This 3-ingredient vegan strawberry pineapple smoothie is light, refreshing, and ready to drink in just 5 minutes!
Although smoothies are definitely something you can enjoy year-round, summer is my favourite time of year for a sippable breakfast. And friends, this strawberry pineapple smoothie was made for hot summer days!
The tropical flavour will make you feel like you’re on vacation, and because it’s a smoothie made without banana or yogurt, it’s refreshing and light, rather than heavy. It’s also easy to customise—I share lots of ideas later in this post.
The base of this recipe is strawberries and pineapple. From here, you can go two ways—add orange juice, like my 3-Ingredient Strawberry Banana Smoothie , for some citrusy flavour, or give your smoothie a creamy piña colada spin by using coconut milk.
Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie Recipe
Here’s why this is one of my favourite summer smoothie recipes.
- Refreshing . If you prefer your smoothies light and fruity, this strawberry pineapple smoothie is perfect.
- Easy . With just three ingredients, there’s hardly any prep needed to make it! (Let’s face it, no one wants to spend 20 minutes cutting and washing fruit first thing in the morning.)
- Delicious . Pineapple and strawberries are a natural pair, with just the right balance of sweet and tart.
Is Strawberry and Pineapple Good Together?
In a word: yes! Both strawberries and pineapple are fruit that pair well with a variety of flavours, so it’s only natural that they’d also pair well with each other. The acidity of pineapple brings out the best in strawberries in this strawberry pineapple smoothie.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Frozen strawberries – You can freeze fresh strawberries or buy a bag of frozen strawberries.
- Pineapple – Freeze the pineapple for a thicker smoothie, or leave it unfrozen for a thinner, frothy smoothie.
- Coconut milk or orange juice – You can also use another non-dairy milk.
- Unsweetened shredded coconut flakes and pineapple chunks – Add these for garnish, if you’d like.
What Is the Difference Between Coconut Milk in a Can and Coconut Milk in a Carton?
You can use either option for this strawberry pineapple smoothie recipe, but coconut milk in a can is thicker and richer. It also has a more pronounced coconut flavour.
How to Make a Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
As with most smoothie recipes, this one is easy as can be! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Combine the ingredients . Place the strawberries, pineapple, and liquid in a blender .
- Blend . Turn on the blender and process the ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth.
- Serve . Pour the smoothie into glasses and garnish with coconut flakes and pineapple chunks, if desired.
Tips for Success
These are some of my favourite tips and hints for making a perfect strawberry pineapple smoothie.
- Add the liquid first . This creates a vortex in your blender, which pulls the solid ingredients towards the blade and helps eliminate annoying air pockets that stop your blender from working.
- Meal prep it . If you’re not a morning person, you can make your smoothie even easier by portioning the pineapple and strawberries in mason jars or zip-top bags and keeping them in the freezer. Just add liquid and blend in the morning!
- Sweeten if needed . Depending on whether you use orange juice or coconut milk, you may want to add a bit of sweetener, especially if the berries or pineapple are on the tart side.
Variations
There are so many ways you can make this strawberry pineapple smoothie recipe your own:
- Add a hint of vanilla . Use a vanilla flavoured plant milk instead of coconut milk or orange juice.
- Fill it with superfoods . Chia seeds, ground flax, and hemp hearts are all great additions to this smoothie recipe.
- Boost it with protein . Add a scoop of vegan Greek yogurt or your favourite plant-based protein powder. Silken tofu will add some protein too!
- Veg it up . Throw in a handful of spinach, or try using kale a la my kale smoothie with strawberries.
- Make it dessert worthy . Take a cue from my Korean strawberry milk and swirl homemade strawberry syrup into the bottom of the smoothie.
How to Store
This strawberry pineapple smoothie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day, but note that it’s really best enjoyed right away. As the smoothie sits in the fridge, it will get thinner.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze strawberry pineapple smoothies! Place them in a jar (make sure you leave head space for expansion!), zip-top bag, or other airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Another option if you have leftovers is to freeze your strawberry pineapple smoothie in popsicle moulds and repurpose your breakfast smoothie as a refreshing summer dessert!
More Vegan Smoothie Recipes
- Best Green Smoothie (4 Ingredients)
- Mint Chocolate Chip Green Smoothie
- Strawberry Lime Coconut Smoothie Bowl
- Strawberry Mango Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 2 cups cubed pineapple , frozen if you want a thicker smoothie
- 1 cup coconut milk or orange juice or other non diary milk , full fat or light fat is fine
- unsweetened shredded coconut flakes and pineapple chunks for garnish
Instructions
- Blend the strawberries, pineapple and coconut milk together in a blender until completely smooth. Pour into glasses and top with shredded coconut flakes and garnish glasses with pineapple chunks to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- To store : This strawberry pineapple smoothie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day, but note that it’s really best enjoyed right away.
- To freeze : Place leftovers in a jar (make sure you leave head space for expansion!), zip-top bag, or other airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen strawberries
- 2 cups cubed pineapple frozen if you want a thicker smoothie
- 1 cup coconut milk or orange juice or other non diary milk full fat or light fat is fine
- unsweetened shredded coconut flakes and pineapple chunks for garnish
Instructions
- Blend the strawberries, pineapple and coconut milk together in a blender until completely smooth. Pour into glasses and top with shredded coconut flakes and garnish glasses with pineapple chunks to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- To store : This strawberry pineapple smoothie can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day, but note that it’s really best enjoyed right away.
- To freeze : Place leftovers in a jar (make sure you leave head space for expansion!), zip-top bag, or other airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Nutrition
Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie https://jessicainthekitchen.com/strawberry-pineapple-coconut-pina-colada-smoothie/ June 26, 2023
Maybe you’re reading this article for yourself because you’re on the fence about whether a plant-based diet is right for you. Or maybe you’re here because you’re looking for information to send to a friend, family member, or partner to convince them to make the change. While there are a lot of reasons to go vegan, ranging from environmentalism to animal welfare, for many people, one of the most important reasons for switching to a plant-based diet is its health benefits.
There was a time when veganism was a fringe lifestyle, but now we have modern science to back up the health benefits of a plant-based diet.
What Does it Mean to Be Vegan?
A vegan diet is one that eliminates all animal products, including dairy, eggs, and honey. This means no meat, fish, poultry, or any other ingredients from animals. Instead, vegans eat a variety of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds—both whole foods and processed foods derived from these ingredients.
Some people go vegan for ethical reasons, while others do it for health reasons. While all vegans eat a plant-based diet, some people feel more comfortable using the term “plant-based” instead of vegan if they’re not an ethical vegan or choose to continue using animal products in their homes, for clothing, etc.
How to Eat a Healthy Plant-Based Diet
Simply giving up meat, dairy, and eggs doesn’t mean you’re going to experience the health benefits of a plant-based diet. It’s important to choose nutrient-dense foods on a vegan diet in order to get the most out of every meal. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables will ensure you’re getting all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.
With so many plant-based substitutes available on the market these days, it’s easy to fill your cart with processed foods—but just because those cupcakes are vegan doesn’t mean they’re a healthy option! Don’t eat a diet full of sugar and carbs; instead, fill up on protein, healthy fats, fresh produce, and whole grains.
One of the biggest mistakes new vegans make is simply eliminating meat and cheese from their diets without replacing it with another protein. Proteins are the building blocks of life, so make sure you’re replacing those animal proteins with plant-based proteins , or you’re likely to feel lethargic and suffer brain fog. Eating a wide variety of vegan proteins like tofu, tempeh, beans, and lentils is key for any plant-based eater.
What is the Difference Between Vegan and Vegetarian?
Vegans don’t consume any animal products at all, including dairy and eggs.
There are different types of vegetarians—pescatarians, for example, only eat fish but no other meats. Ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy; lacto-vegetarians eat dairy, but not eggs. The majority of vegetarians are lacto-ovo vegetarians, which means they eat eggs and dairy, but not meat. The term “vegetarian” is usually understood to mean dairy and eggs are allowable.
Science-Backed Benefits of a Vegan Diet
Here are 7 health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle:
It’s Good for Your Heart
A plant-based diet has a number of benefits for heart health. Studies have shown that vegans have lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which can reduce the risk of heart disease. In fact, a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that plant-based diets may reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 31 percent, and reduce the risk of developing it in the first place by 16 percent.
Plant-Based Diets May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
By cutting out animal products, vegans tend to eat more fiber and fewer unhealthy fats than non-vegans. The diet is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes ; a study found that 7.6 percent of non-vegetarians have type 2 diabetes, while only 2.9 percent of vegans develop the disease.
Related to this, a plant-based diet also has the benefit of helping with weight management. By following a plant-based diet, you’ll likely consume fewer calories than you would on an omnivorous diet, aiding in weight loss and maintenance.
There Is Evidence It May Reduce Cancer Risk
Studies have found that adopting a plant-based diet may lower the risk of certain types of cancers . Plant-based diets tend to be high in fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, which may help reduce the risk of cancer.
Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables to get the full spectrum of essential vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients your body needs. Different colours of produce have different nutrients, so a dish like my Rainbow Fruit Salad with Maple Lime Dressing helps cover all your bases!
It Supports Brain Health
Studies have shown a reduced risk of dementia among those who consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables—just 100 more grams of produce per day (that’s about half a cup!) led to a 13 percent decrease in cognitive impairment in one study .
Experts believe this is due to polyphenols in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These nutrients may slow the progression of dementia and even reverse cognitive decline.
Plant Foods Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases, so it’s important to keep your levels in check—especially considering how modern foods, pollution, and even stress can trigger inflammation in our bodies.
Plant-based diets are associated with reduced inflammation due to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. These compounds can neutralize the inflammatory toxins from processed foods, pollution, and more.
It Boosts Your Immune System
The antioxidants found in plant foods can help boost your immune system and fight off germs and other microorganisms—in fact, some of the same antioxidants and phytochemicals that fight inflammation will also keep your immune system humming!
A vegan diet full of healthy whole foods will give your immune system everything it needs to fight infection from bacteria and viruses.
Vegan Diets Are Higher in Fiber
Plant-based diets are naturally high in fiber, which has all kinds of health benefits—nope, it’s not just about keeping your digestive system on track!
A diet high in fiber allows you to better absorb the nutrients in your food, so you can experience all of the benefits listed above. Studies show that fiber can lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Resources for Going Vegan
Now that you know the health benefits of a plant-based diets, you may be wondering where to start!
I have a number of guides here on Jessica in the Kitchen for everything from eating healthy on a budget to how to cook tofu . Here are some to help you start with a plant-based lifestyle:
- Budget-Friendly Vegan Recipes
- Easy Vegan Pantry Recipes
- Fridge and Pantry Staples
- Confusing & Popular Vegan Ingredients Explained
