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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.
Doug moss says
I dry my kale and spinach then run it through my vita mix to make a fine powder then I use 1 tsp. this
Make it a lot easer to use and a lot easer to store and mixes ing kale a spinach you do not get a bitter taste
Dana says
I'm not used to eating this much fruit. Will this lead to weight gain?
Anna Winner says
How much does the above recipe make (1 C greens, 1 cup liquid, 2 Cs fruits)?
Martin says
Hi just wondering can I use a juicer or do I need a blender also
Ingrid says
You might be able to get by with using a juicer but you'll get the best results with a blender. For example you can't juice certain fruits like bananas so you won't get the same results. In general I think it's better to be using a blender to make smoothies because it's easier to combine all the ingredients and you're able to eat all of the fruit, where a juicer removes some of the edible parts.
Michelle says
I add all of those ingredients plus KALE.
Michelle says
1 cup Spinach and 1 cup Kale
Judi says
Is there a good option for adding protein to the smoothie?
Jazmin Perez says
I have been drinking green smoothies for about a month now and upon realizing how good they are, I have entered the 30 day challenge (I'm on my 19th day). I always liked veggies and fruits but drinking them allows me to intake a good amount all while treating my body the Way I should be. Since drinking the green smoothies, my skin has become more clear, I don't feel as sluggish as I used to,I don't crave junk food no more and I 've even been losing weight! (7lbs so far, but who's counting, lol). So for anyone who Is doubtful, I Say Don't Knock It Till YOU Try it. Take it from me. You won't regret it.
devon says
awesome site great recipes best smoothies iver ever had. and ive been making them daily for years now
Kathy says
Tried to make my first green smoothie this morning. The recipes are great, but I have a ninja that just doesn't "juice"....I blended for several minutes and still ended up chewing my smoothie. I would love any recommendations for a better blender.
Bonnie says
Fantastic! I made my first green smoothie and it is delicious. I used the new organic baby kale that is available around here. Healthy is also yummy!
MarissaM says
I do something similar. I keep my smoothies super simple. 1-2 cups spinach, 1 cup frozen mango or banana, and 1 cup frozen fruit of choice, with 1 cup water. Sometimes I add soaked oats if I want to use my smoothie for a breakfast replacement, I prefer my oats on the side.
Lois says
I haven't done Paleo, grain=free, smoothies, juicing for very long. Less than 3 months. So when I found your sight with your formula 60/40 I was pleased. I must have been doing something right all along as I am enjoying MOST of the smoothies.
I am an on / off again insulin dependent diabetic. I get my glucose in control and go off insulin with the Dr approval and then something happens to my body and my glucose levels are WAY to high so I have to go back on insulin with Dr orders. I haven't done this very long so I am hoping that it will level out.
Thank you for taking time to manage your website. I can't even begin to imagine how many people you have helped.
Thank you!
Kelsie says
With this challenge do you substitute actual meals with green smoothies instead?
Bliss790 says
Hi All,
I absolutely love this- and it feels more like a way of life. So far been doing the 30 day challenge since last week- and I have lost 7lbs. Okay the weight lost is a plus, but the taste of the smoothies and they make me feel!
Beautiful!! Xx
Anna says
Did u have the smoothie once a day and then ate a balanced
Meal or did u have smoothies for brkfast lunch and dinner
ricky humphrey says
Is there any mixture that would promote weight loss,or is any of them a starting place
Nicole says
I definitely did not know about the 40/60 rule but it sounds genius! No wonder my spinach shake always tasted nasty!! I will definitely give this a go ASAP!
lisa says
Do I drink the whole thing at one sitting
Carrie says
I can't thank you enough! My husband HATES green veggies we have been married 30 yrs, and it's been a struggle to get h to eat them. I made a green smoothie today for breakfast and he was asking for more!!! I loved the page that told me 2+2+3 and gave me the stuff under it! I even put flax seeds in it. I am sure he's going to be wanting more of them keep the recipes a coming please.
One grateful wife,
Carrie
Ps I also loves it! :)
Jennifer D says
This was my first attempt at a green smoothie and it came out SO good! I added strawberries to the recipe as well.This will be a regular meal in my house
Felicia says
This is perfect! Thanks so much for sharing. I made it this morning. My boyfriend frowned at the color but loved it! Great way to get in greens.
nattie says
I'm a regular smoothie drinker, no longer in practice - I used to just juice everything - then I got a ninja and stopped juicing anything but since it made greens chunky my fam turned off - I mixed in ninja greens/soy milk (is that not a great choice - chart favored almond/coconut) and still green chewy - which I tolerate, then I figured what the heck, my kitchen is already trashed and dumped all in regular blender - much better job! YAY! Also, premaking tonight makes EASY for am. I plan to bribe my teen with drink this 3 times a week and I wont bug you about veggies ever! 2c Kale, 1 avocado, 1 frozen banana, handful frozen peaches, soy milk. For his I'll likely add agave so he doesn't whimper due to heavy greens - my kids eat kale most days anyway. Thanks for the tips! :)
Rita says
I love green smoothies. I am so easy to please though - give me some spinach, two frozen strawberries, a small banana, unsweetened almond milk, oatmeal/chia seeds and I'm set.
I have never made them ahead though...that will be my next test.
AMA says
Thanks, this is useful health info. Started on green smoothies last Monday and enjoying it.
niki says
omg! I tried a kale, avacado, kiwi, coconut water smoothie with a splash of natural orange juice. Best smoothie ive ever had.
Brian says
I need help. I keep making the smoothies but they are always dark green. Can anyone help please
Sara Farris says
I put mine into a stainless steel cup with lid, so I don't notice the color--only the delicious flavor!!
ron says
I would like to keep the sugar as low as possible, my glucose is a little high. I know fruits have natural sugar and I need to add fruit to the spinach, kale. I understand banana has a lot of sugar, so maybe 1/2 banana, some blueberries/apple, and I use unsweetened almond milk and some flax/chia seeds. I thought I should leave the yogurt out and maybe add a little peanut or almond butter. any other veggies worth trying.
Rachel says
This website is great! I have had some pretty ugly results with smoothies and recently decided to give it a go again! I am so glad I found this website for my smoothie journey! I made my first smoothie for breakfast and it was great - I am enjoying my second smoothie for an afternoon snack. I have told my mother, sisters and mother-in-law how great it is! I cannot wait to experiment on my own with the formula! Thank you so much!!!
mariah says
this is my first time ever making a smoothie and I have to say.. THAT THE BEGINNERS LUCKY SMOOTHIE TASTE AMAZING! I will definitely look up more smoothie recipes. and thank you for sharing this recipe!
Arnel says
Hi Jadah and Jen,
Thanks for the recipe. I'll try it today. I had one question though, is this for 1 person?
Thanks.
Best,
Arnel
Sarah Welsh says
I found one that my entire family loves! Half cup water,half cup coconut milk, half cup ice, 2 cups spinach, 2 cups kale, 1 ripe banana, half cup pinapple. My honey dreaded trying it and said, wow its surprisingly good!
Anna says
I drink this delicious concoction daily... My kids love it and call it Hulk Juice from its amazing bright green color. I'm a fan of the pineapple mango banana fruit mixture. I add chia seeds at the very beginning with the greens for a nice smooth smoothie!!
Healthy mom says
Thank you for this great website!! I love breakfast but looking for quick on the go healthy options other than bread, bagels, processed junk, etc... I made my first smoothie this morning using kale, coconut water, vanilla Greek yogurt, frozen mango, and a green apple (added to blender in that order). It was ok but a little chunky. Perhaps it was my blender?? Also, found myself still hungry afterwards. Suggestions?
Nikki says
I started with your green smoothie challenge at the beginning of the year and have been faithful ever since. For me I needed it to be quick and easy, and I really wanted my husband and kids to like the smoothies too...so we have found one recipe that works best for us. We use spinach, coconut milk, Greek yogurt, fresh banana, and frozen tropical fruits (like mango, papaya, and pineapple). It's a hit with the entire fan, and even with unsweetened coconut milk I don't have to add any sweeteners. Here's my biggest question. I recently looked at the list of ingredients on the coconut milk and it looks like there are quite a few added preservatives and additives (such as guar gum and carrageen). I love the way the coconut milk makes it taste, but I'd like to keep it as "clean" as possible. Have you found any coconut milks that don't contain these things? Or do you have any other suggestions? Thanks!!!
Scott says
OK, I gotta say, I HATE green veggies, but am trying to eat better, exercise and lose weight, I started today. Oh, and I don;t like mangos either, but hey, I gotta change.
So today, this ole country boy(ssshhh don;t tell my friends) blended up 1cp kale(strained it), bout 1/2cp mango, 1/2 banana, and 4 frozen strawberries...OMG THIS WAS AWESOME
Thank you smoothy ladies
Quinton says
Hello, I'm just starting my 30 day Raw Foods Lifestyle and this Website has given me a Great Starting point for creating some great Smoothie Combo's! My Question though is For Storage in the Mason Jars. When I put the leafy Greens in the Mason Jars for Temporary Storage, do I need to add Water aswell to keep them alil Fresh until I'm ready to use them?
Iain says
Recently started making smoothies as part of a health kick and this one is by far my favourite, I use almond milk as the liquid which adds to the sweetness
Santa says
Hi,
I just made my very first green smoothie, using your Beginner's Luck recipe. Since I didn't have spinach, mango or pineapple in my fridge, I substituted kale, strawberries and blueberries. It came out brownish in color but was delicious. I am looking forward to the next 30-day challenge. I will need to try to use fruits that are not too high in sugar. Thanks for your website. By the way, I have a Waring Blender (the original style round one)and it worked great.
Michael says
Thank you for the ratio posted. I had to add some extra water since I was using all frozen fruit but I loved the end result. I don't eat any cooked veggies and very few salads so this is a real change for me.
Not as sweet as store bought but less calories since less juice is being used. It was still very tasty. My ninja blender handled it all perfectly.
Jennifer @ The 52 New Foods Challenge says
We're going to try this with our St. Patrick's Day breakfast :) I love your simple formula. It will make it easy for the kids to make their own.
Amy says
How funny,I came here looking for new smoothie recipes & the 1st one I read is MY "go-to" smoothie. A few things I do different: I never add water to mine - I use coconut water & usually less than a cup. I never use more than 1 banana. I start by filling my 48oz vitamix to the top with greens & the coconut water. Then I add the bananna, pineapple & mango. I have lots of variations depending on what's in my fridge, but this is my simple go-to fav.