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There are so many ways to make a delicious (and healthy!) green smoothie recipe — but did you know that you can combine almost any leafy greens and fruit with one basic formula?
Today I’m sharing some words of wisdom by fellow (real) foodie Jen Hansard, who co-founded the website Simple Green Smoothies, plus some additional green smoothie recipes and tips for you to try!
Table of Contents
- Why I Love This Simple Green Smoothie Recipe
- Guest Post: How to Make a Simple Green Smoothie
- 5 Green Smoothie Tips to Get You Started
- Easy 3 Ingredients for a Green Smoothie
- This Green Smoothie Recipe with Spinach, Pineapple, Banana, and Mango Is Perfect for Beginners
- More Easy Recipes for Homemade Green Smoothies
- FAQs for a Perfect Green Smoothie
Why I Love This Simple Green Smoothie Recipe
Not only does Jen have some great tips for green smoothie beginners, but she is also sharing her magic formula for fruit and vegetable ratios so you can change the recipe to suit your taste, dietary needs, or whatever you have on hand.
This green smoothie recipe is perfect as a homemade healthy snack, quick “fast-food” meal, or even as a way to cool off on a hot day.
Guest Post: How to Make a Simple Green Smoothie
by Jen Hansard
We have a super simple and healthy recipe we’ve been itchin’ to share with you!!! As a crazy-busy passionate mom, I’ve been known to fuel my body with processed junk. Like those days when we found ourselves at Starbucks twice in one day…or driving through Taco Bell for dinner (again).
I was starved for time, low on energy and just….overwhelmed.
Can you relate?
Well, I discovered something that quickly changed our lives— green smoothies. This blended drink of fresh fruits and dark leafy greens gave us energy, a fast healthy meal, and transformed our bodies from the inside out.
No joke. And we made this healthy habit really stick for the past 2 1/2 years… and going strong. Now we have over 500,000 people from all around the world hooked on the green smoothie lifestyle too. I hope you’ll join us!
5 Green Smoothie Tips to Get You Started
Before we share our most popular green smoothie recipe, we need to welcome you into the world of green smoothies with a few important tips…
1. Follow the 60/40 formula.
When you’re making your first few green smoothies, don’t just throw things in the blender. Chances are, it’ll taste nasty if you wing it right out of the gate. To save you a few smoothie-fails, bust out those cute lil’ measuring cups and follow this simple formula: 60% fruits to 40% leafy greens.
2. Blend in stages to avoid leafy chunks.
Chewing your green smoothie is no fun! To get a “smooth” green smoothie experience, blend up your leafy greens and liquid-base first. Then add your remaining fruits and blend again.
3. Ditch the ice and freeze some fruits.
Want your green smoothie to be extra chilly? Freeze your favorite fruits like ripe bananas (peel first), grapes, pineapple or berries. This is also a great way to not waste ripe fruits (like those brown bananas on your counter). You can also freeze your leafy greens in a freezer-safe bag. Just make sure to add your frozen greens straight to the blender (don’t defrost these fragile lil’ guys).
4. Use raw natural sweeteners.
Add naturally sweet fruits to any smoothie that tastes bitter or a bit too “green.” By sticking with naturally sweet fruits like bananas, mango, apples, pears, or pitted dates, we avoid artificial sweeteners and processed sugars.
5. Make smoothies ahead for the perfect fast food.
We know life can get crazy busy— especially in the morning. That’s why we think green smoothies are the healthiest fast food for people who are constantly on the go.
You can blend your green smoothie the night before and store it in your fridge (up to 2 days). Use an airtight lid to limit oxidation and keep it as fresh as possible. When ready to drink, give it a good shake before you open.
If you follow these five green smoothie tips, we pinkie promise your green smoothies will be love at first sip!
Now, here’s a favorite recipe we make for friends and family who’ve never tried a green smoothie before…
You May Also Like
- Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Hot Pink Smoothie
- Strawberry Kale Smoothie Bowls
- Raspberry Breakfast Smoothie
- Green Vegetables
- Healthy Shamrock Shake
If you enjoyed this healthy green smoothie recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! Check out these Breakfast Recipes for more delicious recipes.
Perfect Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup mango
- 1 cup pineapple
- 2 bananas (Use at least one frozen fruit to chill your smoothie. We often use frozen mangos and bananas our green smoothies.)
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Facts
If you made this recipe or have a favorite of your own, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below (we’ll read every one).
Try a 10 Day Green Smoothie Challenge
If you want more recipes, green smoothie tips, and a 10-day challenge to kickstart your smoothie habit, check out our Simple Green Smoothies book! You’ll get tasty plant-based smoothie recipes, shopping list and community support. #kaleyeah
Whether you’re passionate about raising an awesome family, traveling the world, reading new books, creating the latest fashion trend, starting a new job or something totally different… we want to make sure you’re able to go after that as best as possible. You need LOTS of energy and nutrients to fuel you passions.
Lisa here again! Here are some more green smoothie recipes to try :)
Easy 3 Ingredients for a Green Smoothie
The basic smoothie recipe only has three ingredients — so easy! You just combine your favorite leafy green vegetable, fresh or frozen fruit, and a liquid (to help it blend).
You can also include other healthy ingredients such as chia seeds, coconut oil, peanut or almond butter, hemp seeds, flax, cocoa (for a chocolate smoothie), cinnamon, acai powder, or even protein powder in your smoothie for extra benefits or flavor.
1) Leafy Greens
Almost all leafy green vegetables (that are not lettuce) are perfect smoothie ingredients. I love pulling mine from the garden or grabbing in-season vegetables at the farmer’s market. You can use a single ingredient, or combine more than one leafy green veggie; just make sure it equals two cups.
Spinach, which is what this recipe calls for, is probably the most popular leafy green for smoothies. Mainly because it’s inexpensive, freezes easily, and has a mild taste.
Kale is also commonly found in smoothies, some might think it has a bitter taste, but it’s definitely one of the healthiest options.
Besides spinach and kale, you can also add bok choy, swiss chard, collards (also known as collard greens), and even dandelion greens!
2) Fresh or Frozen Fruit
This is where you get the most of your sweetener and flavor, so it’s important to use fruit that you like. Just like with the greens, almost anything goes when it comes to adding fruit to your smoothie — and you can use any combination, as long as it equals 3 cups.
If you’re making the green smoothie recipe below you’ll need a cup of mango, a cup of pineapple, and two bananas.
Tip: Use frozen fruit to make a cold smoothie. You can freeze one of the bananas, and/or use frozen mango instead of fresh. To save time and money, you can also make green smoothies with fruit that is only frozen.
For a sweeter smoothie, use ripe (or even overripe) fruit that has strong flavors such as banana, mango, berries, orange, and pineapple. If you prefer a more “green” taste, stick to milder fruit such as pear, apple, and avocado.
Of course, that all depends on your own preferences and taste; you may need to experiment with different combinations to get it just right.
3) Water or Other Liquid
Last, but definitely not least, is water. You can use plain water, or try coconut water, coconut milk, almond milk, or any other liquid base of your choice.
Like with the other green smoothie ingredients, you can also use a combination of liquids as long as it totals two cups.
If you’re really into smoothies and would like a copy of the 5 best smoothie recipes here on 100 Days of Real Food, you can grab it from our Free Membership Area (under the “recipes” section)!
– Lisa Leake
This Green Smoothie Recipe with Spinach, Pineapple, Banana, and Mango Is Perfect for Beginners
Calling this a “spinach, pineapple, banana, mango green smoothie” sure is a mouthful, so I prefer to say “perfect beginner smoothie” instead. Which is exactly what I love about this recipe; it’s the ideal combination for beginners.
When we started our real food challenge, cutting out sweet treats (and training our taste buds) was one of the hardest parts. If you’re not used to eating a lot of leafy green vegetables, and tend to gravitate towards sugary drinks, you might not like the taste of green smoothies at first.
I didn’t want to share some recipe that you’d have to choke down — real food should taste good! And I find that this recipe in particular, which includes mild-flavored spinach as the leafy green and deliciously sweet fruit like mango, pineapple, and ripe bananas is a delicious start to get anyone (including kids!) loving green smoothies.
More Easy Recipes for Homemade Green Smoothies
If you liked this green smoothie recipe, but aren’t quite ready to make your own flavor combinations, you can try some of these options.
First, if you want a tasty treat for fall, try this Pumpkin Pie Green Smoothie that my kids love. Or, if you’d prefer something more refreshing, you have to try this Peachy Pineapple Green Smoothie. Finally, check out my Pina Colada Green Smoothie for a tasty vacation-inspired treat.
You can also check out some more delicious green smoothie variations using the 60/40 formula (or only a few extra ingredients) below.
Glowing Green Smoothie
The Glowing Green Smoothie was actually created by Kimberly Snyder as a healthy breakfast idea. I simplified her recipe and adjusted the measurements to (mostly) fit with our simple green smoothie ratios.
Ingredients for a Glowing Green Smoothie:
- 2 cups baby spinach (packed)
- 1-2 celery stalks
- 2 cups water
- Whole apple, cored and halved
- Whole pear, cored and halved
- 1 banana
- ¼ of a lemon, peeled
Island Green Tropical Smoothie
An Island Green Tropical Smoothie is another sweet and delicious smoothie variation. It’s identical to the basic beginner smoothie with greens that Jen shared, but with one difference: you use coconut water instead of regular water.
The coconut water adds an extra tropical flavor and sweetness; give it a try!
Monster Green Smoothie (High Protein)
This Monster Green Smoothie is really good, especially if you’re looking for an easy breakfast smoothie or healthy post-workout snack.
Monster Green Smoothie Ingredients:
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1 cup chopped mango
- 1 avocado, peeled with pit removed
- 2 bananas
If this recipe comes out too thick add more milk to the blender until you reach your desired consistency. You can also add chia seeds for additional protein.
FAQs for a Perfect Green Smoothie
This is a common question because frozen spinach tends to be packed more densely than fresh spinach. The simple answer is yes, green smoothies can be made with frozen spinach and substituted at about a 1:6 ratio. So if your smoothie calls for 2 cups of fresh spinach, use about 1/3 cup frozen instead.
Don’t defrost frozen spinach that you use for smoothies; instead toss it right into the blender. You can buy frozen spinach in a bag or freeze your own in ice cube trays for ease of use.
First, make sure you’re measuring your ingredients correctly. Fruit can sometimes be difficult to measure, especially if you’re working with large pieces.
Second, I suggest using fruit that’s as ripe as possible. For bananas, that usually means once they’re browning.
Third, consider using milder leafy greens. Spinach is usually on the sweeter side, but if you don’t like the taste try substituting with romaine lettuce instead.
Finally, if you still find your smoothie on the bitter side you can adjust the fruit and veggie ratios so there’s a little more fruit and fewer greens.
Anytime! Although a lot of people swear by drinking them in the morning, you’ll benefit from drinking smoothies at any time during the day.
A lot of people like to drink green smoothies in the morning as a breakfast alternative, which is great if you’re busy and would normally turn to a less-healthy option. Green smoothies are also fantastic pre or post workout drinks!
Like with anything, health is relative, but green smoothies can definitely be a healthy part of your day. I believe healthy foods include real food ingredients and this green smoothie recipe is made with 100% real food.
One thing I love about green smoothies is that you can adjust the recipe for your dietary needs or to avoid allergens.
Green juice is made by extracting the liquid (juice) of several ingredients using a juicer — removing most of the fiber in the process — whereas green smoothies are made by combining whole ingredients, plus water, in a blender.
While they can have the same ingredients added to them, green juice and green smoothies are two different things and have different levels of nutrients.
I usually just add additional ingredients such as a handful or two of spinach or another banana if I want to make a thicker smoothie. You can also add greek yogurt to thicken a smoothie, if you like.
If your smoothies are consistently turning out too thin, reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe.
Honestly, it’s all about personal preference and your budget. Blendtec and Vitamix blenders are both great options, especially if you want a multi-purpose appliance that will thoroughly blend your smoothies.
It’s tough, if not impossible, to get perfect smoothies without a blender but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a smoothie when there’s no blender available. To make a smoothie without a blender: cut the recipe in half and add all ingredients, plus two ice cubes, to any cup or jar with a lid, then shake vigorously.
Blender containers made for protein powder work especially well as blender alternatives if you want smoothies on the go.
My wife & I have been “smoothy for breakfast” fans for several years. We were very interested to find your website shared by a friend on Facebook. However, I have a problem. Your basic recipe panel does not have adequate contrast for my laser printer. Please change the background colour to something much lighter than the character colour or create a “Print” friendly alternative similar to the “Beginners Luck” section above. Thank you
Thanks for that feedback David. We’ll look into a more printer-friendly recipe on our site for the future. :-)
Do you have to use a Vitamix or other expensive blender to make these smoothies? I have just an ordinary blender and can’t afford any other at this time but want to try theses recipes. It does have an ice crusher feature. Thanks!
You can use any blender Debbie. I started making green smoothies with a basic $50 blender and it did the trick for me. Just blend the leafy greens and liquid base first to help avoid leafy chunks. You will be fine. We do avoid using ice since it’s hard on your blender blades— opt for a frozen fruit instead. With a Vitamix or Blendtec, you don’t need to blend in stages (it will turn into creamy goodness no matter what).
How much chia seeds would you add? Also could you use rice milk?
I do 2 tbs chia seeds in my smoothies. And you can definitely use rice milk (we just recommend you get unsweetened to avoid any unnecessary sugars).
Why do you not use yogurt in your green smoothies?
Great question! We have talked with a lot of nutritionists and milk isn’t all that it’s been hyped up to be. Dairy is one of the highest diet allergies (and often goes undiagnosed), yet can cause inflammation and infections. And if you aren’t buying organic milk, you are also getting doses of antibiotics, hormones, etc that can tip your own body out of whack. So I just avoid milk for my family (and opt for almond milk). We get our calcium from plant-based sources mainly— broccoli, spinach and kale.
It’s definitely a personal choice, and you just have to decide what works best for you and your family.
Hi.
This might be a question with a really obvious answer but are the smoothies supposed to be a meal replacement, snack or an addition to a meal? I’m just curious how this works.
It’s totally up to you Kai— you can use them whichever way you want. When i first started, I had them for a snack. If I am trying to slim up a bit, I like to use one as a meal replacement (just make sure you have healthy fats and proteins in it to keep you fueled and full). I like to add avocado and chia seeds to my smoothies. And then munch on some almonds afterwards.
I used your instructions to make my first ever green smoothie this morning! It is something I have been meaning to try, and the simplicity of your instructions gave me that extra push to go for it. I used spinach, unsweetened almond milk, banana, mango, pineapple, and strawberries. It was really good and my husband even drank one! I will be making these again. Thanks!
We love to hear that Hannah. Cheers to many more green smoothies!!! :-)
I cannot thank you enough for all of the amazing free resources you share! I’ve been wanting to eat healthier for awhile, so I was thrilled when I came across your site. I’m just starting out, so I’m kind of dabbling – a recipe here, a grocery item there…I can’t wait to phase out the nasty food I have in my pantry now and have a real food kitchen! The budget won’t allow for me to just toss and start over, but I’m already feeling much better about the decisions I’m making! Thank you!
So awesome Andrea! We’re here cheering you on! :-)
Hi, just wondering if soymilk is an option? Where I live, almond milk is prohibitively expensive. We can get coconut milk but its difficult to find organic. There is a nice tasting organic soymilk from Thailand I can reliably acquire.
Thanks! Had a spinach, mango smoothie this morning. It was a big hit!
You can use any liquid base you want— the ones in our graphic above are just our recommendations. We didn’t list soy milk because it’s not a favorite of our, but if you enjoy it go for it! Soy milk is usually made with GMO beans and high doses of soy can alter your hormones, especially in women. So I just stay away from it mainly. I honestly use water in 90% of my smoothies— it’s free, it’s hydrating and it doesn’t take away from the taste of the fresh fruits and veggies.
Have you ever tried freezing the smoothies & just pulling 1 out when you want 1? Obviously you’d have to pull it out ahead of time but just curious.
Thanks for the advice! Can’t wait to try!
Cassie
We have, and we’re not a fan of the texture of a defrosted green smoothie. But we know many people who like to save time this way. We like to just blend the night before and store in fridge for up to 2 days with an airtight light. Then give it a good shake in the morning. :-)
Can you use Greek Yogurt liquid base?
You could use milk as a base, but yogurt might be a bit thick and hard to blend (more like a protein boost?). But you can always try it. If you are looking for more protein, why not try almond milk and add 2 tbs almond butter? This would make it a plant-powered green smoothie, which is our favorite kind.
I started drinking something similar to this about a year ago. I found I couldn’t stomach a room temp drink, so I portion everything out (except the water!) and put the ingredients for 1 smoothie in a zip lock bag and freeze. Then everything is nice and cold.
Just before blending I add a tablespoon of finely ground flaxseed. This addresses the protein issue as flaxseed is a complete protein. It adds a little “nuttiness” but it does not change the taste of the smoothie dramatically. I also add a squeeze of lemon juice – usually about 2 tablespoons, but I never measure. This brightens all the flavors and adds a detoxifying element.
Thanks for a great post!
Meryl
I’ve found that blending spinach and other leafy greens frozen is much easier. It also obviously keeps longer so it doesn’t go to waste. I always keep a bag of frozen spinach in the freezer to have on hand when a green smoothie craving strikes.
I agree! In 2013 I made a huge effort to avoid throwing away food. This included freezing veggies, leafy greens & fruits before they got to the toss out stage. It made a huge difference in our food budget. I even freeze bags of shredded veggies for making The veggie quesadilla recipe on this website!
Thanks for sharing those great tips Brittany and Michele. We love freezing our fresh produce to save money too! :-)
Thanks for this post. I’ve been “winging it” with green smoothies & my success:fail ratio is poor! Looking forward to following your tips!
Haha! I know what you mean Michele! I hope this helps you out— and as you drink more green smoothies, you can adjust the ratio. For example, I usually do 2 cups leafy greens, 2 cups fruit and 2 cups water. I don’t need as much sweetness now that my tastebuds have adjusted to the greens.
SUCCESS! I used what I had on hand, spinach, milk, water, pineapple, very ripe banana, & oranges that just arrived from FL ….YUM. MANY THANKS.
I have been instructed by my doctor to add protein shakes to my diet, but I have committed to eating “real food” so I don’t really want to use the packaged mixes or drinks. How can a smoothie like this be adapted to add protein? Is that part of the “boost it” phase?
You can definitely boost your smoothies with extra protein. We recommend hemp protein powder, hemp hearts, pea protein, chia seeds, nut butter and raw nuts. There are quite a few options! I personally don’t like the taste of most protein supplements in my smoothie— so I either use chia seeds or hemp hearts. And then for a snack I grab a handful of raw nuts to munch on (or dip an apple in almond butter).
Thank you so much for all the great tips! I’ve been trying to get more spinach into my diet because I’m pregnant and it has so many nutrients, but I wasn’t sure what ratios to use. I can’t wait to try this!
Congrats Katie! We have a page devoted for you! We just want to help you get a ton of nutrients and help that growing baby. I wish I knew about green smoothies when I was pregnant— probably would have helped me say no to a few of those lattes. :) Here it is: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/pregnant
I have always juiced all my life, starting *smoothing* this year….and have not touched my juicer since {blush} lol.
My almost daily fav is in my vitamix (yes, high $ but totally worth the cost in my opinion if you want to do it often). I have 2 kids still at home, I make the full 64 oz, and the kids usually have about 1-2 cups worth, depending on what I used that day if they like it lol, and I have the rest for breakfast, lunch and snack…I just sip on it all morning while doing my other work – keeps me full and not craving.
My *usual* is 2 handfuls of spinach (I am not a measurer lol)
3 gala apples, washed and scrubbed, not peeled
tiny bit parsley
1/2 handful kale
1/4 cucumber
1 container strawberries (about 20)
1/2 container blueberries (small one)
1-2 carrots
1 lemon
1/4 lime
1 stalk celery
1 scoop protein powder
1 tbs flax seed
1 cup almond milk
1 cup ice (going to try your freezing a few veggies instead of ice)
Sometimes I add in 1 orange or 1 banana or a handful purple grapes, depending on what I have on hand.
TIP: one tip I have found over the years of juicing as well as recently with smoothies, if the taste is *not so great* on what you try, don’t waste the $ with all you did – add in another apple….usually fixes it and makes it more palatable ;)
Just made my first green smoothie. It was great, I used spinach, kale,mango,apple,banana,flax and raw pumpkin seeds. Will be making again.
Yeah Cheryl! That’s so exciting! And your recipe sounds pretty tasty and nutritious. :)
Can you use baby spinach or just regular spinach?
Either type will work great. You can even swap out the spinach for kale, romaine, bok choy, etc depending on what is more easily accessible to you. Just keep in mind that spinach is one of the most mild-tasting leafy green.
I have a question. I dont have a blender but I have a juicer. Am I able to juice my spinach or kale? Also, I am looking into replacing two meals with smoothies to jump start a healthier life style, is that a good idea or will I be starving my body?
You can juice leafy greens. But a juicer can’t juice all fruits. So if you’d really like to start making green smoothies (where you get to keep all the fiber), I’d look into purchasing a blender. There are plenty you can find under $100. Many people use green smoothies as a meal replacement. Just make sure you’re including healthy fats (coconut oil, avocado) and protein (chia seeds, hemp hearts) to make it a complete meal. But honestly, we like to focus on adding more fruits and veggies to a whole, real food diet. “Don’t eat less. Eat better.” :-)
Thanks So Much who would of thought Chai Seeds and Bananas would be the problem ill try to dlete these 2 things and see how the smoothie goes …Thanks so Much and Ill check out your website thanks Jodee
thank you for the leads. I just did my very first green smoothie ever. With what I had, Kale, mango, and raspberries. Not bad i will have to keep trying new combos. :)
Congrats Yesenia! This just made my day! I am always trying new recipes, just based on what I have in the fridge. Some are winners, and others not so much. But that’s how you learn what you like. And the best part is you are getting in tons of fruits and veggies either way. Welcome to the green smoothie community!
If you want even more recipe ideas, you should check out our recipe page here: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes
You don’t mention peeling apples or avocados first?? What about lemons or limes? How about including the rinds for a zesty flavor? Thanks!
We don’t peel our apples because there are many nutrients in the skin ( we recommend using organic fruit as much as possible when doing this). But yes, you should definitely peel your avocado, orange and lemons— the peels are a bit much for a green smoothie. I have blended clementine orange peels before and the smoothie was extremely zesty— and I have never done it again. :) Great tips Mo.
If you use kumquats (yum!) cut them in half to take the seeds out, but leave the peel on – it’s way sweeter than the sourish inside.
Thanks my ingredient are Handful of Spinach or Kale, 1 carrot, 1 celery stick, Banana, Pear, Green apple, Kiwi Fruit and if I have berries , also I add Chai seeds and Ice and Water
Im trying to work out what would do this to me I need to do process of elimination
I love it but it makes me feel good I was having this for breakfast and lunch and nuts in between then normal eating after that …my skin had improved and feel good except the bloating
Thanks Jodee
I am all about the handful of leafy greens. When I first started I would measure (which really helped me out!) yet now I just grab, toss and blend. :)
As for bloating issues, you can always consult a doctor. Yet I would love to share bloating triggers from what fellow green smoothie rawkstars have shared with me (we are a very connected adn close community). Here are 2 things that cause common bloating:
1. Chia seeds are high in soluble fiber and have been known to cause bloating in tummy’s that have unhealthy gut flora (which happens to the best of us at times). You could try probiotics and and see if that helps.
2. Bananas. Yes, unfortunately. You could have a food sensitivity to these sweet things. We have a page on our website that has a few banana free smoothies to get you started: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/green-smoothie-recipes/banana-free-green-smoothie-recipes
You might have to try the elimination diet to see what is doing it for you (because we are all different). But I would suggest starting with chia seeds and bananas and see what happens.
Hope that helps Jodee. :)
I would definitely suspect the chia seeds. They cause lots of pain and bloating for me, so I have to avoid them. Try taking those out first, and see how you feel.
I’m completely new to this so forgive me if this is something I should know. My sister made a green smoothie when I visited her a few weeks ago and her recipe made quite a bit. She, her husband and her daughter all drank a glass and there was still some left over. Can you tell me how much is one serving of green smoothie?
We consider 16oz a serving size (which is about 1 cup leafy greens, 1-1 1/2 cups fruit and 1 cup water). And our smoothies make between 32-40 ounces. We intentional do this because it’s easier to blend in bulk— you can store in the fridge, share with a friend or enjoy as a family. The point of green smoothies (for me) is to get the fruits and veggies that I typically don’t eat into my body daily. There are many days when i have 2 servings of green smoothies (32oz)— often it’s for breakfast and then an afternoon snack.
I am interested in green drinks or soups. I can not have any fruits because of my blood sugar. Do you have any recipes that I can follow.
Thanks
We actually don’t focus on veggie-based recipes, but we know people are always looking for some. Here’s a recipe our holistic nutritionist, Meg Thompson, came up with. Not sure if you can have avocado:
½ avocado, frozen
1 cup spinach
12 mint leaves
2 tbs chia or hemp seeds
2 tbs shredded (dessicated) or flaked coconut (natural and unsweetened)
1 ½ cups coconut water
I will be trying this!!
Awesome! We’d love to know what you think. Our kids absolutely loooooove this one and we make a variation of it almost everyday.
Hi ladies I have tried the green shakes myself and have been drinking them for a couple of weeks now … Can you help me as it gives me pains in belly and gas … Is it the spinach ?? What can I substitute the spinach with I have tried kale and rocket and that’s not to bad but what other greens would work with out up setting my tummy thanks
Jodee, what type of ingredients are you using in the green smoothies? Some people have a hard time digesting certain ingredients combined together. Also, make sure you you don’t eat anything 30 minutes before and after drinking a green smoothie– that should help with digestion. But if you’re feeling constant pain, please consult your doctor.
Jodee, I have terrible pains when I eat spinach as well, which makes me shy away from kale, etc. I totally understand!
Silly question from a newbie, but how do you measure leafy green vegetables in cups? Do you blend it first? Or press it down and pack it tightly? Or just put the leaves in loosely? Also, can regular milk be used?
No silly green smoothie questions. I remember how intimidating adding leafy greens to a blender was for me. :-)
Pack the leafy greens tightly in a measuring cup and then add to blender. If you don’t have a high-speed blender like Vitamix or Blendtec, we recommend blending your leafy greens first to avoid any leafy chunks. This should help: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/blend-without-chunks
And we personally don’t use regular milk in our recipes, but you can use it as a liquid-base if it’s a part of your regular diet. I’d love for you to try almond milk if you’ve never tried it in a green smoothie– it’s so creamy!
any weight-loss receipes are essential after the holidays.
Thanks.
I hear ya Marylyn! I’m gulping a green smoothie right now to help with the carb craziness this past week. :-)
I am 54 year old female. My Doctor just told me that in order to lose weight I had to cut out carbs which include fruit. Your recipes all have a big fruit component. Do you have any good tasting recipes that don’t include fruit?
We actually don’t focus on veggie-based recipes, but we know people are always looking for some. Here’s a recipe our holistic nutritionist, Meg Thompson, came up with. Not sure if you can avocado:
½ avocado, frozen
1 cup spinach
12 mint leaves
2 tbs chia or hemp seeds
2 tbs shredded (dessicated) or flaked coconut (natural and unsweetened)
1 ½ cups coconut water
For a single serving, I use about 8 oz water, one banana, one orange, a tbs of flax seed, couple handsfull of kale, and a few pieces of frozen pineapple. Delish.
Love the simplicity of this one. Yum!!!
Whats the best blender to use if this is something we are planning to do daily? I currently got the ninja for Christmas but have read bad reviews as far as green smoothies
We use a Vitamix. Been using it every day for well over a year, and still works awesome. Well worth the $400 price tag, IMO.
If you want to make a larger investment in your health, Vitamix or Blendtec are the way to go. But there are tons of affordable options for blending green smoothies too. Nutribullet is a great one. This might help you: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/blenders/options
I use the Nutribullet and love it. No waste and makes a smoothie creamy and you don’t loose any pulp which is where all the nutrients are. Highly recommended!
Can I make this recipe and drink half one day and the other have the next day?
Definitely! This is a great way to have a second smoothie ready to go. You can store in the fridge for up to 2 days (we pour into mason jars and screw on a tight lid to keep it as fresh as possible). It nice to open your fridge and see a green smoothie looking at you…makes it harder to reach for the cake. :)
Can you freeze the entire smoothie? It would be great to make a whole weeks worth!
For some reason, when you freeze the whole blended smoothie the texture gets real strange (and it’s hard for me to enjoy). You can store them in the fridge for 48 hours (with a lid)
To speed up the process, we suggest meal prepping your smoothies in advance like this: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-prep-tip
Would this be a considered a meal replacement or just a bonus? Totally new to the green shakes but I’m determined to give it a shot. Thanks!
You can definitely have a green smoothie as a meal replacement– it’s the healthiest fast food! I do it all the time. Yet you want to make sure you add healthy fats (avocados, coconut oil, nuts) and proteins (hemp hearts, chia seeds, almond butter, nuts) to your smoothie to make it a balanced meal—aka: more energy and keep you full longer.
Probably a dumb question, but do you measure your add-ins for meal replacements (fats and proteins) or just guess? About how much do you add to your blender?
Good question! I do measure the add ins. I do 2 tbs chia seeds per serving, 1/4 avocado per serving, 1 tbs coconut oil per serving, and 2 tbs nut butter per serving. I do occasionally check the labels to see what they recommend per serving size too— like hemp protein since I can’t keep it all straight it my head.
I just had a “no duh” moment! I drink kale, apple and water each morning. I mix it up on occassion by adding nuts, beets, or whatever is in the veggie bin. It never occured to me to use coconut water! I will try that tomorrow morning. The apple / kale combo is great on its own and is a favorite of my 2 and 4 year old daughters!
Oh, kale yeah! I am a big fan of kale in my smoothies :)
And apples with kale is fabulous. I love the simplicity of your smoothie, Will. And that’s awesome you have your kids on the green smoothie bandwagon too! Start ’em young!
Has anyone tried this with frozen spinach? I usually buy bags of frozen spinach to add to dinners because fresh tends to get slimy before I use it up.
Hey Emily! We often freeze our spinach if we can’t use it up fast enough (slimy isn’t our friend). You can then add it to smoothies. I don’t recommend buying “frozen boxed spinach” because there is usually salt and other additives in it. And that would not be a winner. :)
We share more about prepping your green smoothies here (which saves time, avoids waste, etc): http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-prep-tip
Can you add honey to make it a bit sweeter?
This smoothie is deliciously sweet— I don’t think you won’t need to add any extra sweeteners thanks to the bananas, mangos and pineapple. Hope you enjoy it Erin!
Hey Stephanie. You could definitely cut it in half. I have done this when I am testing a recipe and not sure if my whole family will like it. :)
Would it be easy to make half of this recipe so I could make a single serving ? Would it blend well?