Tropical Winter Smoothie/ Parfait

I don’t usually repost things but I am reposting this recipe for the So Delicious 3 Course Recipe Contest.

It’s Friday!! I am feeling energized and sorry for the “rambling”, I know I usually don’t type much so feel free to skip to the next paragraph for the recipe. Fridays are fabulous for so many reasons! Family, Friends, Fitness, Fun, Food… so many reasons. The weekend is a time were we get to spend time together as a family, sometimes get together with friends. We try to slow down a little from our crazy fast paced life, which is why I try to make my recipes quick and easy as well as healthy and fun. Fitness as a family, which to me is important. My husband runs, it is winter so I have my HIIT (circuit training videos) and stationary bike as I am not a winter runner, and the girls have their activities. In the summer we run together, go on hikes, bike, ect but on the winter weekends it is a bit harder. If there isn’t anything going on and it is too cold out the girls join us doing a fitness video. While they don’t do the whole thing, we wouldn’t expect them to, they do what they can and it is more about including them, doing it as a family, and leading by example. My youngest loves doing jumping jacks, yep don’t know where she got that but she will do them over and over. Fun we try to have fun in whatever we are doing. Which is why you will also see some funny, goofy, fun recipes on my blog. We also make sure we are colorful and cute when we workout, because when we are fashionable we are faster and fierce. Or at least it adds another reason for my girls to get pumped! Weekends are also a chance to cook together, the girls are a big help in the kitchen and when they help they get excited. I also include them in the grocery shopping letting them make decisions and pick new things to try. A healthy lifestyle to me is a family thing and I find it is easier for everyone that way. I and not one to make 3 different meals for dinner. I make what we are having and we adjust letting everyone customize. My husband may add meat to his, the girls sometimes but they aren’t big meat eaters. The girls would have organic greek yogurt while I would have dairy free, but now they love that too. I don’t usually get personal or say too much on the blog but it is a new year and if you are new to my blog, welcome, I wanted to put out there that if you are setting a resolution to eat healthier, get active, or whatever it may be make it a family thing and have fun with it! It is a lifestyle and not about a “diet” of what you can’t eat, think about everything you can and make it fun! I like to say if it looks good it will taste better! As for fitness if you aren’t having fun it will become work and daunting and that isn’t what you want, you want to feel good not run down and dreading it. Maybe it is the endorphins talking from my workout this morning but I am pumped and want to try to show where my passion and excitement comes from… it is living life to its fullest and loving it, with my family, cherishing every moment, and having fun!

It’s winter and cold but I want something that is tropical! Embracing the fruits of the season, and getting some extra much needed Vitamin C. Weather you sip this as a smoothie or spoon it as a parfait it is sure to hit the spot for breakfast, snack, or dessert! This time I used a frozen banana and blended it in the Vitamix, blended the fruit, and topped with some chopped fruit and more cinnamon. I like the texture and dessert feeling the frozen banana adds. I also like it with fresh banana, but I like to mash that in the yogurt with a fork and layer chopped fruit for more of a parfait. As with all of my recipes they are meant to be inspirational and I encourage you to customize them to meet your needs and play with it adding your own personal touches.

Tropical Winter Smoothie/ Parfait

Makes 1 serving

1 c pineapple fresh chunks

1 orange or two Cuties/clementines, peeled

1 container, 6 ounce, vanilla yogurt (used my favorite So Delicious Greek Style Coconut Milk Vanilla Yogurt)

1 small banana, fresh or frozen

splash of non dairy milk if needed

dash of cinnamon

If using a frozen banana, blend with yogurt and cinnamon in a Vitamix, or high-speed blender, until smooth. Add a splash of milk if needed to blend. If using a fresh banana I like to mash it with a fork and mix in the yogurt and cinnamon. Layer part of the mixture in a glass or bowl and place remaining aside. In a Vitamix, or high-speed blender, place peeled orange/clementines and pineapple and blend until smooth. If you want a parfait cut orange/clementines into chunks and mix with the pineapple chunks. Layer part of the fruit on top of the yogurt mixture, layer with remaining yogurt mixture, and top with the rest of the fruit mixture. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and enjoy!