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You are here: Home / Breakfast / Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie

Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie

June 5, 2019 By Taesha 10 Comments

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Delicious Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie is made with strawberry, banana, red bell pepper and is the perfect start to your day. Naturally vegan, dairy-free and kid-approved!

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Delicious Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie made vegan, Paleo & dairy-free with  strawberry, banana, red bell pepper and served in two tall jars with white straws inside and strawberries blurred in the background.

Vitamin C smoothie idea

I am lucky enough to call sunny Southern California home. And while it is known for its truly beautiful beaches, sunsets and near constantly perfect weather, it is also full of creative edible creations that speak to the healthy foodie in me.

For example, this little hole-in-the-wall smoothie joint that is down the street from the school I taught at for the better part of a decade. I liked to pop in on my lunch breaks to get a chilled veggie-loaded vitamin c smoothie to fuel my afternoon. I was never disappointed by what awesome fruit + vegetable smoothie they thought up and often recreated them at home.

One of my all time favorite smoothies of theirs had an ingredient I had never thought to add to a smoothie before: bell peppers!

All the ingredients that we need to make this vegan, Paleo and dairy-free Immune Boosting Vitamin C smoothie recipe from scratch at home.

Adding bell pepper to your smoothie

Now, I don’t know why I never thought to add naturally sweet, vitamin C packed bell peppers to a smoothie before. Because, guys, it is pure magic! Especially if you are new to this whole veggie-loading thing.

Bell peppers (especially the sweet red ones) have such a mild flavor and beautiful color they totally enhance a smoothie situation. I’ve combined them with naturally sweet strawberries and banana in this Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie for a totally heavenly morning blend. I personally like to add a glob of natural peanut butter into the mix and find that this smoothie basically tastes like a PB&J!

So guys, I’m just saying that you haven’t really lived until you’ve added a bell pepper to a smoothie.

Did you know that bell peppers have more vitamin C than an orange?!

True story. A small orange has 51.1 mg of vitamin C while a large sweet red bell pepper has 209.4 mg (source USDA). Talk about a powerhouse! And to think we have been nomming on oranges all these years to help our immune systems.

Why is vitamin C important to the immune system?

While vitamin C might not help you kick a cold, research shows that people who have diets high in it have a better chance of fending off germs in the first place! (source)

So, basically this Vitamin C Immune Boosting smoothie won’t fix your sniffles, but it can be a great thing to add into your routine to help give your body the tools it needs to keep you healthy despite the germs that might be surrounding you. So, get blending!

Blending strawberry, banana and red bell pepper in a blender to make the delicious vegan, Paleo and dairy-free Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie recipe at home.

Suggested adaptations

  • Switch out the banana for mango! Can’t eat bananas or they are simply just not your thing? Mangoes are a great alternative that help give the smoothie and creamy texture and a swap that I often use. AND, they are high in vitamin C!
  • Up the protein. I like to add collagen powder to my vitamin c immune boosting smoothie to enhance the protein and make it stick to my bones a bit longer. An excellent plant-based, smoothie-friendly alternative would be hemp hearts!
  • Use whatever milk you like. We primarily eat dairy-free, so I use plant-based milks or water in this smoothie. But whatever milk your family enjoys (or you have on hand) will work just fine.
  • Adjust the amount of liquid use to your personal preference. I like my smoothies thick, but still pourable. If you prefer them a bit closer to an ice cream consistency, use less liquid. If you like them thinner, add more!

Tips

  • If you are using all frozen fruit, your blender is in for a workout. This might not be an issue if you are using a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Otherwise, try blending this smoothie in stages. The liquid + bell pepper + 1 type of frozen fruit. Blend. Then add the other frozen fruit. This will help make for a creamier smoothie without a bunch of chunks….or a stalled blender that can’t move its blades.

Other recipes you are going to love:

  • Creamy Cauliflower & Blueberry Smoothie
  • Creamy Zucchini Smoothie
  • Sunrise Butternut Squash Smoothie
  • Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie (with greens!)
  • Chocolate Banana Smoothie (with veggies)

Loving the immune boosting vitamin c smoothie and hungry for more?

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Vegan and dairy-free Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie made from strawberries, red bell peppers and banana and served in tall jars with straws inside them.
Delicious Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie made with strawberry, banana, red bell pepper and served in two tall jars with white straws inside and starwberries blurred in the background
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie

Delicious Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie is made with strawberry, banana, red bell pepper and is the perfect start to your day. Naturally vegan, dairy-free and kid-approved!
Prep Time3 mins
Cook Time1 min
Total Time4 mins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: healthy breakfast, healthy smoothie recipe, kid-approved
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 443kcal
Author: Taesha

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups strawberries fresh or frozen
  • 1 sweet red bell pepper washed and deseeded
  • 1 banana very ripe
  • 2 tbsp nut butter
  • 1 cup plain almond milk

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • If not using a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix, consider blending ingredients in stages to ensure an even blend.

Notes

  • Switch out the banana for mango! Can’t eat bananas or they are simply just not your thing? Mangoes are a great alternative that help give the smoothie and creamy texture and a swap that I often use. AND, they are high in vitamin C!
  • Up the protein. I like to add collagen powder to my vitamin c immune boosting smoothie to enhance the protein and make it stick to my bones a bit longer. An excellent plant-based, smoothie-friendly alternative would be hemp hearts!
  • Use whatever milk you like. We primarily eat dairy-free, so I use plant-based milks or water in this smoothie. But whatever milk your family enjoys (or you have on hand) will work just fine.
  • Adjust the amount of liquid use to your personal preference. I like my smoothies thick, but still pourable. If you prefer them a bit closer to an ice cream consistency, use less liquid. If you like them thinner, add more!
  • If you are using all frozen fruit, your blender is in for a workout. This might not be an issue if you are using a high-speed blender like a Vitamix. Otherwise, try blending this smoothie in stages. The liquid + bell pepper + 1 type of frozen fruit. Blend. Then add the other frozen fruit. This will help make for a creamier smoothie without a bunch of chunks….or a stalled blender that can’t move its blades.

Nutrition

Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 335mg | Potassium: 1243mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 3800IU | Vitamin C: 289.2mg | Calcium: 446mg | Iron: 2.8mg

The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Smoothies, Veggie-Loaded Tagged With: healthy breakfast, healthy smoothe, veggie loaded

Previous Post: « Paleo Lemon Zucchini Bread
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Erika

    June 9, 2019 at 6:20 pm

    5 stars
    It never occurred to me to put a bell pepper in a smoothie! So good! This is going to be a summer breakfast staple for sure!

    Reply
  2. Liz

    March 7, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    Our favorite smoothie for sure.

    Reply
  3. Linda

    March 7, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    How delicious is this smoothie! I wasn’t sure about the red pepper at first but it adds such a unique flavour and sweetness, I really love it! I’ll be making this again 😀

    Reply
  4. ปั้มไลค์

    July 19, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    5 stars
    Like!!

    Reply
  5. Shelly

    August 11, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars

    Reply
  6. Vani

    September 26, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    5 stars

    Reply
  7. Helena

    November 5, 2020 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    I have never thought of mixing bell pepper with fruits. But you are absolutely right – why not?! Fantastic idea to try at home!

    Reply
    • Taesha

      November 5, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      It is a totally surprising combo that works so well in a smoothie!

      Reply
  8. Charlotte

    December 22, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    Would an orange bell pepper work?

    Reply
    • Taesha

      December 23, 2020 at 6:48 pm

      yes!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Taesha! I help busy people fall in love with healthy eating with my simple, family-friendly, veggie-loaded recipes. I believe that real food should taste amazing AND be easy to make!

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