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I’m trading in the processed sugar and dairy in the traditional Orange Julius for a smoothie version sweetened with fruit. It’s honestly still a super sweet treat, yet my healthy Orange Julius smoothie fuels my body the right way.

orange julius smoothie

Raise your hand if you remember walking by the shopping mall food court and seeing people lined up at Orange Julius? And who remembers recreating the creamy orange smoothie in 7th grade Home Ec?

Table of Contents
  1. How to Make a Healthy Orange Julius
  2. Tips for a Great Smoothie
  3. Orange Julius Smoothie FAQs
  4. More Orange Smoothie Recipes
  5. Orange Julius Smoothie Recipe

How to Make a Healthy Orange Julius

healthy orange julius

I can’t wait for you to try this sweet treat! It definitely hits the spot for my sweet tooth and has no weird ingredients.

  1. Blend spinach, oranges and almond milk until smooth (I’m talking no leafy chunks floating around).
  2. Add the banana and blend again until smooth. It helps to use frozen banana to get a chilled smoothie.
  3. Add in 1/2 tsp of vanilla to make this taste even more like a traditional Orange Julius.

My healthy smoothie version is loaded with goodness and doesn’t mess around with the sweet factor either. No fake sweeteners are needed! Just make sure you use a ripe banana.

We all know oranges = vitamin C (80% of the recommended daily intake), but did you know that oranges are also full of fiber? Your digestive system will thank you for eating more oranges.

easy, healthy snack

Tips for a Great Smoothie

If the sugar is a little much for you (even though it’s 100% natural!), swap half of the banana for a quarter of an avocado. You’ll still get the dream cream texture, but not as much sugar in this healthy Orange Julius smoothie.

  • You can also swap out the almond milk with the plant milk of your choice, coconut milk, cashew milk or oat milk. There are so many great options. Whichever milk you use, make sure it is unsweetened.
  • When blending this orange smoothie, blend it twice to help your blender chop up the spinach as much as possible.
  • Adding ice cubes to the glass when you pour out the smoothie will cool down the beverage if using all fresh ingredients.
healthy orange julius smoothie

Orange Julius Smoothie FAQs

What’s the difference between an Orange Julius and a smoothie?

The original Orange Julius consists of orange juice concentrate, milk, vanilla, sugar and ice. While it is sweeter than my version, I bet mine still tastes deliciously orange-y! My smoothie contains spinach, oranges, almond milk and banana.

Will I taste the spinach in my smoothie?

It depends! Spinach is typically mild, and the orange and banana in this Orange Julius smoothie are definitely the dominant flavors. You might still get a slightly earthy taste if you’ve got a sensitive palate.

Are green smoothies healthy for me?

They can be! Make sure yours are loaded with only whole food ingredients (no added sweeteners). Use unsweetened, plant-based milk or water for the base. Boost your smoothies with protein and healthy fats to help your body break down the natural sugars.

easy smoothie recipe

When is the perfect time to drink a smoothie?

  • For breakfast or even on the go with a Mason jar, cute lid and straw.
  • As a nutrition-packed snack that helps you step away from the vending machine!
  • Before or after a workout to add that protein after and MCT oil before to fuel your body during your workout.

Anytime you need a refreshing, fruity drink loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals, consider blending up a smoothie. It’s the healthiest fast food out there and can provide energy, fuel and promote health. Some smoothies like the Orange Julius smoothie recipe contain more natural sugar. Boost these smoothies with a plant-based protein powder to help your body process the sugar.

More Orange Smoothie Recipes

Don’t forget to leave a comment and review after blending the Orange Julius smoothie below. I’d love to know how yours turned out!

orange julius smoothie
4.57 from 362 votes

Orange Julius Smoothie

This refreshing Orange Julius Smoothie will leave you deeply satisfied. Feel free to add 1 tsp of MCT oil and protein powder for an extra energy boost.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Jen Hansard
Course: Smoothie
Cuisine: Plant-Based
Serves: 1

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Place spinach, oranges and almond milk in blender. Puree until smooth.
  • Add banana and blend again.
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Notes

  • Use at least one frozen fruit to make the smoothie cold or serve over ice.
  • Another non-dairy milk can be substituted for the almond milk, such as hemp, cashew or coconut milk.
  • Swap 1/2 banana with 1/4 an avocado to lower the natural sugar.
  • Add 1/2 tsp vanilla to make this even more reminiscent of the original Orange Julius.ย 

Nutrition

Calories: 191kcal, Carbohydrates: 46g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 106mg, Potassium: 853mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 3440IU, Vitamin C: 153mg, Calcium: 212mg, Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me!Mention @SimpleGreenSmoothies or tag #SimpleGreenSmoothies!

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Rating




Comments

  1. 5 stars
    As a kid, I always loved going to Orange Julius in the mall. This smoothie reminds me of the original and tastes delicious. I could drink this every day.

  2. 5 stars
    I tweaked this one a bit but it turned out AMAZING. I used canned coconut milk instead of almond milk and two bananas to make it extra creamy. I also added vanilla extract and a dash of cinnamon. This one is definitely going in my arsenal as a dessert option.

  3. 5 stars
    Orangy, creamy, delicious, refreshing . Thanks for suggestion of mtc oil, will do that tomoruw for my post run smoothie with protein powder

  4. 4 stars
    Nice orangey flavour, I did half kale, half spinach and think I may have needed to blend abit more(to impatient) but still good

  5. 5 stars
    Really didn’t think I would like this one as much as the others since it didn’t include frozen fruit. WRONG – I love it!

  6. 4 stars
    I rated this one four instead of five stars today, but that may have been a result of my substitutions. I used kale instead of spinach and added cauliflower. I used all frozen ingredients, except the almond milk, which made this smoothie difficult to blend even after letting it all sit out for an hour, adding hot water and using the tamper. I had to take everything out of the blender and cut into smaller pieces, which helped. Next time I may try taking my smoothie pack out of the freezer the night before. Yeah for half-way through the ten day challenge!

  7. 5 stars
    This was my favorite smoothie of the challenge so far! So refreshing! Amazing that it tastes so similar to the mall Orange Julius but without any dairy!

    1. Yes, Erin! I love that this one tastes like the mall favorite but without the guilt. It’s so good, my husband says he could drink this every day!

  8. 5 stars
    Vitamin C much needed during Spring time. Xtremely good smoothie. This is gonna be one of my go to smoothies.

  9. 5 stars
    Today I made this. Only had one orange so replaced the other orange with pineapple I didn’t realize I had. Added mint. Tastes good!

    1. Those sound like really good substitutions! Mint + orange is a great combo. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. 3 stars
    Pretty tasty, but a little sour/tart from the oranges. This could easily be fixed by adding a little sweetener.

  11. 5 stars
    Wow. I’m normally not a huge fan of citrus in my smoothie but this was a game changer. I supplemented with vanilla protein, and did a blend of spinach and kale. So refreshing and light. Perfect post morning workout smoothie.

  12. 5 stars
    So simple, and yet – MY WINNER.
    So far this in #1 for me.
    I just love those oranges.