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My favorite green smoothie recipe is really a tropical energy drink in disguise. With over 1,300 5-star reviews, it’s time for you to see why blending spinach into a smoothie is a tasty morning habit.
I know a green smoothie doesn’t sound (or look) very appealing at first sight, but it can be beyond delicious. I’ve blended this recipe in kindergarten classrooms (and the kids ask for seconds)! I’ve made it for my teenage daughter’s volleyball friends and they chug it down. I drink this green smoothie recipe almost every morning to boost my energy levels and nourish my body.
Table of contents
Benefits of a Green Smoothie
Drinking this green smoothie is what gave me the body and energy levels to do some incredible things in my late 30’s after having two kids. I’ve run 47 miles of the Grand Canyon, rode a motorcycle across Morocco in a 7-day race, hiked Angel’s Landing and created a backyard garden for my kids.
This simple green smoothie is great for beginners because it’s naturally sweetened with fruit (no added sugars) and loaded with greens and protein. Some of the benefits I’ve noticed when I drink a green smoothie every day are:
- More energy from the natural fruit sugars
- Don’t get sick (my immune system is strong thanks to all the nutrients)
- My digestive system is happy with all the fiber and hydration from a green smoothie
This daily habit has kept my kids healthy when we didn’t have health insurance, energized us in between school and sports and nourished us so we rarely get sick. And when we do, we can usually bounce back with some of my own natural remedies.
My kids started drinking green smoothies when they were 2 years old. Now, they’re teenagers and still drink them. Here’s some photos of them over the years (they have no clue I put these on here!).
When I created this green smoothie recipe, it changed my family’s life in more ways than I ever imagined. It was love at first sip for me, my two kids and 1 million others, who were intimidated by spinach (just like me!). Since them, I’ve published a best-selling green smoothie cookbook and shared my recipes live on The Doctors TV Show…twice!
Best Green Smoothie Ingredients
Everything you need to make a green smoothie is found in a garden, farmer’s market or the produce section of your grocery store. The closer we eat to nature, the better we feel. This smoothie recipe is a great way to start eating healthier foods. Here’s the ingredients we’ll be blending:
- Fresh spinach: Baby spinach is the most mild version to use in smoothies, and also the most easy to find. I suggest using organic spinach because it’s one of the Dirty Dozen. The right ratio of spinach to fruit makes it sweet, as well as helps you reap all the health benefits.
- Frozen pineapple: I buy frozen pineapple at Costco in bulk to make Frozen Smoothie Packs. If it’s on sale, I’ll cut up pineapple and freeze it myself.
- Frozen mango: You’ll find this next to the ice cream in the freezer section. I love how it’s already peeled and cut for you and ready to add to the blender. If fresh mango is on sale, you can always cut the mango and freeze yourself.
- Fresh banana: Bananas add a creaminess to smoothies that is hard to replicate. It’s magic!
- Water: The liquid base in the smoothie is water. Use filtered water to avoid any unnecessary chemicals or pollutants. I like using a Berkey Water Filter that I keep on my countertop.
Fresh VS frozen fruit
I prefer using frozen fruit because it chills down your smoothie without using ice, which can dull your blender blades overtime. I use fresh bananas in my smoothies because I like how creamy they make it.
How to Blend a Green Smoothie
The only equipment you need to make a green smoothie is a high-speed blender for smoothies. A juicer or food processor won’t work to get you a creamy drink you’ll want to make over and over. Once you have a blender, you can successfully make the best green smoothie recipe following the steps below.
Blend spinach with liquid base
Blend 1 cup of spinach (or another leafy greens of your choice) in a blender with 1 cup of liquid. Adding spinach to your smoothie boosts the phytonutrients and fiber, which then slows down the absorption of sugars into your body. Blend until all leafy chunks are gone.
Beginner Blending Tip
When you’re making your first few green smoothies, follow my Green Smoothie Formula to get the perfect blend. Don’t just throw spinach and kale in the blender. Chances are, it’ll taste nasty if you wing it right out of the gate.
Add frozen fruit to blender
Toss in frozen mango, pineapple and bananas in the blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. If you want your smoothie to be extra chilly or possibly even be a smoothie bowl, use more frozen fruit. You can freeze your favorite fruits like ripe bananas, grapes, pineapple or berries.
How to sweeten a smoothie
If the smoothie isn’t as sweet as you would like, add in some natural sweeteners like bananas, mango, oranges, honey or pitted dates.
Scoop in the superfoods
Once the smoothie is nice and creamy, you can add in superfoods. Chia seeds, hemp hearts and flax seed are all great choices. You can turn any smoothie recipe into a meal replacement by adding a serving of homemade protein powder to any smoothie recipe.
Blend smoothie on high speed
In order to break down the cell walls of the plants, you need to blend on high speed. You shouldn’t have any leafy chunks in your smoothie if your blender is powerful enough.
Drink green smoothie immediately
To get the maximum amount of nutrients from a smoothie, drink it immediately after blending it. The longer your smoothie is exposed to oxygen, the more it breaks down and the nutrients deteriorate. This is called oxidation. To minimize this, you can store your smoothe in the fridge with an air-tight lid for up to 48 hours, yet I think it tastes best if consumed within 4 hours after blending.
Green Smoothie Recipe Variations
It’s easy to swap ingredients based on what you have on hand. If you’d like more green smoothie recipes, check out these popular ones below:
- My son is obsessed with this mango orange smoothie recipe.
- Try this tropical pina colada smoothie to head to the beach asap.
- Want to boost your metabolism? Then this is a great fat burning green smoothie recipe.
- This kale smoothie will surprise even your taste buds.
Best Green Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup pineapple frozen
- ½ cup mango frozen
- 1 banana
- 1 serving homemade protein powder optional
Instructions
- Measure: Tightly pack spinach in a measuring cup.
- Add: Put spinach to blender with water. Blend together until all chunks are gone. (Should resemble green water when blended well).
- Toss: Pineapple, mango and banana to blender. I like to use frozen pineapple and mangos to chill the smoothie down and save time cutting and prepping. It’s a win-win!
- Blend: It all together until smooth and creamy. Depending on your blender, this could take as little as 30 seconds or as long as 2 minutes.
- Pour: Into a glass and serve immediately.
- Store: In the fridge with a lid until ready to drink.
Equipment
Video
Notes
- Not a fan of bananas? Swap it for 1/4 avocado, additional 1/2 cup mango or 1/2 cup peaches.
- You can use 1 cup pineapple if you’re out of mango.
- Frozen fruit is recommended to chill the smoothie (and save time cutting and washing).
Nutrition
Common Questions
You won’t be able to taste the spinach if you use the proper ratio of fruit to spinach. This green smoothie tastes like a mango pineapple smoothie with a hint of banana flavor.
Green smoothies are the healthiest fast food out there. Blending spinach and fruit into a smoothie is a great way to boost your immune system, increase fiber intake, and boost your energy levels. A kale or spinach smoothie has incredible health benefits with additional phytonutrients. What we eat can truly transform our bodies and our lives in powerful ways.
Most smoothies you buy or find online are made with just fruit and fruit juice. This makes them crazy high in sugar, which can cause inflammation and consuming excess calories. A green smoothie, on the other hand, is made with fruit, vegan milks and leafy greens, typically spinach or kale. They’re loaded with iron, potassium, fiber and vitamins galore. If you’re not sure which leafy greens to use in your smoothie, check out my Ultimate Leafy Greens Guide for Smoothies.
Any blender will work, yet to get the creamiest green smoothie you’ll need a high speed blender. Check out my Best Blenders for Smoothies guide, where I reviewed countless blenders to find the best ones for green smoothies. The key is to get rid of leafy chunks, blend quickly and provide tons of value for the price. Hint: not all of them cost $400.
For busy weeks, you can create Frozen Smoothie Packs that you prep on the weekend and enjoy all week, or month. It’ll only take you 5 minutes every morning to have a green smoothie ready to go. You can also blend your smoothie the night before and store it in your fridge until ready to drink.
I have read that collard and/or kale has more vitamins than spinach? Is it ok to substitute those for the spinach?
Thank you!
Hi Mimi,
Of course! We love switching up our leafy greens! Learn more about our favorites here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/leafy-greens
Delicious and super easy! Thank you.
Thanks for blendin’ with us, Natalia!
Hi I am super excited to have found you ladies…I loooooovvvveee smoothies and now having all these recipes and the 30 day challenge I’m in my glee….even invested in a Magic Bullet so I blend at least two to go every morning…
#smoothielover 🙂
Rawesome, Tricia! Thanks for blendin’ with us!!
I’m from india.. lot of veggies and fruits that you recommend/ include in your recipes are difficult to find here.. what can i use instead of them? like kale
Hi Aakash,
Thanks for blendin’ with us! We have to admit it, we love our recipes, but don’t feel like you need to follow them to a “T”. Experiment with your favorite fruits + leafy greens available where you are in India. We also love reaching for frozen fruit when our favorites are not in season or available fresh.
Looking for substitutions for a specific recipe? Reach out anytime! We’re happy to help!
Cheers 🙂
Aakash, you’d be surprised to know that most of these fruits and veggies are available in India, but you may have to go to a bigger market, e.g. INA Market in Delhi. If not, it’s super easy to substitute. For kale, use saag or palak, for example. Also, remember you have amazing fruits and vegetables cheaply available on every corner in India, which may not be on this website but which are tastier and more healthy than what’s on here that you should definitely use: chikoo, papaya, sitafal (custard apple), lychee, amla, karela, anar, fresh coconut water, fresh bananas, etc.
I may not be able to find anything usable in the smoothies. My dr. won’t allow more than 1/2 banana per day (or equivilent) for fruit. Due to health I am on both low carb and gluten free eating. Any suggestion?
Hi Marilyn,
We love blendin’ with fruit, it whats makes our smoothies delicious + is a major part of our recipes! If your doctor suggests limiting your fruit intake, try swapping out banana for avocado (it will still give your smoothie that great creaminess), + adjust our recipes to meet your needs! We’re here to inspire you, please don’t feel like you need to follow our recipes to a T.
I’m looking forward to this challenge. I have been thinking of doing the whole juicing thing and this may be what I need to make the transition. Also hoping to lose some weight from this. Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Earthgal,
We’re so excited to have you blendin’ with us! Interested in learning the difference between juicing + blendin’, check out our post here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/juicer-vs-blender
Hoping green smoothies will help you reach your weight loss goals? Did you know our co-founder Jadah lost over 25 lbs by replacing one meal with a green smoothie. Learn more about her story + using green smoothies as a meal replacement here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/about
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
Will u pls tell me when I can drink this smoothie? Nd what will be every day food chart in this days?
Hi Urmee,
Wondering when to blend your green smoothie? Any time of day is perfect for enjoying Beginner’s Luck or any of our recipes. I personally love enjoying my green smoothie as a breakfast meal replacement (I just add healthy fats + protein to my green smoothie to make a it a complete meal). Starting with a green smoothie helps me make better food choices throughout the rest of the day. If you plan on enjoying your green smoothie at night, just know your green smoothie will give you a great energy boost similar to a cup of coffee.
Wondering what to eat throughout the day? Our goal for you is to add one green smoothie to your day along with your normal diet. You can use green smoothies as a meal replacement for 1-2 meals, just like I do! Learn more about using your green smoothie as a meal replacement here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
Hope this helps!
hello! hope ur doing good.. i made my first smoothie today.. but had one concern the one i made was not as thin textured as i expected .. as normal smoothies we drink, although i chopped leaves but did not finally chop them, i could feel thick leaves and did not wanted to chew them.. plz help me i really wanna add these smoothies in my daily routine. just help me how to make it properly to get proper texture?
have a good day.. thanx
Hi Areeba,
Yay! We’re so excited to hear you made your first green smoothie! Looking to break down those leafy greens? We suggest blending your leafy greens + liquid base first, until it resembles a juice consistency, then add your remaining ingredients. Want to breakdown those greens even more, make sure to blend with at least one frozen fruit to ensure your smoothie is cool + creamy, without any leafy pieces!
Cheers 🙂
Hi! I’ve been doing this smoothie for three days and I absolutely love it. But I drink all of it by myself during the morning. Could it be bad to drink all of it everyday. I mean two bananas a day can’t be good… Or am I wrong? Anyway thanks, I am in love with this green smoothie!
Hi Nadja,
We’re so excited to have you blendin’ with us! All of our recipes make two servings, and our goal is for you to add 1 (16oz) green smoothie to your day along with your regular diet. We love to have the second serving available as a quick afternoon snack, instead of reaching for coffee or something processed + packed with sugar out of the snack jar! Or we store the second serving in an airtight container with a small amount of lemon juice in the fridge for up to two days!
Two bananas, too much? Some great banana substitutes are mango, papaya, pear, chia seeds, fresh dates, nut butters, unsweetened applesauce, avocado (won’t add the sweetness, but will definitely add the thick and creamy texture)!!
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/avocado-smoothie
How many calories are in 1 serving of this smoothie?
Hi Neveen,
We personally don’t count calories, so we don’t include them in our recipes at this time. You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So in the end it balances out. But we know many people would like to have calorie info. Three great resources for tracking calories are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.
Hi does this beginner smoothie or any of the others help with weight loss or have any beneficial medicinal purpose?
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out! Looking for a weight loss green smoothie – the Kiwi Berry Punch is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense smoothie recipe that combines the best fruits and veggies for an optimal approach to healthy weight loss.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/fat-burning-smoothie
The best part about a green smoothie–you can use any recipe as a low-calorie meal replacement because they are full of fiber which keeps your body feeling fuller longer.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/meal-replacement-smoothie
Cheers 🙂
Hi there,
So happy to have found your site and now I am on the bandwagon making green smoothies every day.
Here is my dilemma. I travel a lot for business and I am wondering how I can stay on this program away from home. Sometimes it is diffiicult to find a juice bar and they can be very expensive.
Is there a blender that one can easily travel with? Or other tips?
Thanks, Kari McLay
There’s a number of small travel blenders, or you could use an immersion hand blender. The Oster My Blend is awfully cute (other brands have ones like it), although I haven’t tried it. The top turns into a travel cup. Try searching “travel blender”. I’d use a thin bendy cutting board too to keep things light.
Great tips, Liz! Thanks for being a total rawkstar!
I’m Starting my challenge today wish me luck
Hi Samia,
Yay! Keep us updated throughout your challenge!
I just made my first green smoothie EVER — I started with the Beginner’s Luck. It is delicious and sweet, maybe that’s why you recommend starting with this one. I look forward to experimenting!! Thanks.
17-8-2015
Starting my Green smoothie w hubby today. Wish us luck … Gonna try this recipe tonite
❤ fr Singapore
Hi Ana,
Welcome! We’re so excited you found us in this busy internet world! We hope you enjoy our Beginner’s Luck Green Smoothie Recipe, it’s one of our personal favorite! Reach back out + let us know how you + your husband enjoyed your first green smoothie.
Cheers 🙂
Why don’t you supply the nutrition facts with your recipes?
Hi Tim,
You’ll find that when you consume more nourishing whole fruits and veggies, you will not only feel full longer, but you’ll also have lessened cravings for high-calorie, nutritionally empty foods. So we prefer to focus on adding healthy fruits, leafy greens, + nutritious options to our diet, than specific numbers. But we know many people would like to have the calorie + nutritional info. Three great resources are Self Nutrition Data, and the phone apps: My Fitness Pal and Lose It.