Yet another tasty, healthy, flexible, and easy recipe to add to your files (no expensive juicer required)! These smoothies are a great addition to any breakfast or lunch, and leftovers stored in the fridge are surprisingly good the next day. 
The best thing about this recipe (probably thanks to the fact that a smoothie looks just like a milkshake) is that both of my daughters love them, and my pickier child ends up consuming fruits and vegetables that she would not normally eat. I had been making these for a while when one day I added the spinach, and it barely changed the taste. I was so excited that I could easily get everyone (including me) to eat some fresh, raw spinach!
It is currently strawberry season here in NC, and this is a great way to use up all of those freshly picked berries. But, feel free to experiment with substitutions based on your family’s favorites. I noted some alternatives that we have tried below. Please leave a comment if you try something new to let us know how it turns out!
- 1.5 cups plain organic yogurt
- 1 cup berries, fresh or frozen (or we have tried 2 oranges, peeled)
- 2 bananas (or 1 – 2 tablespoons of honey if you don’t like bananas)
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ – ¾ cup fresh spinach leaves (I also tried adding some leftover broccoli instead of the spinach. My husband said I took things a little too far, but the kids still sucked it down!)
- Optional: if using fresh berries (instead of frozen) add some ice cubes
- Combine all ingredients into blender and blend. Pour into cups and garnish with fruit or use fun straws to entice your kids!
I ALWAYS put carrots in smoothies – I’m surprised it’s not mentioned more here… I thought that was such a common thing! Carrots don’t change the taste at all – they hide sooo well in smoothies. Thanks for sharing! I just got a Vitamix, so I’m a bit smoothie happy.
I LOVE all of the FRESH, whole foods I can make meals and snacks with. Awesomeness!
I tried adding carrots. It tasted ok but the need to chew bits of carrots was a little unpleasant for the kids. Is there a trick or do I just need a better blender?
Hi Sarah. It could be your blender, but, carrots will probably be a little harder to puree. I usually add spinach or kale which are also pretty tasteless. Jill
Try adding grated carrots.
Grated beets are awesome, too and they turn smoothies a fabulous colour!
are the beets raw or cooked?
I love these yummy smoothies!
They were very good. We added some extra strawberries for flavor, too. Also, try GREEK yogurt, especially Fage brand at Aldi. It made ours creamy and delicious.
I am on day four of making smoothies, and just love the blender I bought at Aldis for 24.99! It crushes ice and apple chunks in seconds. I use fresh baby spinach , Chia seeds…google those, they are so good for you and fill you up, full of omega 3s, I also use flaxseed, or hemp seeds, fresh pineapple, apples, bananas, strawberries. I am going to try sneaking in some cucumber, celery and carrots to the above and see how it goes!
I have been making smoothies for a while and have learned that fresh spinach, zucchini, or squash can be added without altering the taste.
I don’t like the consistency of smoothies when using yogurt, any ideas of a substitute?!
Hi Jennifer. You should look at some of the smoothie recipes on this blog…they don’t contain yogurt. You can also use milk or almond milk too. Here are a few links to the recipes: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/11/recipe-pbj-smoothie/ and http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/01/27/recipe-virgin-pina-colada-smoothie/. Jill
I use OJ, or coconut milk, or coconut sparkling water. You can also add 100% fruit juice. I don’t like my smoothies too thick.
I avoid soy, broccoli, kale and spinach due to a thyroid disorder (they have natural thyroid blockers in them) – is there an alternative to these ingredients that would still offer nutritional value in the smoothies?
Hi Alisse. You can add whatever veggies you like, the key is using ones that will not alter the taste. Jill
Silly question—do you freeze them or put them in the fridge? I put them in the freezer and when my son was eating it—it all popped out and ended up on the floor. I am missing an important part here!
Yes, I freeze them. Make sure you are not overfilling them or they will “pop out” as you state. Jill
We have smoothies everyday in our home. I become very adventurous with mine and the kids generally will follow suit. We generally use a peanut butter or almond butter, banana base and to it we add variations: always a green (kale, swiss chard or spinach), flax seed, chia seed, a milk substitute (hemp, almond, coconut or our new fave Almond coconut blend) and yogurt or kefir. If we want a chocolaty smoothie we had raw cacoa powder – kids slurp these up and have the most healthiest of breakfasts!
Could you add measurements of how much of each ingredient you put in? Love the chocolate – almond butter idea.
How many servings does this recipe make? I’ve been making it for a while and my kids and I absolutely love it, but am wondering if we’re drinking enough of it or too much. Thanks!
Hi Lisa. Probably about 4 8 oz. servings. Jill
[...] smoothie inspiration you can check out some of my favourite blogger’s green smoothie recipes here and here to see what tickles your fancy. Also, if you want an extremely yummy (but not so healthy) [...]
I wouldn’t use spinach with milk the calcium doesn’t allow the iron to be absorbed by the body. We use organic juice instead.
I got some chard in our organic co-op today and am trying to figure out what to to with….besides smoothies any ideas?!
Hi Jaci. Have you tried sauteing it in a little bit of olive oil and garlic? Jill
I was wondering how your smoothie in the picture is nice and pink? When I add the spinach, it turns a murky brown color
Still tastes good, but my kids shy away from it due to the color.
I took this picture so long ago I can’t remember if there is spinach in it or not, but it sounds like you could maybe add a little less or put the smoothie in different cups (that aren’t see-through!). Also, a Vitamix (albeit pricey) can grind things up really well. Just some thoughts
[...] Smoothies or Smoothie Pops [...]
Hi! Can I freeze fresh spinach to use in smoothies? I bought a large tub and I don’t want it to go bad before we use it all. Thanks!
Hi Claire. I don’t see why it wouldn’t freeze just fine. Jill
Just tried this smoothie as a Popsicle. I think I put to much spinach because it came out green. I thought my kids would not want to try because of the color. My three year old twins ate two Popsicle ( the ones you give your daughter for school lunch) and my five year old ate one. For never eating it before it will be our special ice cream from now on. Thank you!
I want to try and make smoothies to put in the Norpro silicone ice pops. My kids love yogurt and love berries but they hate the seeds, do you have any suggestions on how to make them seedless?
Thank You!
Hi Penny. I would try using a fine strainer. Let us know if that does the trick. ~Amy
Made this for me and the kiddos today. I used organic frozen broccoli because that is what we had on hand. Turned out great!
Is there a nutritional or taste difference if I use frozen kale/spinach instead of fresh?
Hi Mary. Fresh is best for taste and nutrients. However, if you have picked, cleaned, and frozen it yourself there is no reason not to try it. That said, I have read that store bought frozen leafy greens are processed in a way that involves less cleaning than frozen fruit because there is an expectation that the leafy greens will be cooked. That has always made me leery of using them raw in a smoothie. Hope that helps. ~Amy
[...] banana ingredient gives these frozen treats their natural sweetness. We used Lisa Leake’s Tasty Yogurt Smoothies recipe and followed her suggestion of putting them into these silicone popsicle molds. They [...]