’s nothing if not versatile. And we need all the flexibility we can get!

This may be a go-to smoothie now, however, that wasn’t always the case. For a while, Toodle would only drink smoothies that were pink. It didn’t matter what we put in the drink so long as the final color remained some sort of pinkish, reddish hue. That was a creative time in our lives.

Smoothies were (and sometimes still are) the only way we could get the girls to eat. So not only did the smoothies have to be pink, they were also sometimes the only meal at dinner. Precious moments are made right here, Spiriteds. I will forever have images of K-Hubs standing at the counter, blending away his feelings as he tried to add one more collard green while still keeping the smoothie the requisite shade of pink. It was a whole thing.

We progressed through the various stages of smoothie life, and now we have upgraded to yellow, orange, blue, purple, and even green smoothies. When that happened, it was as though the heavens opened, bestowed mercy upon our kitchen, and the angels said, “Go forth in your faith, spirited family, for you shall no longer sip only pink smoothies.” It was then that I wept.

And now Pineapple Mango Smoothie is in our lives. A regular fixture, if you will. Also, Spiriteds, it is so ridiculously good, I made three batches inside 24 hours. K-Hubs proclaimed it, “In-freaking-credible!”

I LOVE this little bit of springy, summery heaven at breakfast or mid-morning. The mango and almond milk make it extremely filling. So if I get pulled away because of kids, work, or whatever falls into my lap before lunch, I’m less likely to be hangry and lose my chill. It’s super sweet and deliciously creamy in spite of being completely dairy-free!

Also, in the post-holiday lull, I try to rebalance and reenergize. This is often how I get my daily nutrients without grabbing something more convenient but less healthy. And I’m, shall we say, “particular.” Toodle inherited her picky palate from someone, and it wasn’t K-Hubs.

Let me throw an additional smoothie your way, too, in the event you’re rebalancing and reenergizing for spring. If you need a smoothie that tastes a little more mature, like a healthy guilty pleasure, then you can’t go wrong with Single-Serving Chocolate Chia Smoothie (which, let’s be real, is like a mousse or a pudding – so delectable!). As for today’s recipe? The money is in the variations, Spiriteds. Pineapple Mango Smoothie is here for every occasion. It respects your tastebuds.

It also respects your time. It’s the perfect on-the-go smoothie. When I know dinner will be hours away, I add full-fat coconut milk in place of the almond milk for extra satiation. You will likely find full-fat coconut milk in a can in the baking section of your grocery store near the condensed milk.

In addition to adding any varieties of milk, you can also make this an after-hours drink. Think summer parties for those over the age of 21. For each 8 ounces you pour, add approximately 1-2 tbsp of rum or rum extract. So delicious. But beware the rum. It is super sneaky in this recipe. The delightful, summery sweetness belies the buzz that will catch you when you least expect it.

This rum variation absolutely leaves me in tears of laughter, because while our family isn’t supposed to consume gluten, soy, dairy, large amounts of sugar, eggs in large quantities, nightshade vegetable/fruits, certain nuts, and some seeds, those of us over the age of 21 can have hard liquor. Yes, hard liquor. Dead. On. The. Floor. I literally died, got back up, and then died again when I learned alcohol made the cut. Out of everything in the world, hard liquor is IN. Seems fair.

Because of these variations, this smoothie is perfect for get-togethers when children and adults will share the same space. Make two batches, one with your dairy alternative of choice and the other with rum. However, make sure to label the drinks clearly so everyone gets the correct version. Also put the rummed-up variation far out of reach of little fingers. Just me speaking from experience, otherwise known as that time I was three years old, no one could find me in the house, and finally Mom found me in the backyard on a law chair sporting Dad’s sunglasses, “reading” his magazine, and sipping the remnants of his beer. Tuck that one away for those times you’re convinced you’re failing as a parent. Nope. You’re not. You’re just “making memories” that will turn into stellar stories when the kids grow up.

But I digress.

Now let’s talk sweetener. It’s totally up to you. I add agave nectar or 100% pure honey to my Pineapple Mango Smoothie, especially if the mango isn’t fully ripened. Stevia would also work, but I confess I don’t love it for this recipe. I blame the mango. But I absolutely encourage you to experiment. This smoothie is so tasty, you won’t mind making various batches for “research purposes.”

Older iterations of Pineapple Mango Smoothie!

And now that I have written about this Pineapple Mango Smoothie, I see no reason not to go sit on the deck with it in one hand and a book in the other. Never mind the snow on the ground. Somewhere in the world it’s 5:00, warm, and tropical. 🍍🍍🍍