Erewhon is the upscale grocery store in Los Angeles that’s selling the drink, which is called “Marianna’s Coconut Cloud Smoothie.” Created with influencer Marianna Hewitt, it features her brand of almond milk as a main ingredient — but that’s not what made this social media’s most famous smoothie. This stunningly beautiful bright-blue smoothie gets its hue naturally from blue spirulina, a type of algae. The idea of consuming algae may sound odd, but past research suggests it could have anti-inflammatory effects in the body and decrease the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease. Not to mention, spirulina is tasteless. While the captivating color of the aforementioned viral smoothie may draw you in, you may find the texture is what hooks you. Those people who have tried the drink describe its mouthfeel as light and fluffy. No wonder “cloud” features in its name. But this smoothie isn’t perfect — aside from its hefty price tag, its nutritional profile isn’t exactly sterling. Although nutrition information for the Coconut Cloud Smoothie isn’t readily available online, that it contains coconut cream means it’s high in saturated fat, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The American Heart Association suggests limiting intake to no more than 6 percent of your daily calories — or about 13 grams (g) if you’re consuming 2,000 calories per day. Rather than consuming collagen directly, ramping up your intake of nutrients that support collagen production in the body — more specifically vitamin C and zinc — can be helpful, per Harvard. The pineapple in the original recipe is an excellent source of vitamin C, with 78.9 mg per 1-cup serving, notes the USDA. Even with that nutritional pro of the original beverage, there’s a smarter way to enjoy the trendy food.
A Healthier (and Cheaper) Blue Smoothie
In this twist on the viral blue smoothie, there’s a small amount of light coconut milk to replace the coconut cream and significantly lower the amount of saturated fat. Also incorporated is mango for an extra boost of the collagen-supporting vitamin, bringing the total amount in this smoothie to more than you need in a day, according to the National Institutes of Health. You’ll find zinc in the almond butter, too, per the USDA. Another plus of this version: It’s about $5 per serving, after you pay the upfront costs of stocking your kitchen with these ingredients. Here’s how to whip it up:
Ingredients
¼ cup light coconut milk½ cup unsweetened soy milk (plus more as needed)½ large ripe banana, frozen1 cup frozen pineapple chunks½ cup frozen mango chunks½ ripe avocado1 g blue spirulina (algae powder), plus a dusting for the glass1 tbsp unsweetened almond butter1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
Directions
Nutrition per serving: 470 calories, 26g total fat (6.4g saturated fat), 11g protein, 57g carbohydrates, 11.2g fiber, 20.7g sugar (0g added sugar), 106mg sodium
