My mom recently brought home fresh pineapple, and my immediate thought was to make piña coladas. When I came to the unfortunate realization that I did not have coconut milk or coconut in my kitchen, I decided to turn my creativity down a different aisle. The product was this fruity strawberry and pineapple smoothie bowl. The flavor was outstanding and made me forget about the piña colada entirely! At least until I finished eating it…

This fruity smoothie bowl is incredibly refreshing and is perfect for a hot summer day. It is sweet and tangy, and has a consistency that reminds me of the icees from the icee carts in New York City during the summertime! I added vegan vanilla protein to my smoothie bowl, which not only added a decent dose of protein but also contributed a wonderful taste and added to its consistency!

INGREDIENTS (Yields one smoothie bowl)

• 1 Cup frozen strawberries

• 1/2 Cup frozen pineapple

• 1/4 Tsp. Maca powder

• Water or coconut water to blend

  *Optional but recommended: One serving of vanilla plant protein, I used one and a half scoops of Orgain protein*

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Blend all of the ingredients together in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Add in liquid of choice in small increments; use just enough to successfully blend the strawberries and pineapple. The thickness of the smoothie bowl will depend on the amount of liquid used.

2. Transfer to a bowl, top with you favorite toppings, and enjoy! Some of my favorite toppings for this recipe are fresh pineapple, fresh strawberries, cashews, and buckwheat groats.