Vitamin C Immune Boosting Citrus Smoothie

This healthy citrus smoothie recipe is packed with ingredients that will help keep your immune system in top shape for fighting cold and flu... Added bonus, it tastes AMAZING!

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Simple Immune Boosting Smoothie

Each morning when I fire up my laptop, it feels like I'm bombarded with articles about the current flu pandemic. It's no secret that this year's flu season is the worst in nearly a decade, and experts are saying it hasn't even peaked yet. Scary stuff!

So you can bet I'm doing everything in my power to keep these nasties out of our home: common sense things like encouraging my kids to wash their hands more frequently, washing our bedding more often, making sure our humidifier stays at the recommended level, and wiping down remotes, phones, and other germy surfaces with antibacterial wipes regularly.

And of course I'm encouraging my kids to up their Vitamin C intake by stocking our produce rack with fresh navel oranges and clementines. But you know what I've discovered? My kids are a bit lazy, and often peeling an orange just seems like too much work. I know, I know -- I'm rolling my eyes too.

But rather than going against the grain, I've taken to serving them an immune boosting smoothie filled with citrus and mango each morning to pump their systems full of Vitamin C.

Healthy Citrus Smoothie Ingredients

I LOVE this particular smoothie recipe because it can be made the night before and refrigerated until the next morning. I pour about two cups into these plastic freezer jars, making them a simple grab-and-go breakfast option.

My kids are CRAZY about them! And I love that each ingredient plays a role in keeping your immune system healthy:

Oranges -- Oranges are known for providing plenty of Vitamin C. I used two whole peeled navel oranges in this recipe for extra fiber. You can actually throw in whole unpeeled oranges for even more health benefits, but I really only recommend doing so if you're using organic oranges.

Mango -- Did you know that mangos actually contain twice the daily recommended value of Vitamin C? They add natural sweetness to this smoothie, so you won't find any added sugar in this recipe. I pick up the big bags of frozen mango chunks at Costco. They're great for a healthy snack option, too!

Bananas -- I almost always add a frozen banana to my smoothies because they make them so deliciously creamy. They're also great for extra energy and high in potassium (an electrolyte), making them ideal for active kids.

Unsweetened Almond or Coconut Milk -- Every smoothie needs some liquid for blending, and refrigerated almond or coconut milk are both good choices for adding some plant-based protein. Choose your favorite, just make sure to pick up the unsweetened variety. I'm loving this toasted coconut almond milk lately, it's the best of both!

Plain Greek Yogurt -- I like to add Greek yogurt to smoothies for the probiotic benefits. I also pick up the big containers of this at Costco because it's SO good with some chunks of thawed mango and chopped walnuts on top!

Ground Ginger -- Ginger is optional in this recipe, but it's long been thought to have medicinal properties, and I personally like the bite it gives. I use the full two teaspoons, but my husband prefers less. And the kids don't like it at all, so I just omit it for them. Try it and see what you think!

Healthy Citrus Smoothie Recipe

Call me Type-A, but I HAVE to sip my smoothies through a straw. I've tried paper (blech) and stainless steel (my kids' preference), but I always come back to these glass straws. Yes, we've shattered a few over the years, but they're borosilicate, so the clean up is pretty minimal.

However you prefer to sip this tasty citrus smoothie, JUST DO IT! It's become one of my favorite ways to start each morning.

If you love this orange mango citrus smoothie recipe, I think you'll adore this 5-ingredient super thick smoothie bowl recipe! Top it off with your choice of crunchy, creamy, or fruity mix-ins for unlimited possibilities…

I'd love to see how your healthy citrus smoothies turn out... Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check them out. Enjoy!