Berry Smoothie with Citrus

The very first green smoothie recipe I ever tried was this one, the Very Berry Smoothie–and it changed my life. At that time, my husband and I were financially struggling as he transitioned to a new job as a pastor.

We had no health insurance and our kids were at that age when all they did was pass colds back and forth (and they almost always turned into an ear infection). This berry smoothie recipe gave us the immunity boost we needed to stay healthy, as well as caused us to fall in love with green smoothies.

Berry Smoothie Recipe for Immune Boost

For the past 8 years, I’ve sipped green smoothies with my family, and used real, whole food to keep us healthy. We also use natural remedies to heal our body. We haven’t needed any prescriptions (or over the counter meds) since starting green smoothies, so that’s proof enough for me that real food heals!

Specifically, this berry smoothie’s got over 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. It also boasts 8 grams of fiber, which keeps the body regular. Fiber is often overlooked, yet getting enough fiber daily can combat Type II Diabetes, obesity, certain types of cancer, and cardiovascular disease. That makes it an important ingredient in my opinion!

Blend a Quality Smoothie EVERY Time

Follow these steps for a perfectly blended smoothie, using my favorite smoothie blenders! First, make sure you start with a mix of fresh + frozen ingredients. I recommend at least 1 frozen fruit in each smoothie, so that it is nicely chilled.

I also follow the 1 1/2 + 1 + 1 rule: 1 1/2 cups of fruit, 1 cup of leafy green vegetables, and 1 cup of liquid in every smoothie. Finally, if you are blending with a non-high powered blender, then make sure to blend your liquid + leafy greens first. This will minimize the leafy chunks at the end, and also help your blender break down the ingredients better.

Note: this berry smoothie recipe has a little less water in it, because oranges act as a liquid and a fruit, they’re so juicy. For tips on blending it all perfectly, check out our guide on how to make a smoothie.

How to measure leafy greens

I often get the question, “How do you measure leafy greens?!” It’s a great question, yet the answer varies depending on the person. If you are new to green smoothies, I recommend a lightly packed 1 cup serving of spinach. If you’re a #greensmoothiequeen, then stuff those greens in as much as you can!

Seriously though, if you need to start with 2 spinach leaves and work your way to more, then that’s great. I know that you’ll be adding more greens to each smoothie in no time, just like I did! These days, I just grab a few big handfuls of spinach for my smoothie, and sometimes I even freeze spinach ahead of time so it’s ready to toss in.

Ingredient Swaps

Green smoothies are super versatile, so don’t be afraid to make these recipes fit your pantry, as well as your tastebuds. I like the strawberry/blueberry combo in this berry smoothie, yet choose the berries you like best. Cherries + raspberries are also a great combo.

• If you need to cut down on the sugar, swap the banana with 1/2 cup cauliflower, or 1/2 avocado. That way your smoothie stays creamy and your blood sugar stays happy. If you do this swap you can freeze bananas for later use and learn how to cut avocado like a pro!
• If fresh oranges aren’t easy to find, you can sub in 1/2 cup 100% orange juice, just make sure it’s the kind with lots of pulp!

More Berry Smoothies

Berries are easy to add to smoothies, so I’ve got a whole list of fruit smoothies for you berry lovers to try:

• Strawberry mango smoothie
• Cranberry smoothie
• Blueberry smoothie
• Elderberry smoothie
• Cherry açaí smoothie
• Blackberry smoothie

If you make this citrus berry smoothie, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your feedback helps me and all the readers in this community. And if you’re interested in more plant-based recipes (and exclusive content), sign up for my weekly recipe newsletter.