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Frozen smoothie packs keep my daily smoothie habit going when I’m super busy… or just don’t feel like coming up with a recipe to blend. These packs are made using Costco-sized bags of produce to maximize my budget and make for easy prep.

Ever wonder if it is possible to prep a month of green smoothies on a budget, using mostly organic produce? Well, I did… so I tried, conquered and am now going to share all my tips with you.

Frozen smoothie packs using Costco (not sponsored, just great!) produce that now give you no excuse to having a daily smoothie.

Table of Contents
  1. Grocery List for Smoothie Packs
  2. DIY Frozen Smoothie Packs From Costco
  3. Frozen Ingredients
  4. Fresh Ingredients
  5. Tips for Using Organic Produce with Smoothie Packs
  6. Month of Smoothies for Under $50?
  7. Prepping Frozen Smoothie Packs
  8. How to use Frozen Spinach in Smoothies
  9. Frozen Smoothie Packs FAQs
  10. DIY Frozen Smoothie Packs Recipe
Ingredients for homemade frozen smoothie packs

Grocery List for Smoothie Packs

I’m all about fueling my body with whole foods, yet I also have to watch my family’s monthly budget. To do this successfully, I used our Smoothie Digital Guide for our free Smoothie Challenge. This includes a shopping list which makes 10 smoothie recipes using only 10 ingredients!

I invited my friend Erin along for some shopping at Costco, a member-only, bulk-grocery store. We purchased as much organic produce as we could afford, then attempted to make at least a month’s worth of smoothies.

Did we succeed? Check out this video below, or read on to see our results!

DIY Frozen Smoothie Packs From Costco

There are so many reasons I love to shop at Costco. They strive to offer organic options, they have a great produce section, and itโ€™s possible to get all the smoothie ingredients in one place! Costco stores can be found all over the world, yet each location has slightly different food selections.

No, we did not get endorsed/sponsored by Costco to do this experiment. Quite the opposite. We actually had to be sneaky in the store so we didn’t get kicked out for recording without permission. I felt like I was 15 again. ๐Ÿ™‚

Frozen Ingredients

To make frozen smoothie packs, I suggest using a combination of frozen and fresh produce. Frozen fruit is not second place to fresh. It’s a great option on its own because it’s picked at the peak of the season, then sliced and frozen for us. Plus it saves money…. and I’m on a budget here.

frozen smoothie packs Costco

In the Costco freezer aisle, you can get organic strawberries as well as pineapple. While we hoped to score some frozen organic mango too, there was none in sight. Sniff Sniff. So we headed to the fresh produce section next.

You don’t need all frozen or all fresh ingredients to create smoothie packs. Use a mix of what you can find because they’re all going in the same storage containers in the end.

Fresh Ingredients

In the fresh produce section, we found organic bananas, mango, oranges, and organic spinach. We couldnโ€™t find any kale (organic or non-organic), so I bought a bag of Organic Power Greens. This mix of all organic baby kale, spinach, and swiss chard is a perfect blend of leafy greens that gives great nutrient variety to our smoothies.

leafy greens for prepping smoothies
fresh fruit for smoothie prep

Tips for Using Organic Produce with Smoothie Packs

The best guide for knowing what produce to buy organically is The EWG List, published annually. When shopping for green smoothies on a budget, use this guide to keep my produce clean, yet still doable.

The produce on the Clean 15 list can be more safely purchased as non-organic, though feel free to purchase these ingredients organically grown as well.

The foods on the Fresh 15 list either have a shell or skin that protects the fruit underneath, or the farming practices do not genetically modify or use the same chemicals as the first list. If buying all organic is not an option for your budget, use these lists as your guide to the safest, most delicious smoothie ingredients.

Month of Smoothies for Under $50?

We know that fresh produce is often the most expensive stuff in our grocery carts, not to mention trying to buy organic! Here’s what we were able to do at Costco with our shopping list and a $50 budget:

  • Organic Power Greens = $5.99 per 24 oz
  • Organic Spinach = $3.89 per 32 oz
  • Oranges = $13.99 for 24 (needed 20)
  • Organic Bananas = $1.99 per 8 bananas
  • Frozen Pineapple = $7.99 for 80 oz
  • Fresh Mangoes = $4.49 for 6
  • Organic Frozen Strawberries = $9.99 for 64 oz

Grand Total: $48.33


The best deal in town was Costco!

My goal was a month of smoothies, but I was actually able to prep 36 green smoothies with our Costco ingredients, and spent $48.33 total. That comes out to $1.34 per smoothie, and less than $50 a month!! Beat that price, smoothie bar!

Want to know the difference between shopping at Costco vs. other grocery stores for the same amount of supplies?

If that price difference seems crazy to you too, then youโ€™re not alone. Almost a 40% price difference between the same ingredients at Costco and Publix.

If you need to pause reading this to get a Costco membership real quick, then donโ€™t let me stop you. Buying green smoothie ingredients on a budget has never been so easy.

frozen smoothie packs

Prepping Frozen Smoothie Packs

There are a few ways you can make freezer packs. My favorite are mason jars or reusable bags. Stasher and (re)zip are both great brands that you can reuse over and over because they’re made from silicone.

storage Options

Can you freeze ingredients in freezer bags? You absolutely can. Yet, I love prepping my smoothies in wide mouth, pint sized ball jars. These jars will fit the blended smoothie perfectly and they are reusable. Also, they fit in all kinds of spaces within most freezers.

Wide mouth jars work the best as the ingredients are easier to get out when I start blending. There is no worry that the glass will break, as the liquid isn’t added until blending.

smoothie packs

Prepping Produce

Prepping all the produce before stuffing the jars makes the process faster in our opinion. Grab a friend or family member and start chopping. A few chopping notes:

  • When prepping oranges, make sure to peel the tough yellow part, yet keep the white pith surrounding the orange. A lot of vitamin C lives in the pith, and that’s what we want!
  • Check out my post on how to cut a mango for some great tips!
  • Dump the frozen fruits into large bowls for easy scooping when filling the mason jars.
  • leave the greens for last when filling the jars, as it is super easy to pack these on top.
best fast food

How to use Frozen Spinach in Smoothies

While I don’t recommend using the boxed frozen spinach since it usually has additives (and reminds me of slime), you can absolutely add fresh spinach to your smoothie prep as I mentioned above.

Freezing your own greens is a great way to avoid produce waste as well as use fresh ingredients year round.

With our Costco haul, we were able to prep 36 frozen smoothie packs with our $50 budget. So grab a friend and some cute tote bags, head to the local farmersโ€™ market or Costco, then get prepping!

Frozen Smoothie Packs FAQs

Is it OK to drink smoothies everyday?

Yes! Make sure you rotate your leafy greens and really all your smoothie ingredients so you get the most nutrients you can. Daily smoothies are wonderful!

Are smoothies good for weight loss?

Green smoothies boosted with plant-based protein and made with only whole food ingredients can aid in healthy weight loss. Make sure the smoothies are a good balance of carbs, protein, healthy fat and fiber. Ensure you are also eating other whole food meals and snacks, as well as have a daily exercise routine.

What are the most popular smoothies?

The most popular green smoothies is the Best Green Smoothie! It’s a great first smoothie for anyone wanting to eat more plants and drink something delicious.

Drop a comment below and let us know your fav places to buy produce, as well as your money saving green smoothie tips and tricks! 

4.88 from 16 votes

DIY Frozen Smoothie Packs

Making prep ahead frozen smoothie packs is a great way to save time and money making smoothies.
Prep: 1 hour
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Breakfast, Smoothie
Cuisine: Plant-Based, Vegan
Serves: 36 smoothies

Ingredients  

Costco Shopping List

  • 24 oz power greens $5.99 per 24 oz bag of organic
  • 32 oz spinach $3.89 per 32 oz tub of organic
  • 20 oranges $13.99 for 24
  • 8 bananas $1.99 per 8 organic bananas
  • 80 oz pineapple $7.99 for 80 oz bag of frozen
  • 6 mangos $4.49 for 6
  • 64 oz strawberries $9.99 for 64 oz bag of frozen

Instructions 

  • Join the Smoothie Challenge and get the recipes we'll be making: https://simplegreensmoothies.com/challenge
  • Head to Costco (or store of your choice) and buy the items aboveย 
  • Get 10 recipes from the 10-Day Challenge and start putting them into the containers (without the liquid).ย 
  • Write the name of each recipe and what you still need to add (ex: add 1 cup almond milk)
Save this recipe
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Equipment

  • mason jars
  • freezer-safe bags

Video

Notes

  • You can shop at other stores as well, yet Costco had the best quality and price we could find down here in Central Florida.
  • The nutrition info is based on my sample ingredients. Your nutrition will change based on the ingredients you use.
  • Feel free to swap in whatever ingredients you use most for smoothies!ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 27mg, Potassium: 602mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 3174IU, Vitamin C: 125mg, Calcium: 78mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Comments

  1. When prepping oranges you talk about peeling the tough yellow part, yet keeping the white pith because a lot of vitamin C lives in there. In the past I’ve read that for citrus fruits you want to zest the skin, but peel as much of the pith as you can because it’s bitter. Does leaving the pith make these smoothies taste bitter?

  2. I’d never thought of putting together smoothie packets. Thank you. I recommend Aldi’s grocery stores for the best prices on most items โค๏ธ. Almond milk costs half the price of regular grocery stores! Great selection of organic fruits and veggies, fresh and frozen!

  3. Thank you so much. I’m trying to lose weight so these packs are perfect for me.

    TM

    1. Hi Tina! So glad you love these! They are perfect for prepping your smoothies ahead of time.

  4. 5 stars
    Hello,

    I love your article and how detailed it is. Very helpful!! I did want to ask if protein or any other powder is needed? Or can I just simply use a liquid with the fruits and veggies?

    1. Adding your favorite protein powder is totally up to you, Ashley. We totally recommend adding it if you’re looking to use your smoothie as a meal replacement or for a post-workout protein boost, but you can totally just add a liquid base and blend for a totally delicious smoothie experience. ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Iโ€™m so excited to get to Costco to try this – thank you so much for sharing it! I signed up for the challenge to get the recipes, but the recipes I received have fruits other than what you purchased at Costco and listed above. So for the 30 mason jars that you prepped using the fruit you got at Costco, did you just divide up all of the fruit and greens evenly? Can you possibly estimate how much you used of each and what liquid you used? Thanks so much!

    1. Hey Megan! The smoothies contents were divided up based on the recipes that were chosen for this smoothie prep. This type of smoothie prepping can be done with any recipes you choose! If you want to prep for a month at a time, I would choose about 5 different smoothies so that you’d be making 6 of each recipe for the month. This will cut down on the amount of ingredients you have to buy, rather than trying to make a different one for each day of the month. Click here to browse our free smoothie recipes on our blog —> https://simplegreensmoothies.com/recipes/smoothies
      Each recipe will recommend a liquid base, but you can use any that you choose; water, coconut water, almond milk, oat milk, etc. We just like to keep it plant-based and unsweetened! ๐Ÿ˜‰
      Hope this helps! Happy Blending!

  6. 5 stars
    I took the 14-day challenge about a year ago and have been having green smoothies every weekday ever since! I love this recipe and all your others Iโ€™ve tried! Iโ€™d never had a green smoothie before taking the challenge. I love how I feel and look now! I started with fresh kale and then switched to super greens powder but decided recently to switch back to kale. I feel better when using it. I want to freeze it in cubes but Iโ€™m unsure how many ice cubes would equal a cup. Could you help out a rawkstar?

    1. Hey there Polly,
      Love this question and I’ve got a great article that would help you out! How to Freeze Spinach
      The article is “How to Freeze Spinach” but the same would apply for Kale.
      I usually freeze my leafy greens in Ziploc baggies and just dump one in to my blender when I’m ready for it. But if you blend 2 cups of leafy greens with a half cup of water (and a squeeze of lemon juice), that should fill a 12 cube tray. So, you’d need about 6 cubes for a cup of kale.

  7. Hello
    I would like the recipes for the 36 smoothies please. Donโ€™t know where to get it.

    1. Hi Glenn! The recipes used are from our free Green Smoothie Challenge. You can find the current one HERE.