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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.
I made the beginner’s luck smoothie this morning, but I substituted avocado for the bananas (which I don’t like). My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and our two year old saw ours and said, “I want juice too, Mommy!” I gave her about 3/4 of a cup that was left in the bottom of the blender, and she loved it too!! Thanks!
Any reason why strawberries are not included on the fruit list? My kids love a very simple banana/strawberry/plain yogurt smoothie. I plan to try the ‘beginner’s luck’ recipe but want to make it as close as possible to what they are used to. Hoping for success in introducing the greens!
Thanks
Hi Tracy. Nope, strawberries are a great smoothie ingredient. :)
I just tried this and signed up for the 30 day challenge. I have never had a green smoothie and I loved it! Can’t wait to kickstart a healthy summer with these for lunch!
Oh, I forgot I also use Blue Agave as a sweetener if needed.
I love your blog and recently went on a health food kick. I have cut processed food from my diet as well, but it not until I saw your blog and realized there is help out here. I’m pretty much just winging it right now, but still 3 weeks in I feel great. Thanks for the tips! Also, I make my smoothies using kale and spinach as a green. I usually take all the fruit and veggies portion them off into ziplock bags and throw them in the freezer, when i’m ready for a smoothie I just throw them in the blender. Hope this helped.
Thank you for this recipe! Loved the smoothie. Used all frozen fruit. Didn’t have pineapple so used strawberries instead. 5 stars!
I was wondering how much of each of the “boost it” items should one add to the basic recipe? I would think you would only add 1 to the recipe but don’t know how much of say cinnamon should one add.
Hi Judy. For the protein additions like chia, flax and hemp powder, I have added up to a heaping tablespoon per serving. For a spice like cinnamon, I’ve added about a teaspoon of cinnamon for the whole recipe. I think it takes a bit of testing to find the perfect combo for you. ~Amy
Thanks so much for the 40/60 ratio and the pre-blend ideas as well as the boosters! All my smoothies have been so gross before but now this is the perfect blend. I mixed kale, spinnich, coconut water, banana and frozen mixed berries together and also added soms coconut oil and hemp seeds. This is one of the best websites for smoothies ive seen. One question though, if I added plain greek yogurt for proteinow much should I add? Thanks!
Hi there. I use about 1/2 cup per serving when I add yogurt and count it as part of the liquid base. ~Amy
I love my green smoothie, I make one every morning for my breakfast,and what I use is 1 cup of vanilla almond milk, 2tsp apple cider vinegar, 1frozen banana, spinach, plant base protein powder 1/2cupof blueberries.
Hi! I was wondering if you could tell me how many calories are in the basic green smoothie above? :)
Hi there. We really don’t focus on calories just on consuming real foods. There are many tools available online that will help you calculate details. ~Amy
Hello,
I am looking to find ways to make great smoothies that does not include any acidic fruits/vegetables such as lemons, cataloupes,pineapples tomatoes etc because they make me sick…trying to find a good combination to make a green smoothie cause the last one I made was nasty. any suggestions
Hi Darlett. This might help you come up with the right combo for you: http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm. Almond milk, banana, strawberry and spinach is a favorite in my home. ~Amy
My wife and I just made this today and it was amazing, we absolutely will be trying all of the green smoothie recipes and we are glad to be apart of the 30 day smoothie challenge!!
I am on day 4 of the challenge and I am loving it! I have been using chard in all the recipes because it is most common here in Guatemala where I am living. My husband and son guzzle the smoothies down too and my husband is so thankful I am doing this challenge because he knows it will help us ALL out with our health. BTW my son is only 21 months and drinks a smoothy with us everyday! What better way to rest assured he is getting all his nutrients. I am so happy I found this site!
Hi, I’m very interested in using green smoothies to get more veggies into the diet of myself and my toddler, but I have the same concern as another recent commenter. I tried drinking them for a while and had a few bouts of pretty severe stomach pain, diarrhea, and at one point vomiting. So I completely stopped drinking them. One friend said I shouldn’t mix fruit with the veggies, but just veggies is pretty bitter. I read somewhere that you can try drinking them only with meals and that might help. Or I think there are some variations with cooked veggies (beets/carrots/but I don’t think greens) that might be easier to digest. Not sure if these would make it okay to mix them with fruit, though. I loved how I felt eating so many fruits and veggies, but I can’t do that to my stomach again, and I’m scared to try. I would appreciate any tips you have on this front… Thanks! I’m glad you’re doing such good work spreading healthy food ideas!
Hi! Have you thought about drinking a smoothie slowly throughout the day? For example, you could make the usual smoothie in the mornings and drink a third of it at a time at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Hi there. Well, everyone’s digestive process is different and some people do have trouble combining fruit, veg, and protein in a smoothie. Sipping something throughout the day, as Ellie said, might be less of a shock. It may just take some trial and error but I would go easy on your system. ~Amy
You may also want to try mixing up the types of greens you use. I have read that all raw greens carry different natural toxins, it is the plant’s natural defense to survive. Depending on the class of green (e.g. cruciferous, amaranth, etc.) the toxins are different. Perhaps that could have caused your symptoms???
Hi there, interesting that I stumbled across this as I was looking for some alternate green smoothie recipes. I don’t have any problems and I have them every morning and have done so for some time, this however might be a good read for you.
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/how-green-smoothies-can-devastate-your-health/
Good luck with finding something that works for you, there are some good tips in this article.
Hi. I have always read, and quite believe, that it is not a good idea to combine fruits with other foods, because they digest quickly and if mixed with other foods such as green vegetables they can cause a delay in digestion, which could cause fermentation in the stomach and small intestine. if this is the case also with smoothies i’d like to know, because i already suffer from nails with fungus and don’t want to increase it. i don’t think i’d even want to add fruits to yoghurt or almond milk, but if i made just a fruit smoothie, using juice, that would feel better to me. i’d appreciate some advice about this. i’m aware that if i made just a veggie smoothie with yoghurt it might taste very bitter. thank you
Hi Shoshana. I know there are many schools of thought on food combination. You need to make the choices that you feel work well for your own system. The Leakes do not limit their food combinations. ~Amy
Hi Shoshana,
It is my understanding that because the fruits and veggies are being broken down to
The cellular level by the blender they are
Much more easily digested and don’t sit and
Ferment. I’ve also had issues with nail fungus and the only way I’ve found to eliminate it is applying 50% hydrogen peroxide creme (buy at a beauty supply store) to the affected nail and let dry. This will be painful. It takes about a month before you will start seeing a new
Healthy nail growing in. You have to apply
The peroxide every day until the infected
Nail has completely grown out.
I’m gonna do a 30 day juice / smoothy diet detox
Hi, me and my mum have started doing smoothies, is there any fruits that you can’t freeze i.e mango, papaya ect
Hi Lorraine. Because you are using them in smoothies, the texture after freezing isn’t an issue, so you can freeze any fruit. :)
Hi ..this is my green plus multicolored smoothie…I have this every morning and use it to give me energy…I am very energetic and 78 yrs. young…Here it is.in the blender..Banana,apple,kale, broccoli, spinach,strawberries,blueberries.sometimes blackberries,almonds,carrots,plain ,yogurt…for liquid instead of water add..orange juice and cranberry juice thank you Elizabeth
Can you freeze green smoothies? If yes, for how long?
Hi Louise. You can freeze green smoothies as long as you understand the texture will be somewhat effected. I grab them from the freezer if I’m on the run and often add the frozen extras to smoothies I make fresh. They will be fine in your freezer for months. ~Amy
Have been making smoohies for a while bu mostly fruit so I am excited to be making green ones. It is so perfext for your health. They are also a fun way to stay away from other sweet things as they nourish the body and make you feel wonderful. I would love some more great and tasty recipese…..
Hi all
I’ve just started getting into green smoothies. I made mine with spinach, pineapple, banana, low fat Greek style yoghurt, water and a little bit of honey. I had to brace myself before I sipped the green concoction but oh my! It was delicious! I’ve made a small batch and going to see how I feel in a week after drinking one a day! I’m then going to try the one above!
My daughter has been doing the green smoothies for quite some time now. She gave me her MagicBullet (she prefers a blender) and I decided to try it for the first time 2 days ago. Not bad (once I got past the color). Easy to prepare, healthy and actually tastes great!
I tried this with some substitutions. I used kale instead of spinach and strawberries instead of pineapple (what I had enough of on hand). Wow! Tastes great! The only thing about the kale, since it can be bitter, is it gives the smoothie a bit of a spicy kick after each sip. 100% recommended!
I love green smoothies! But for an added taste, I use fresh mint and a small cap full of lemon juice. :D
Started my diet in Oct 2013 drop 21 lbs and that diet I was on worked. Now have come to stand still. I heard great things of this green diet. Starting today this green diet hoping my last 19 lb come off fast within two months before vac. WISH ME LUCK! Thanks for posting this.
Maria, what diet did you originally start on? I keep trying to do the 20 carbs a day for 2 weeks. (A version of the Atkins) but with my 2 little ones under 2 they love to eat bread and that’s my weakness along with pasta. My son wants noodles 24/7. He doesn’t care how they come as long as they are noodles and we’ll so do I.
Trim healthy mama – it’s a way of life eating more so than a diet. But it truly results in trim and healthy. Check out website testimonials. Then get the book! It works!
this will be my first smoothie challege
I tried to make my first green smoothie today and discovered that my old blender is NOT cut out for it! Any suggestions for what to purchase to make easy, quick green smoothies? I’ve heard of the Ninja and a couple other brands. What do you all use?
Response to previous poster: Ninja blender is the best way to go. My husband bought me one for Mother’s Day and I’ve used it twice a day since. I absolutely love it. Single size is perfect for treats, and for making the perfect morning smoothie. I have the Ninja 1500 watt system with the two single serve, the 72 oz pitcher and the processing bowl.
Hi Kathy. I’ve heard good things about the Ninja especially for the price. I use a Vitamix and I Lisa uses a Blendtec. :) ~Amy
Hey Kathy. Not sure if you have purchased a blender yet or not, but yes Ninja blenders are wonderful, but they are also expensive, in my opinion. I am a conservative when it comes to money :)! I use a Farberware 4 speed digital blender with a cup. I got it from Wal-Mart over a year ago. It cost like $40 and it works GREAT. I found that by blending my greens and liquid first makes a world of difference. I do not like having to chew my smoothie :)! I this helps you on your smoothie journey! Best of luck to you.
I purchased a BlendTech Blender after extensive research and comparisons. The BlendTech, Vitamix and even the Ninja are all comparable. For my needs though, I gave the edge to the BlendTech.
We use a VItamix and just love it!!
I’m using an ordinary $30 blender to make green smoothies and it works great.
I actually used a cheap ($15) ninja from walmart for quite a while. Worked better than any blender I had before. I even used it to make all my babies food. We finally upgraded to a more expensive Ninja because I kept cutting my finger when taking apart the cheaper version. But seriously even the $15 Ninja is awesome!
Try looking at the Bella Rocket Extract Pro at Walmart. It’s only $59.99 and has 700 watts of power. It blends up everything, only once in awhile does it not blend everything but that’s because we don’t leave it on long enough. Got to warn you though, it’s LOUD! We use it several times a day and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to spend the extra $$$ on a Vitamix or BlendTec.
Be careful when shaking a smoothie kept overnight, if it contains pineapple, especially if you take it to work to drink later. It may explode and end up on the ceiling and raining down on you and your workspace. True story…it happpened to a friend of mine.
use coconut Or almond milk instead of water, taste very good.
I’ve been meaning to try green smoothies forever, but I generally can taste every ingredient in EVERYTHING, even when the recipes swears that I won’t know it’s in there. I was sure that the combination of spinach and fruit would be terrible tasting. I finally bit the bullet and made this recipe. Yum! I couldn’t taste the spinach at all. It was easy, healthy, tasty, and I am super full. Extra bonus: my four year old and one year old loved the recipe as well!
Make sure you add just 1 tablespoon of Kelp Powder to your smoothie for additional vitamins & minerals! Your body will thank you!
Sally
whats the best/easiest way to measure out cups of greens/fruit? This is where I get confused…lately I’ve just been weighing it….I’ll typically go 20-40 grams of leafy greens (spinach or kale typically), and then 100g+ berries…I use the Nutribullet so I dont measure my water base, just fill to the max line……and then I put about a tbsp (14 g) of chia seed in the mix
Just curious how you all are “measuring” fruits and veggies….lol. I find it easier to just eye ball it….granted, over my 6 months+ of using it, I’ve adjusted here and there…..
Wow – sounds yummy ! But is the green smoothie just to incorporate healthy fruits n vegetables
In out diet or is it for weight loss too ? That’s my main concern.
Can I replace my dinner or lunch with it for better effect ? Or I add smthing to it I boost my metabolism ? Any advice will be a great help !
Thanx guys
I use a 3 greens to 1 fruit ratio. I add a powdered multivitamin and a powdered protein. I have been doing 1-2 smoothies per day. My daughter is doing it as well and has lost 13 pounds! Our health has improved drastically! We use the nutribullet and a mix of kale, collards, arrugula and spinach or any combo of the above. We add basil or mint and then frozen berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries. We also add 1/4 an avocado for the fat. It also makes it much smoother. Love the Green Drink Life!
So I do 1/2 mixed greens, half an apple or pear, berries (black, ras, blue), grapes, a tablespoon of flax seeds, and freshly-snipped from my garden: parsley, cilantro and New Zealand spinach leaves, and finally, 1/2 of a black banana. Then filtered water and spin away! The blacker the banana, the sweeter the drink. Not into “shoulds and ought tos”, but the more greens and the fresher the greens, the healthier the drink. Organic is essential. Sweetness is enhanced by fresh herbs.
I do this at least 5 days a week, and really notice that I have not done it on weekends. Hmmmm …
Apply these ingredients together and see how refreshing they are: Hand full of Kale,1/4 cucumber, Mint leaves, 1/4 apple green, 1 celery stick, and Aloe Vera liquid sugar free found in Woolworths warm juice section. Also make one with coconut water and see which one you prefer. I have almost completed my 12 week challenge with the Gym and have turned to Green smoothies as a replacement meal for one a day and it takes away the boredom.
Which blender do you use? I plan to buy one that makes a smooth smoothie. :)
I have a Vita Mix that I’ve owned for over 20 years and it’s still going strong. They make fantastic smoothies, and have the added bonus that you can do so many other things with them – even grind your own whole grain flour. Yeah it’s more expensive than other brands but it is built like a tank, will grind up anything you can throw into it and lasts forever (mine has, anyhow). I also like the easy clean up – I am a somewhat lazy cook and have no patience for cleaning a lot of little parts, lol.
Just made my first green smoothie……sooooooo tasteful! I am very happy I discovered you :-)
what are your thoughts about Raw Meal such as available from Garden of Life? Do you add it to smoothies, simply use it by itself in a healthy drink or meal replacement? They seem to cover a lot of ground with vitamin supplements, food replacement, an all around healthy drink sometimes etc. Do you still eat meals or sometimes not?
Judi,
I use Vegan Raw Protein powder, from Sun Foods. Also you can add protein to your green smoothies by using plain non fat Greek Yogurt.
.