This quick and flavour packed Strawberry Coconut Smoothie is the perfect pick me up. With coconut milk, fresh, juicy strawberries, and a frozen banana base, it’s super smooth, creamy and ready in 5 minutes!
After this insane, rich, salty, sweet, Oreo filled Skillet Cookie, I felt like our jeans could do with something lighter… enter this Strawberry Coconut Smoothie.
But first… I’m sure you all know about my back problems. After feeling like I didn’t have the energy to go back and start another long fight with the Doctor to find out what is going on, I just had to a couple of months ago because the pain got even worse and for the past 6 months I haven’t had one pain free day and it’s exhausting.
Now, I’m stubborn, but it was so bad I had to do something. After a lot of nagging from my fiancé!
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I was sent for an X-ray. As with everything else, I wasn’t expecting much, however, this time it showed something.
I was so relieved I almost cried in the Doctor’s surgery. I was like “oh my goodness it’s not all in my head, they believe me!”
But then the next day I started feeling really rubbish and sad. Because whilst I have the beginnings of an answer, it’s degenerative and even with management, at the end of the day it’s going to get worse and I’m stuck with it for life. And that’s only the X-ray results, next will be another MRI
So, things have been a little quiet around here. I’ve been trying to keep positive and not think about the fact I’m going to be in agony for my whole life… And I haven’t really been feeling the kitchen. For that I can only apologise.
I refuse to be defined by illness and hate when it stops me doing things, but I’m coming to the realisation that my being stubborn and trying to do a million things a day until I almost collapse, really isn’t helping me.
Anyway. I’m on a real coconut kick at the moment, I never used to like it, but I guess our taste buds change as now it’s actually quite nice and I can totally understand why everyone loves it! Although, I have always been partial to a Bounty… now I like coconut milk and desiccated coconut too!
This smoothie is SO simple to make! Strawberries are finally starting to come into season (YAY!) and I already can’t get enough of them, so I hope you’re ready to be overloaded with strawberry recipes.
I have been waiting too long for the strawberries in our local store to actually taste like something again. I mean, yeah, it’s great that we can get everything year round nowadays… But, the strawberries over Winter do not taste great. Give me seasonal British strawberries any day.
Maybe I should rename myself the Strawberry Monster… scratch that, I’m still the cookie monster.
To make this smoothie, I took 1 and 1/2 cups plump, juicy strawberries, a frozen banana (to give it a creamy base), reduced fat coconut milk and desiccated coconut. That’s it. I had written in my notes about sweetener, but my strawberries were so sweet I definitely didn’t need any.
If you find your smoothie isn’t sweet enough, give it a squirt of Agave Nectar, honey or a tsp of natural sweetener.
I put 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut into the smoothie as well as the coconut milk. Coconut milk is thicker than normal milk, which adds a gorgeous silky, richness to this smoothie. The desiccated coconut adds a bit of bite and some texture and I used a frozen banana to make a creamy base. I just adore using frozen banana in milkshakes and smoothies!
You seriously need to make this smoothie!! It’s packed with flavour and the perfect morning pick me up. I’ve been sipping them like they’re going out of fashion and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon!
Strawberry Coconut Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) strawberries hulled and halved
- 3/4 cup (180g) reduced fat coconut milk
- 1 medium sized banana, previously sliced and frozen
- 1/4 cup (23g) desiccated coconut
- Sweetener, to taste, optional
Instructions
- Place strawberries and coconut milk into a blender and then top with frozen banana and desiccated coconut.
- Blitz until smooth, begin by pulsing the mixture until the frozen banana has been blitzed, then continually blitz for around 30 seconds until the whole smoothie is gorgeously smooth!
- Taste for sweetness, if required add a little agave nectar/honey/sweetener and then serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Recipe by Annie of Annie's Noms
Jasmine Maria says
5.5.15 at 3:12 pmThis looks so yummy!!!! I’m going to pin this.
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:44 amThanks so much Jasmine! 🙂
WholeFoodBellies says
5.5.15 at 3:24 pmSo sorry to hear about your back! At least you have been able to remain positive about it! Smoothie looks delicious btw
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:49 amThanks very much! It’s a struggle, but there’s no point dwelling on things and being negative – I don’t want to get to retirement and think I’ve wasted my life being negative!
Jessica says
5.5.15 at 3:40 pmUm, yes please! This look so amazing! We are smoothie lovers at our house! I’m so sorry about your back problems. I have chronic back and neck issues and it can be nearly debilitating at times. I hope you find relief soon!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:51 amThanks so much Jessica! I completely relate, some days it’s just too much. It’s frustrating, but we only have one life, so I guess I need to just get on with it!
rosemond cates says
5.5.15 at 4:08 pmYUM!!
Rosemond
http://www.bighairandbooks.blogspot.com
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:45 amThanks Rosemond! 🙂
Jenny says
5.5.15 at 4:16 pmThis looks delicious! I love strawberries and coconut! I’ll have to give this a try!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:45 amThanks so much Jenny! 😀
Jessie says
5.5.15 at 4:40 pmTHIS one if making the cover photo on my pinterest board. Looks so yummy!! Popping over from The Blog Love Project.
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:48 amThanks very much! And thanks for pinning! 🙂
Inspiration Indulgence says
5.5.15 at 6:27 pmyummy!! Great food photography!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:56 amThank you so much! 😀
Meg @ Green With Decor says
5.5.15 at 6:40 pmThis looks so delicious and refreshing!!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:57 amThanks so much Meg! 😀
Tammy says
5.5.15 at 8:04 pmThat looks so refreshing!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:57 amThanks so much Tammy! 😀
crazyforcrust says
5.5.15 at 11:49 pmI’m so sorry about your back problems. They are the WORST. I’m waiting to get into a chiropractor on the 21st because i just can’t deal anymore! I need this smoothie because after all the sweets something healthy that tastes like dessert would be perfect! 🙂
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 11:58 amI completely relate, you just get to the point where you cannot cope anymore and need help. It’s so frustrating and exhausting! Hope you get some relief from your chiropractor!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
6.5.15 at 1:39 pmI’m sorry to hear about your back problems. At least it is comforting to know what is wrong. I hope you feel better. At least you can enjoy one of these smoothies! I need one for breakfast today!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:01 pmThanks so much Ashley! 😀
Nina says
6.5.15 at 4:53 pmSo sorry to hear about your health news. Hopefully now that you have a better idea what’s going on you’ll have better luck with treatment plans. And that strawberry coconut smoothie sounds delicious!! Perfect for summer 🙂
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:02 pmThank you Nina, I really hope so! It’s been a looooong time coming!! 🙂
Allie says
7.5.15 at 3:41 amHey I’m so sorry to hear about your health troubles. I have lived with chronic pain for nearly 4 years now and I know how exhausting it can be. You need to take care of yourself, first and foremost, and just because you’re doing that doesn’t mean you’re defined by your illness. It just means you have your priorities straight. I hope this is the beginning of a solution for you. You are on the path to healing now- things are going to get better! Hugs to you!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:06 pmThanks so much Allie – great words of advice! I totally agree it’s exhausting. Some days just “being” is exhausting! I don’t know if it’s a woman thing, but I seem to never put myself first. Everything else is always a priority over me, but sometimes I just get to a point where something has to give. Gah I hate chronic pain, it’s so cruel, yet I always feel like I have to explain and justify myself to other people as it’s invisible, they have no idea how much pain I’m in and I would hate them to think I’m being lazy. I guess I shouldn’t care what other people think!!
Benita says
8.5.15 at 12:54 pmPrinted and pinned! Can’t wait to make this!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:06 pmThanks so much Benita! 🙂
Charlene says
10.5.15 at 2:43 amSorry to hear about your back and the prognosis. I’ve had chronic back and neck pain since a car accident and it is tough! I recognize the tears of relief -“it’s not all in the head!”. Much as you want to keep going, it really does help to pace yourself. That was so hard to learn, because I am very goal oriented (and bet you are too!) so it was natural to go full tilt toward whatever I wanted to get done. Life will require more planning ahead, to keep things on an even keel. Eventually it becomes second nature — not always easy, but hopefully encouragement to you. I do hope you can find a pace that lets you be productive but doesn’t leave you out. Best of luck! Looking forward to more good recipes from your kitchen!!!
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:10 pmThank you Charlene! Yep, I’m totally goal orientated as well! It really is so hard to change the habit of a lifetime. I’ve always just kept going and rushed around getting everything done and ready on time, but sometimes I just collapse on the sofa in agony. I am so rubbish at putting my needs first, everything else is always a priority above myself. Bad, but I’ve always been like it! I really hope I can get to a place where I can have some kind of “normal” life with this pain. I think I need a routine, I’m definitely not there yet as there are too many question marks as to what else is going on in there. I really hope there’s some kind of management the Doctor’s can give me, so that it becomes a little easier to cope with!
Lou Lou Girls says
11.5.15 at 9:00 pmI’m loving this! I’m always so impressed by your masterpieces. Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you on tonight at 7. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
Annie S says
12.5.15 at 12:10 pmThanks so much! Looking forward to this week’s party! 😀
Mel Lockcuff (@mellockcuff) says
12.5.15 at 8:58 pmOh my goodness, this looks beautiful and delicious. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with so much pain; I hope you can find true relief from the pain and they’re able to get it totally figured out. Take care. Thank you so much for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue.
Allison says
13.5.15 at 4:25 amExcited to feature you on A Little Bird Told Me Link Party!
Sue says
17.5.15 at 12:17 amlooks delicious – sounds like a great combo of flavors. pinned it too
sorry about your back problems – hope they can figure out a way to make it better
Chani Thompson says
22.5.15 at 1:08 amI have found this Page 2 Days ago but I have tried out 2-3 recipes already and the results were absolutely FANTASTIC…Thanks to the page’s owner for sharing great recipes on here. Tomorrow is going to be the Day that I will be making THAT pretty looking Stawberry&Coconut Smoothie. I am certain that it’s going to taste as good as it looks xxxxx chani