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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 ½ 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 ⅓ 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.
Ali says
I was very skeptical about how thus would taste, but I LOVE it! I'm definitely interested in more green smoothie recipes. I know it's too late to join the challenge, but is there any other way to get more of your recipes? Thank you in advance!
sheila says
I purchased a Nutribullet several months ago & am very happy that I did. It's a very well made product, simple to use and came with a very extensive recipe book. I use carrots, whole ginger & frozen fruit which it handles easily.
Valerie says
Is nutribullet good enough for kale and more dense veggies and for a long term smoothie lifestyle? Do you suggest a vitamix or is a more economical blender just as good. I'm gonna invest so would like your opinion. In my 12 days of green smoothies, twice a day, with two real food meals, I find myself 5.5 lbs lighter. Without a "diet". What a gift!! Glad to have found your wonderfully dedicated website!!
Audra says
I had an Oster I used for a while but after a couple months of serious smoothie making usage, it started to crap out. I couldn't justify spending the money on a VitaMix and ultimately purchased a very comparable Ninja for about $180. I couldn't be happier. I make far too many smoothies/milkshakes/margaritas (at least on a day, if not more!) to use a cheaper blender. If smoothies are going to become a lifestyle for you, I would highly recommend investing the money in a good, high powered blender. It will be SO worth it! (Also, my ninja came with single serving cups, just like a NutriBullet... Just saying...)
Sara says
How come you don't use cow's milk?
Kayla says
I thought this recipe was amazing. I have been making healthy on-the-go breakfasts for a long time now. I could never justify putting all of those preservatives into my body or paying the outrageous prices for prepackaged options in the stores. Also these smoothies have really changed how I have been eating my breakfasts. I was recently diagnosed with celiac's disease, which unfortunately most easy breakfast foods have gluten in them. I did have one question though. I am a very big fan of coconut oil, but I was wondering how you would put it into a smoothie.
Liz says
I've recently been emphasizing green smoothies for their anti-inflammatory benefits (from all the dark leafy greens). I started out with recommended recipes, but ended up adding some things and making up my own. Even my picky teenage brother will suck down spinach this way.
2 cups spinach
1 tbsp almond butter
freshly grated or powdered ginger to taste
2 cups mixed frozen berries (blackberries, blueberries and raspberries)
liquid of choice to desired consistency (I use soy or almond milk)
Also, it's important to include a healthy fat to boost the bioavailability of all the good stuff in the greens (i.e. those vitamins and minerals that are fat soluble). [Btw, I'm a 5th year Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major and a self-proclaimed nutrition enthusiast, but definitely research first if you think I made a mistake!]
Summer says
I have been making smoothies for a long time, and actually used to be a consultant for a company that sells protein powder and I had a huge book of shake recipes for that...but this recipe and formula you provided is the BEST so far I have ever had!! This is how I do it every day now - I even made one just now for my housekeeper (who lost a lot of weight when she started doing smoothies), and she loved it - she is copying the info down for her house. I spent a morning last week rinsing and dividing out kale, and putting them in freezer bags. It makes it so easy in the morning to just pop 2 cups of that in, and mix in my liquid and frozen fruit. The color is amazing, and I haven't had a bad one yet!! THANK YOU!!
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
You are welcome Summer! So glad to hear you love this recipe— it's one I make all the time. It makes me so happy to hear you are sharing green smoothie with others— we are making the world healthier one person at a time! Glad to have you in our Green Smoothie Lovin' tribe. :)
Rebecca says
We freeze our smoothies in popsicle containers and the kids eat them that way, so I imagine you could freeze them and reuse them. Make sure you leave enough room in the top for expansion.
Kathryn Olson says
All of these suggestions are great. I would add one more green to the " greens list ". Watercress. It's a super green!
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
Great one Kathryn! Thanks for sharing.
Colleen says
I'm a newbie to making smoothies and found this recipe to be easy to follow. I did have a question. Can you make smoothies ahead of time and put them in the freezer? I am using the magic bullet to make my smoothies and it comes with cups with a screw top and I wanted to know if I can use them and freeze the smoothie.
thanks!
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
You can make ahead of time Colleen, but I wouldn't recommend freezing after you blend it. You can store in the fridge for up to 2 day (some people say 3, but by then it's a bit "off"). You can also measure and freeze all your smoothie ingredients in mason jars or bags for the week and store in your freezer. Then when you are ready to have one, just dump the ingredients in the blender with 2 cups water and blend. It'll save you some time and still taste great.
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
You might want to check out this article we wrote on Smoothie Prepping, which will help you out a bit too: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-prep-tip
Raquel says
I just started my 30-day challenge today, and I am quite pleased! I'm new to green smoothies, and wasn't sure how the end result would be, but I loved it! I made the "Beginners Luck" smoothie today and shared it with my husband, and he loved it too! I don't even like pineapple, but I couldn't even tell it was in there. :)
Thanks for sharing this recipe and the challenge!
Raquel
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Thank you for joining us Raquel. And it's the best feeling to get husbands on board too. Yay!
Nancy says
I have always been a fan of smoothies but I had never tried one with greens. I just made my first one and YUM!!! I was not expecting it to taste good but it is! Since I was only making for myself, this is how I scaled the ingredients: 1 cup mixed greens, 1 cup vanilla almond milk, 1 banana, and 1/2 cup blueberries. I also added in matcha (green tea powder). No sweetener needed at all. I am super excited to get my veges in the morning in such a simple and tasty way. Thank you for this post! 😄
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Nancy, that is awesome! Love how you came up with your own combo too. I love matcha green tea. Yum!
Carol says
This is delicious! First time ever trying to make one. So much cheaper than buying them at the store, and I know it is fresh because I just made it myself! I have been letting my bananas get ripe then just throwing the whole bunch in the freezer. This is the best trick for having delicious, sweet bananas ready anytime. I just defrost for about 20 seconds in the microwave and they are smoothie ready!
Tracy says
I just tied the Beginners Luck Green Smoothie. Yummy!! Yummy!! Yummy!!! Loved it.
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Yay! So glad you liked it Tracy!
Tina says
I made this with the produce I had on hand -- baby spinach and mixed greens, banana, strawberries, almond milk, and coconut oil. It was not even close to the vibrant green color in the picture -- more of a muddy brownish, reddish, greenish swampy muck color. It didn't taste bad but certainly was not pleasing to the eye!!
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Tina, the berries will definitely make it a brownish/purplish color. As you can see when you use light colored fruits like pineapple, mango, banana, then the green will definitely be the most dominant color.
Denise says
I just made my first green smoothie and it's tasty! I wasn't sure if I would get the spinach to blend with just my immersion blender, but with the great tip on blending greens with liquid first, it was easy peasy and no leafy bits! Then added the fruit and ended up having to add a little honey because the berries I added were so tart and a little freezer burnt. :P
Oh and a dash of cinnamon made a nice addition too. Yay! Now, we will see if I can get my 6 year old boy to drink it... ;)
Denise
Marilyn says
Great recipe, with the mango, pineapple and spinach. Especially great for beginners. I'm doing probably 10% fruit now and 90% greens because of the sugar content. I think the more you do green smoothies, the more you will get used to less fruit. Now I can't take all the fruit because it just seems too sweet to me. Berries work very well for low – glycemic recipes, as well as green apples and even grapes. If you are using chia seed or flaxseed, that will also cut down on the glycemic index of your green smoothie.
Cheers!
Maria Alfieris says
Do you have any recipes for someone insulin resistant or pre diabetic? Mangoes and pineapples have a lot of naural sugar. Any other combinations you have tried and true?
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
spincah, avocado and berries are great.
Yolanda Lopez says
When you add the chia, flax seeds, etc. do you blend again or do you stir them in?
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
You can actually do either Yolanda. Jen likes to blend hers in. I like to sprinkle on top after I blend and stir in. :-)
alicia says
We have a similar recipe and we tell our boy toddler it's a "Hulk" shake and he thinks it's the coolest thing. Just come up with a clever name for kids and they won't think twice.
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
That's so cute. We do a lot of green smoothie races. Some days my kids just decide they don't want their green smoothies (usually my kale ones- ha!), so I challenge them to a race. Who can resist a race?! It's fun and everyone wins.
Anika says
Can I do this with a regular blender? if so , will the directions change at all?? I really dont want to eat a pulp - y green smoothie!
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
YES! I used a regular for years ($50 Warner right here, baby!). Just make sure to blend your greens and liquid first. Then add fruit into the blender. Otherwise you will have some pulp. :)
Casey says
Is there any advantage/disadvantage to using pre frozen fruit as opposed to freezing fresh fruit? I saw in one comment you mentioned that frozen strawberries aren't as sweet as fresh is that true for other fruits too?
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
I have found it true for all fruits, actually. If I am using a lot of frozen fruits in my smoothie, I actually defrost them first which helps bring out some sweeter flavors. But fresh is best— because you can control when you use them (like when they turn ripe for optimal sweetness). If you buy frozen, ya never know when they packaged them– and they do lose their taste.
I use both— usually a fresh ripe banana, frozen mangos and then some fresh random fruit I have on hand. I can get frozen mango at trader joes and I just bulk up on that.
Jennifer says
Any feedback about the magic bullet? I have a Montel Health Master, but it is too bulky and not quick and easy to clean. I have 4 children and would LOVE to get these smoothies in our everyday life.
Thanks!
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
Hey Jennifer! The Magic Bullet has some devoted fans! We actually polled our community awhile back to see what blenders they like and why. This might help you out: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/product-reviews/cheap-blender
Cindi says
I've been making green smoothies for a long, long time now. I like to add spirulina, hemp powder, and maca to mine. The spirulina can be quite strong. So, I'd suggest adding only a half tablespoon to start. Maca gives a lot of energy. I also add cubed ripe avocado when I want to add some good fat to the mix. And a half cup of kefir or plain greek yogurt adds staying power and pro-biotics.
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
Sounds delicious. I love adding in superfoods too. I actually made one today with Maca! Acai powder is another good one.
sandy says
when putting in apples, do you peel them?
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
We don't peel our apples because there's tons of good fiber in the skin. But depending on the blender you have and how you feel about textures, you may prefer to take the skin off. Also, make sure it's organic if you do keep the skin on. :-)
amanda says
I'm curious to know how much hemp protein powder could be added to a recipe? I bought it, but haven't tried it yet. Hoping that it doesn't have much of a taste.
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Hemp protein does have a little bit of a chalky taste. So I would start at 1 tablespoon and you can work your way up to 2-4 tablespoons per serving. Another alternative, which has a slightly nutty taste is hemp hearts, which are shelled hemp seeds. Super tasty!
amanda says
We started a day early. We all loved our first green smoothie. My husband, sister, 12 year old twins, and two other friends are all doing the challenge! We are so excited. Even my 6 year old loved it. I put hers in a solid colored travel cup though so she didn't see the color and get freaked. The banana in the recipe we used made it great.
Beth says
We call our green smoothies Tinkerbell smoothies for our young girls and then the color is not a deterrent at all.
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Awesome Amanda! Being a mom with a 6 year old myself, nothing makes me happier than seeing whole family of all ages jumping on the green smoothie bandwagon together. Happy to have you a part of our green smoothie lovin' tribe!
Jen Haubrich says
I always encourage my clients to give green smoothies a try. The one important thing your recipe is missing is some healthy fat. Our bodies need fat in order to absorb fat soluble vitamins A, D, K & E in the veggies! This can be done by including a couple tablespoons of chia, hemp or flax seeds or a tablespoon of nut butter or coconut oil. In my experience, this also keeps you from feeling hungry for longer after enjoying the smoothie, which is great too!
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Great point Jen! We encourage people to add healthy fats too when they want a complete meal from a green smoothie. But sometimes, it's great to just have a green smoothie as a snack. I'm personally obsessed with adding chia seeds and hemp hearts to my green smoothies.
Lisa Y says
I have been adding greens to my smoothies for a while now and have some tips to share. I buy containers of pre-washed greens like kale, spinach and arugula when they are reduced for quick sale and pop them right into the freezer, because they are loosely packed they don't freeze together so you can just take a handful or two out as needed. I also find adding frozen blueberries to smoothies is a great way to disguise the green color for anyone who might not be receptive to green smoothies. I've also started adding finely grated carrots to my smoothies to get an extra boost of veggies. I just freeze them loosely packed in ice cube trays so they are ready when I need them. Happy smoothie making!
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Such great tips Lisa! We are big fans of freezing our leafy greens too. We also like to smoothie prep too, which can save a lot of time in the mornings: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-prep-tip
Kim says
So I'm new to the green smoothie world but I really wanted to try it. I did the beginners one with a few changes to my tastes. 2 cups of spinach, 2 cups of almond milk, 3 bananas (mine were small) 1 cup of apples and 1 cup of frozen peaches. Loved it!!! Had to add a little honey to my husbands because he's use to drinking pop everyday but he also liked it. And I really didn't add that much honey.. Maybe 1/2 a tablespoon. Neither of us are very good about eating breakfast and kinda poor on the fruits and veggies so I'm hoping we can get into this habit.. Very excited!
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
I'm so excited for you and your husband Kim! Small baby steps to health are super big wins in my book!!!
Kristin says
It's kid approved, but is it husband approved. The one time I tired to sneak a handful of spinach into my usual fruit and yogurt smoothie recipe, my husband immediately asked why does this taste different. I'll give it another try, but am skeptical that the kiddos might reject it for the green color and my husband for the taste.
Oh, and it's easiest to freeze bananas whole, skin on. When bananas get over ripe, just put them in the freezer. When you need them for smoothies, simply thaw in hot water for 1-2 minutes (just enough to get the peel off)rotating halfway through and peel. Super fast to freeze, air tight and avoids the need for plastic bags (peel can be composted).
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Great tip Kristin! And yes, husbands can be skeptical at times. Try blending your leafy greens and liquid first, so you don't get a leafy texture in the smoothie– that might help. Also, add a few extra berries when using leafy greens to make it a more purplish color. :-)
Here's a good post to help you out: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/blend-without-chunks
Tina says
Great post when I'm running out of ideas!
As for the kids.. Maybe call them the Hulk Smoothie or a Monster Mash Super Booster?!
If your husband is a big kid at heart and dreams of being a big 'muscle man' , how about the Popeye Muscle Popper?
Okay, okay, I know I'm getting carried away... ; )
Enjoy your smoothies!
Susan says
Nice article. Just wanted to add my recipe for the perfect green smoothie.
1. As much fresh spinach as your blender can hold (not compressed)
2. 1 Frozen Banana
3. 3 Frozen Strawberries
4. 1/3 cup Greek Yogurt
5. couple tablespoons ground flaxseed (or Chia)
6. 1 TBSP of Peanut Butter (this takes the bitterness out of the spinach... add more if you need)
Blend in a Vitamix... or divide up and blend in any other blender.
Jimmy L says
The Vita-Mix is a great mixer. I mean 21/2 hp is more than we have ever needed. I go the other way on the 60/40!in favor of veghie ex.
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
As people get used to leafy greens in their smoothies, I recommend tipping the formula just as you do Jimmy. 60% leafy greens all the way! Yet either way, you are still getting more fruits and veggies into your body than you normally would— and that's a huge accomplishment!
rob says
Use berries for a smoothie that will not raise your glycemic levels. Skip the sugar and use a smidge of honey for sweetness. Ditch the bananas
Samantha says
I was so excited to try this and I loved the easy chart! Sadly though, I really couldn't drink it. :( I think I did everything right-blended 2 cups of fresh spinach w/ 2 cups water, then added 3 cups frozen strawberries. Ended up having to add 2 Tbs of sugar to it (please no one condemn me for using sugar; I haven't decided what "healthy" sweetener to use yet, though I'm leaning toward sucanant) I'm brand new to all of this; is it an acquired taste? I was going to try the beginner's luck smoothie but mango and bananas are the only two fruits I don't really like as luck would have it. I would love to use green smoothies on a regular basis with my family so I would appreciate any advice on how to get this where it is palatable for us just starting out as beginners.
Jen | Simple Green Smoothies says
Hey Samantha. Frozen strawberries are pretty bitter on their own (them freeze them before they are ripe so the sweet juices aren't in there). I would personally try adding a banana to sweeten it up. You can also use fresh strawberries, that have all the yummy sugars when they get really ripe ( those are pretty great in smoothies.) Yet I still like to add a natural sweetener to any green smoothie that has strawberries— bananas, dates, an orange, mango and pineapple would all do the trick. No need to even use sucanant.
I hope you give it another go. And either way, you still had spinach and antioxidant-loaded berries with your 2 tbs sugar today— so that's still a victory in my book!
Linda Duffey says
when making a smoothie, do you juice it in a juicer, blend in a food processor or in a blender, I feel I am not getting the fiber from the juicer
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
We blend everything in a blender, so you keep all the fiber. :-)
joy says
simple smoothie, toss in some fresh kale or spinach, a couple frozen bananas, frozen blueberries, some water, some flax seeds... Mix in Vitamix... instant YUM
Melissa says
I have been in love with green smoothies for about a year now! They give me so much energy! My husband begs me to make them now too.
Our favorite recipe is-
1/2 c coconut milk
1 cup h2o
handful of Kale
small bunch of cilantro
1/2 cucumber
1 stick of chopped celery
1 cup of frozen mango and pineapple mixed
I give the greens a blend with the liquid before adding the fruit
a TBSP of ground flax or chia seeds is a lovely addition as well!
Kathryn @ Mamacado says
I LOVE this formula! My kids already love our "Green Ghostbuster Smoothie" recipe BUT I've definitely tried to make variations of it recently that haven't worked out so well. I will follow this great formula from now on!
Here's our Green Ghostbuster Smoothie they always eat up quickly: http://www.mamacado.com/2013/10/healthy-green-ghostbuster-smoothie.html
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Awesome! Love the green smoothie name! :-)
Nicole F says
Just quick like question, Do you juice these ingrediants or use a blender/processor?
Carrie says
I have a Vitamix. Spendy, but well worth it. I did have a nutribullet but I found that the containers were too small for the amount I needed. So I'd do an initial 'big' blend with my Ninja and then two batches (for consistency I like) in the Nutribullet. Got rid of both of those plus my blender/food processor. I make pureed soups all the time and have made hummus in my vitamix too. It's well worth the money since they last so long! Embarrassingly enough, I have a juicer, but I've never used it!! :O
Carrie says
I haven't read all the comments, so I apologize if this has already been addressed. I have been making green smoothies for a while now (2 c. greens, 1/2-whole apple, 1/2-whole carrot, 1 c. berries, green tea or water for liquid, 1 c. greek yogurt for protein). I prep all ingredients except for the yogurt/liquid and put them in bags in the freezer. I do find that sometimes my smoothies have a bit of a chalky texture/flavor. My use of greens varies and I try to mix them too--beet greens (my favorite!), parsley, carrot greens, kale, spinach--so I'm not sure if it's one of those in particular or not. I find if I drink it when it's cold I avoid this, and if it's been in a mason jar in the fridge for a day it is a bit worse. Any thoughts?
Jadah | Simple Green Smoothies says
Hmmm... I wondering if it might be the yogurt. Could you try without yogurt and see if that prevents the chalky texture? With the Vitamix, you should have a pretty "smooth" smoothie. :-)