Smoothies are one of the best ways to get as many nutrients as you want, as we all know. I think banana and pineapple are very, very underrated together as a combo. This pineapple banana smoothie is very simple because at the core of it, you need, well, pineapple and bananas.

I’m going to be showing you some tips and tricks to make this smoothie something you’d actually enjoy making every morning and keeping in your weekly rotation.

How to Make the Pineapple Banana Smoothie

First off, you’re going to need pineapple and bananas like I said. But there are also a few ingredients that you might want to add to this smoothie to make it a little bit better. For example, vanilla extract. Then, I like to add milk because water dilutes the entire smoothie.

This is very, very optional, but I like to add some protein powder. In this recipe, I use soy protein because I don’t mind the smell or the taste of it, and it helps to up the protein, considering the fact that pineapples and bananas are low in calories but don’t have much protein content. So I like to add some kind of protein inside, and then we should be good to go.

I also like to add a little bit of ginger sometimes, but like I said, it’s completely up to you.

Ingredients for Pineapple Banana Smoothie

Milk – For milk, I like to use whole milk to have the fuller, richer taste. You can substitute this for some yogurt as well—it will work really well. But it’s just a personal preference. I like my smoothie to be a little bit runny. So if you want your smoothie to be a little thicker, please use yogurt instead of milk.
Pineapple – Frozen pineapple will work better than fresh.
Banana – Frozen bananas will give your smoothie a creamy texture. Fresh is also fine.
Vanilla Extract – Because it just binds everything together.
Protein Powder (Optional) – You don’t need to add protein powder. I just like to add it, and that gives it a more encompassing completeness to the entire thing.
Ginger (Optional) – I like to add ginger for a little bit of anti-inflammatory kick.

Tips & Variations

If you want your smoothie to be thicker, use yogurt instead of milk.
You can add a little ginger if you want that anti-inflammatory boost.
You can adjust the amount of milk depending on how thick or runny you like your smoothie.
Add sweetener if you like, but it’s not important.
You can add spinach or other greens if you want to sneak that in.
If you’re using fresh fruits instead of frozen, add ice cubes.

FAQs

Can I make this smoothie ahead of time?
Yes, you can, but it’s best enjoyed fresh. The banana will oxidize and turn brown if left out for too long, but you can add some lime or lemon to the mix to make it a little less brown. But even when it’s brown, it still tastes really good and fine. Just don’t do that—so it’s better to just make it fresh.

Can I use fresh fruits instead of frozen?
Yes, of course you can! Just add ice cubes.

What’s the best protein powder to use?
I use soy protein, but you can add any type of protein that you want. And yes, you can leave out the protein.