Tangerine Strawberry Creamsicle Smoothie

Enjoy a filling breakfast on the go with this simple Tangerine Strawberry Creamsicle Smoothie recipe. Made with Greek yogurt for tons of filling protein. 

I love citrus fruit in the winter, but I’m especially partial to tangerines. Many people may not think to put a tangerine in a smoothie, but it adds a delicious taste with tons of Vitamin C.

I call this smoothie a “Creamsicle” because it has the flavors of citrus, strawberries and vanilla cream. But the good part is that it’s healthy! It’s made with Greek yogurt, so it’s packed with protein to keep you full all morning long.

What is a tangerine?

A tangerine is actually a type of mandarin, otherwise known as an orange. Tangerines, clementines, and satsumas are all different types of mandarins.

They are usually smaller and sweeter than traditional navel oranges, and they have looser skin that is easier to peel.

Plus, the skin of a tangerine is bright orange, as compared to the pale orange of a navel orange. They are generally smaller and sweeter than oranges, a little flatter in shape, and they and have a thinner, looser skin that makes them easier to peel.

Tangerines are grown in the United States, primarily in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona. They flourish in the winter– November through January.

How to make a Tangerine Smoothie

Making this tangerine smoothie couldn’t be easier. Gather your 5 ingredients– a peeled tangerine, frozen strawberries, Vanilla Greek yogurt, milk and some vanilla extracts– and blend!

Although flavored yogurts are a bit high in sugar, this smoothie is the perfect indulgence after a long work-out when the body needs to replenish its stored sugar (aka glycogen). The fruit and sugar replace carbohydrates lost during a long endurance work-out.

And, an 8-ounce serving of this smoothie contains 7g of protein to aid in muscle repair. Let’s face it, you’re probably going to get more protein by going back for seconds!

Do blenders kill the nutrients in fruits & vegetables?

This is a question I get all the time. Many people assume that pureeing a fruit or vegetable harms the nutrients. This is not the case.

Because you still have all of the parts of the plant in the blender, you are still going to get the fiber and nutrients associated with the fruit or vegetable.

Juicing, on the other hand, removes the skin and pulp, which removes the fiber. In other words, smoothies are much better for you than juice. As a matter of fact, I compiled 20 smoothie recipes from Registered Dietitians here.

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And while this recipe is absolutely delicious, you can find out how to make your own smoothie with this simple formula. The best thing about “formulas” is that you can sub in your favorite varieties of fruit, protein, liquid and sweetener.

By following this formula, you will make a smoothie that has 300 calories and has 15 grams of protein, aka PERFECT for after an intense workout!

Nutrition Notes:

• Strawberries have more Vitamin C than oranges and are packed with antioxidants.   Antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of several serious diseases.
• Tangerines are another great source of Vitamin C for immune health. Select the sweetest tangerines by choosing the ones that are the deepest orange.

Tell me about your favorite smoothie combination!