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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.
dee says
It definitely is a lifestyle.. I drink these four breakfast and lunch..
2 cups spinach
1 cup kale
1 cup almond milk or vanilla soy milk
1 frozen banana
1 tbs ground flax seed
So healthy and delicious!!
mary says
This is the first time I have added fruits to my green smoothies. Before I just used veggies and though I drank them they were not very tasty and didn't stay with it very long and bought a juicer. Your 60/40 Formula chart is wonderful and just made my first green smoothie using the info.
Thank you!
Sydney McCullar says
I have to admit, i have been fighting the green smoothie thought for years but recently decided I needed a way to sneak in some greens and broke down to try it. I wish I had done it sooner! Can't even tell its there and your building block recipe helped tremendously. I made mine tonight for the morning and sampled it, and tried to get the hubs to try it but he had already fallen asleep. Thanks!
millie says
Thanks for the great tips!! I just got back from the store :)
Emily says
You made green smoothies less intimidating for sure! I didn't know how to start and didn't want to go buy a bunch of produce just to try and fail.
Made my first one last night for my almost 2-year old, with just a handful of baby spinach, a little water, and almost a whole pear, and it turned out delicious! :) She loved "helping" blend it and drinking it! :)
Thank you!!
Lookinglass says
My first EVER green smoothie made and enjoyed tonight thanks to you two! It felt very odd to be drinking GREEN raw food.....looks poisonous! But tasted delicious!
I used raw spinach, parsley rocket leaves, melon, apple, nut residue from milking hazlenuts and apple juice. The dates I put in didn't blend, forgot you needed to soak them first overnight. But it was sweet enough anyhow.
Thanks ladies.
Stephanie says
Thank you! This is the first time we have added veggies to our smoothies. I needed it to be positive so my 10 and 17 would continue to drink it. Sucess!
Sierra says
Do you have a suggestion for a good "airtight" storage container for pre-made smoothies?! I've been avoiding making them in advance but sounds like I can:)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sierra. Mason jars are my favorite. ~Amy
Janet says
THANK YOU for this master green smoothie recipe! I could not get my mother to try a green smoothie for anything, but she loves mango and banana, and she actually enjoyed this smoothie. What's more, using your proportions, I've made other variations - AND SHE ENJOYED THEM TOO! I finally got my mom to consume something good for her!!
Kayla says
This recipe sounds delicious - I can't wait to make it! When you add a boost such as chia seeds or flax seed, how much would you add for a recipe that yields 32 oz?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kayla. You can hop over to the Simple Green Smoother website and ask them directly. I typically add about a tablespoon or two of "boosts" per serving of smoothie. ~Amy
Natali says
Do these drinks help with weight loss ?? If so how can I start
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Natali. Hope over to the Simple Green Smoothie website to get the low-down: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/30-day-challenge. :)
joyce opdahl says
Before I jump in, how about unflavored non-fat yogurt? When and where do I put it in?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. You can certainly add yogurt. You can add it with the fruit after the water. ~Amy
Val says
i use my Nutribullet for my juices...soooo good!
angelique says
I usually make mine with 3 leaves of kale, 3 celery sticks, 2 apples, a splash of pure cran juice and 1 cup of blueberries. SOOO GOOD !!!!
Sophia Alicia says
Great recipe :D
But could you add flax seeds to any recipe or do you have to sub?
I grew to love flax seed! :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sophia. Flax or chia is in almost every smoothie I make. :)
David Benton says
So can you please weigh in on this? is is healthier to juice? or to whole fruit and whole veggie in a blender?
or would it be good to juice some fruit or veggies then use that juice as the liquid base in the smoothie?
Also whats the verdict on mixing fruits and veggies? or blending and eating them separately?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi David. If you are looking for an answer from the Green Smoothie Ladies, you should hop over to their site: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/30-day-challenge. From our perspective, we enjoy a good smoothie with fruits and veggies together and try to pair it with a protein source (yogurt, nut butters, etc.). We aren't juicers but do acknowledge its benefits. ~Amy
Gerry says
Silly question but how much is 1 cup?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Gerry. Are you trying to convert? ~Amy
Chelsey says
If I want a Colder more slushy-ish smoothie is it okay to leave in the freezer over night then eat tomorrow? Or will that ruin it?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Chelsey. You can freeze them. Sometimes, the texture gets a bit more mushy. ~Amy
Kari says
Can you freeze Kale? And if I freeze fresh spinach do I need to do anything special before I freeze it or before I throw it in my smoothie? Thanks :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Kari. You can and you do not need to anything special to it. I usually freeze mine in freezer bags removing as much air as possible. ~Amy
lynda-gwen says
here in africa its hard to come by some of these greens. can i substitute them with celery or parsley? we have dandelions in abundance
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi there. You can substitute with any green that is available to you. :)
sha says
I love veggies and smoothies! Together they're the best i can ever drink and enjoy! And i love ur recipes thanks for shating! However, i have 2 issues. 1st is i have difficulty to blend veggies. They dont seem to blend that well.. second is they have this bad smell which i cant stand.. how can i address this issues?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sha. You might need a more powerful blender for smooth blending of veggies and greens. They review and recommend several in many price ranges on their website. Bananas work to cover up the sent of most veggies. It works for my kid who are my toughest smoothie critics. ~Amy
Leeayn says
I just recently purchased a Vitamix. My first green smoothie consisted of a blend of kale, spinach and chard. I added pineapple, orange, banana and a slice of lime. The vitamix was night and day compared to other blenders I used. No smell, delish!
Todd J says
is it better to buy pre cut pineapple or a whole pineapple ? What about frozen packaged pineapple ? What is best for someone on a budget ?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Todd. Usually a whole pineapple is the best deal. Frozen pineapple is also really great in smoothies! :) ~Amy
C roehner says
Here is my favorite. It's refreshing, and stays a gorgeous light green color. I use pineapple, a few leaves of kale stems removed, small handful cilantro, frozen banana, juice of half a lime, and coconut water to desired consistency. Try it. You'll love it!
Katie says
I make basically the same smoothie but leave out the mango and use kale instead of spinach...make it most mornings. If it isn't sweet enough I add 5 - 8 dates.
Pamela says
What brand of almond milk is there that does not add the synthetic vitamins? None in my neck of the woods, I assume I can order some in boxes. Thanks. Sorry if it is on the site somewhere, wouldn't know where.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Pamela. Whole Foods 365 or Silk is what I usually seek out when I do not make my own: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/31/food-allergies-dairy/. ~Amy
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Lucky. This was a reply to another reader:
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
Lucky says
I was just curious on the measurements on any of the booster options. How much would I put in? Also, can I put in protein powder (natural flavour)? Or would that change the taste? Thanks!
vilma says
The green smoothies has change my life and I feel great.
Laura says
I use the Icelandic Skyr as a base since it's really high in protein, plus you get the other good stuff dairy products has to offer and some good bacterias. I also add oats and psyllium husk for fibre and make sure there's plenty of water.
And to top it all off I've bought a smoothie twister so now I have barely any cleaning up to do which is the main reason I didn't do smoothies before. I'm amazed at my energy levels lately!
DM says
Great basic recipe! I've used a combination of spinach, watercress, and a little (very little because the taste can overwhelm) celery for the greens; and it turned out delicious. Also, if you want a bit of a bittersweet flavor, split spinach with arugula. I'm thinking about trying unsweetened iced tea as the liquid base, but not sure if I want to risk a batch.
sj says
Tried it and loved it!!!
Dierdre says
I love the simplicity of your green smoothies. However, I am diabetic and noticed if I use the 60/40 proportions with majority fruit my glucose levels increase dramatically. Now I use majority green leafy veggies and this works much better! Also, for a little kick I add about an inch of ginger root....really good. Thank you for sharing :)
Sheila says
I'm on a budget. What kind of juicer do I buy. Everyone I know that does this says they paid over $700. for theirs.
Lauren says
You don't need a juicer, just a blender. $30 at walmart
Laura says
I'm on a tight budget too but I managed to scrape together $55 for the smoothie twister (http://www.obhnordica.dk/Admin/Public/GetImage.aspx?Image=/Files/Billeder/6630.jpg&Format=jpg&Width=280&&Resolution=72) from obh nordica so now I can make a smoothie in 1min to bring with be to uni. I have always loads of chopped up fruits and vegetables in the freezer, I use the icelandic Skyr for base since it so high in protein and then I add a few table spoons of oats and a tea spoon of psyllium husks for fibre. Always delicious and so easy, since I started I've gotten so much more energy! :P
Jessica says
I love this smoothie! I was wondering how many calories this consist of?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Jessica. You can plug the ingredients into and online tool such as: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ and get those details. ~Amy
Kendra says
I am both surprised and pleased! I am known pretty much as the vegetable/fruit hater in the family, but when I discovered smoothies I found out I didn't mind fruits in them. I was, however, leery of green smoothies...
Yet lo and behold I tried this recipe and I love it! Thanks for giving me a way to actually get some nutrients that'll be good for me. Maybe I can finally wean myself off the unhealthy snacks (:
linda says
I can't wait to try the Green Smoothie. Just found out all the foods I am allergic to after breaking out in hives for the last year. I am allergic to lemons, bananas, pineapple,apples, olives, lettuce, plums,and all dairy. Not to mention everything outside. There are lots of other fruits to add to the smoothie. Hubby is sure to gag at this. I have done the elimination diet, and now can add one new food every other day. Have a great day,Linda.
Mandy Tirado says
I purchased a whole lot of organic bagged spinach (about 10 gallon sized bags worth) about 6 months ago and I just transferred to ziploc bags and have kept them in my freezer. The frozen spinach makes great smoothies, too. Spinach doesn't always go on sale, so when you see it on sale, stock up! It freezes really well!
Adrijana says
Wow! Just tried my first green smoothie and it was delicious. Even better than most smoothies I normally make. I used spinach + water + frozen mixed berries + apple + bananas.
Thank you for sharing this post.
Denise says
What kind of blender do you recommend for smoothies?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Denise. They review several blenders here: http://simplegreensmoothies.com/product-reviews/cheap-blender and also recommend Vitamix and Blendtec. ~Amy
Theresa says
I've been hearing lately about this green smoothie craze. So, I decided to look into it and find a recipe to try. I tried the beginner's luck smoothie, but substituted water with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and added one tablespoon flax seed. I couldn't believe my taste buds. If was actually very good! Thank You!