Last Sip Of Summer {a smoothie recipe}

Yikes! It's October?! Where the heck did this come from? I suppose I should have seen it coming, what with the frost warnings, the football games,the cold dark morning runs and of course, the massive influx of pumpkin-EVERYTHING on Pinterest. While the rest of the world is squealing about pumpkin spiced lattes...I'm still here trying to soak up my last little bit of summer. I'm a summer girl, and while I LOVE pumpkin and boots and scarves - I'm not QUITE ready for it yet! Don't you worry, I have my fair share of pumpkin recipes coming down the pipe. But until then - why not enjoy one last little sip of summer with this Tropical Energizer Smoothie? This is a perfect smoothie for ANY morning, and it's sure to be loved by husbands and kids alike. I first made this for a pre-run breakfast and it was the perfect fuel to get me through a long Saturday run. I've continued making it for a great start to a busy day. It's refreshing, tasty, and of course...HEALTHY! 

Tropical Energizer Smoothie

What's in it?

1 cup frozen tropical fruit mix (I used a Walmart brand bag with pineapple, mango, strawberry and papaya)
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 scoop VEGA Pre-Workout Energizer (you could leave this out - or replace with a pack of Emergen-C!)
1 scoop protein powder
1/2 - 1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup milk (any kind - I use rice milk)

How do I make it?

Defrost the frozen fruit for just 30 seconds. Blend all of the ingredients until smooth. Judge your liquid amounts based on how thick you like your smoothie. 

Why these ingredients?

One of things I think is so important about food prep is knowing WHY you are choosing the ingredients you choose. Sometimes it's for flavor, sometimes for nutritional value, sometimes it's for texture. But there should always be a good reason for every ingredient you include. So...why did I choose what I did?

Tropical Fruit Mix - a good mix of yummy, tropical fruit, no added sugars and lots of vitamins!
Carrots - a serving of veggies, a super-food full of Vitamin A
VEGA Pre-Workout Energizer (acai berry) - a great source of pre-workout energy, plant based, allergen free, no artificial flavors or sweeteners. 
Brown rice protein powder - for added protein to keep me full, no dairy or gluten
Orange juice - the citrus flavor helps the tropical theme, vitamin C, you've gotta have liquid!
Rice milk - a little bit of milk in a smoothie helps make it creamy and blends well with protein powder. I use rice milk for a dairy/nut free option. Coconut milk would also be awesome in this recipe! 

the facts

Serves: 1
Calories: 341 
Carbs: 66 grams
Fat: 3 grams
Protein: 15 grams
Iron: 3 grams
Sugar: 45 grams
Note - this recipe is not low carb or low sugar - but there is NO added or refined sugars, they are mostly from fruit. Also, this could serve 2 people for a snack or in addition to some eggs or something else for breakfast! 

Are you ready for colder weather yet? 

What was your favorite summer memory?