Pineapple Mint Jalapeño Smoothie {Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free}

This refreshing smoothie is healthy, has a bit of a kick and only has three ingredients! 

Doesn't that look delicious?  It tastes even better, I promise.  

This is just one of the many fantastic things I was lucky enough to try in Chicago at the ALDI Test Kitchen.

I was very excited when ALDI asked me to come out to visit their test kitchen and to go on a tour of one of their stores.  I love Chicago (and the surrounding suburbs which is where I stayed) and it was quite an eventful trip.

I had never been to an ALDI store before.  There isn't one that close to me, but now I am definitely making the effort to visit one.  

Before I had been to one, I kept hearing how inexpensive their products were and now I know why!

First off, in order to use a cart at ALDI you need a quarter.  Yeah, this was new to me too.  

You put a quarter in the cart, shop and then return the cart to get your quarter back. This helps to keep prices low because they don’t spend time retrieving carts.  

It's a smart way to save money (and you get your quarter back!)

You bring your own bags when you shop at ALDI.  Besides being "green", it saves them money by not having to purchase them.  

Bring your own reusable ones (leave them in your trunk or you'll forget like me!)  Also, they ask customers to bag their own groceries which saves on overhead costs.

On all of the ALDI exclusive brand products, they have very large barcodes which make it easier (and faster) for cashiers to scan products.  I think this is just genius.

 You know how many times I have been to a store that the cashier can't find the ridiculously small barcode?  And I want to reach my impatient hands over the conveyor belt and find it for them!  

Check it out… this barcode looks IMPOSSIBLE to miss.  I love that, especially when I am looking to run in and out of a store!

Another way that ALDI saves money is that the warehouse brings the products to each store carried in boxes and placed directly on shelves.  This saves on the cost to pay someone to stock the shelves.  

Also, warehouses are laid out exactly the same as the stores so workers can quickly get products on the shelves efficiently.

Ok, now let's talk about the deals!

This one really got me excited (it's the little things, right?)!

You know my heart belongs to chia seeds….sigh…. That is a 5.3 ounce bag for $2.99!  

My regular chia buyers will appreciate what a HUGE savings that is!  Now, onto another one of my favorites (that I go through so much of at my house)...

No, not the fruit snacks (although this picture is misleading). It's the 14 ounce jar of Organic Coconut Oil for $4.99!  

That's a gigantic savings AND it's organic.  This thrills me, you have no idea.  Wait for it...

Yup, that's right… GRASS FED, ORGANIC Ground Beef at $6.99/pound.  

That's all types of incredible.  

How do they do that you ask?  I told you all the ways they save money, this enables them to charge less for quality products.  Now for all of my bacon lovers...

12 ounces of UNCURED, NO NITRATES or NITRITES added Bacon for $3.99!  

I know!  

That's part of their Never! Any product line.  Get it?  Never any…you name it.  

It's a healthier line that I am totally down for.

I was so impressed with the products, both quality and price that I can't wait to shop at an ALDI near me!

Now onto the question of the day.

What's pretty, healthy and a little bit spicy?  

This smoothie!

This was created by ALDI Chef Michelle, and let me tell you, I could have had 3 or 4 servings of it. It's lightly sweet with a bit of a kick and man, do I ever love mint.

I am pretty sure you can guess the ingredients in this Pineapple Mint Jalapeño Smoothie, but just in case...

Pineapple Mint Jalapeño Smoothie

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Lauren Kelly

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pineapple peeled and diced
• ▢ 8 mint sprigs
• ▢ ¾ jalapeño seeded
• ▢ 1 ½ cups ice cubes
• ▢ hemp seeds and chia seeds for topping optional

Instructions

• In a blender, puree all of the ingredients. Pour into glass and enjoy!

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @lkellynutrition or tag #lkellynutrition!

No, ice doesn't count as an ingredient (at least not in my book!)  I loved this smoothie so much I knew I had to come home and recreate it.  

I added hemp seeds and chia seeds as a topping because I love them.  The color is gorgeous.  

It separates a little but you can just simply stir it.  Or leave it (like it is in the picture) and it looks almost tie-dyed or ombre.  

Well, it does to me.

One last thing I loved about ALDI is their Double Guarantee.  ALDI brands are made of the same, or even higher, quality than national brands.  

And that is why they offer this crazy awesome guarantee, because they barely have to honor it!

Seriously folks, you can't beat it. If you are not 100% satisfied with the product you can replace the product AND refund your money!  

I don't know any other stores that do that, do you?

Lastly check out the great group of bloggers who attended the ALDI Test Kitchen and store tour with me.

Here are the list of bloggers, please go stop by and say hello!

Ally Billhorn, Sweet and Savory Food
Clare Brady, Fitting It All In
Gina Matsoukas, Running to the Kitchen
Heather Verst, The Healthy Hen
Jen Nikolaus, Yummy Healthy Easy
Jenna Braddock, Make Healthy Easy
Jenny Yarbrough, Southern Institute
Kristen Chidsey, A Mind "Full" Mom
Maggie Unzueta, In Momma Maggie's Kitchen
Meriem Kouar, Culinary Couture Blog
Dr. Audrey Guskey, Dr. Audrey Guskey 

and ME!

I can't forget to mention the amazing Chef Brigitte Nuygen who made so many healthy, delicious recipes for us!

What a fantastic trip! I can't wait to share more with you in a couple of weeks about all of the goodies I sampled and the speakers I was so fortunate enough to meet and listen to.

So tell me….what would you buy at ALDI if I were to, let's say, give you a $50 ALDI gift card?

Yup, one lucky winner will receive a$50 gift card to the ALDI store of their choice!

Come on people, this $50 will go a long way in ALDI!  I will pick 1 winner (U.S residents only please) To enter, you must comment here and tell me what you would buy with the gift card.  Contest ends May 20 at 12:00 P.M. EST. GIVEAWAY OVER!  Congratulations Debbie Tencza for winning the $50 gift card!