Tropical Mango Smoothie

Make this for breakfast today!   A great way to start your day off right!

     Are you familiar with this tropical fruit you see in the grocery store? Whenever I walk by a stand of mangoes I think hmm, those look good, but I wish I knew how to pick the most ripe mango. I have no idea what all those colors mean!? Well, after a little research I am going to tell you how to find the ripest mango and why you should be eating more of this delicious tropical fruit.

     Did you know mangoes contain 5 times more vitamin C than oranges and 5 times more fiber than pineapples?! We are told everyday by our parents and nutrition professionals to eat more fruits and vegetables. However, where do we go from there? There is a lot of room for education on what fruits and vegetables to eat. After all, it usually is not encouraged to eat 70/30 ground beef. We are always told to choose meats wisely, and go for the 90/10 or lean meats to reduce saturated fat content. Likewise, there are fruits that contain a high amount of sugar and few other nutrients. So, I am here to guide you on a path to a healthier you!!

     Let’s talk about mangoes! Mangoes are a tropical fruit and are a staple in other parts of the world. A ripe mango is creamy and juicy like a peach. I have a few tips to follow when picking fresh mango from the grocery store. Color is not a good indicator of ripeness for mangoes. Therefore do not trust the color of a mango to know if it is ripe. It is better to go by aroma. There should be a distinct aroma without the smell of ammonia, which would mean it is overripe. Also press the mango gently between your palms, it should have a slight give. I do like to use frozen mango for this recipe so I do not need to worry about adding any ice.

I also chose to add papaya to this smoothie because of its high nutritional value. One cup of papaya has 86mg of Vitamin C which translates to 144% of the % daily value! Greek yogurt is also a great addition to this smoothie because it has about twice as much protein as regular yogurt making this a great breakfast choice to get you going in the morning! To top it off, this recipe is delicious! It is so sweet and creamy and I did not add any extra sugar or artificial sweeteners. Another bonus…3 ingredients is all it takes to whip up this tasty concoction! This tasty tropical mango smoothie reminds me of the warm sun and sand on this blistery cold February day.

Kid Version-
I did add a Blue Bunny 3oz strawberry swirl cup to their serving to tame down the flavor of the papaya, and after the addition of the ice cream they ate it right up!!