Most people either hate bananas or love ’em. Jen and I are huge fans of bananas, so you’ll find them in many of our green smoothie recipes. Bananas add a creamy texture to green smoothies and they’re the perfect natural sweetener! But if you’re a banana hater, or allergic, or you’re just looking for a fresh smoothie taste, we want to share a few of our favorite banana-free green smoothie recipes with you.
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PinDescription
Enjoy this mildly sweet green smoothie— perfect for those watching their sugar intake. If you buy organic peaches, go ahead and keep the skin on for extra fiber.
Ingredients
- 2 cups spinach
- 2 cups coconut water
- 2 cups grapes*
- 2 peaches*
Instructions
- Blend spinach and coconut water
- Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth
Notes
*Freeze at least one of these fruits to make the smoothie cold.
Description
This banana-free recipe is packed with brain boosting healthy fats and plenty of fiber to keep all the food flowing through your body with ease.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups coconut water
- 2 ripe pears*
- 1 cup mango*
- 1/2 avocado*
Instructions
- Blend spinach and coconut water
- Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth
Notes
*Freeze at least one of these fruits to make the smoothie cold.
Description
This naturally sweet smoothie is not only hydrating with the high-water fruits like grapes and cantaloupe, but it’s also heart healthy. Omega-3s found in flaxseed support brain development, and they help lower your risk of heart disease.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cantaloupe* (ripe and rind removed)
- 1 cup grapes*
- 2 tbsp coconut oil (unrefined)
Instructions
- Blend spinach, almond milk, and water
- Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth
Notes
*Freeze at least one of these fruits to make the smoothie cold.
A good substitute for bananas in smoothies
If you’re allergic to bananas (or just can’t stand the taste), 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)
For more banana-free green smoothies recipes, => click here. Want to know more about superfoods like chia seeds and flaxseeds? Read about the 10 superfoods you should be eating.
P.S. Freeze your bananas before adding to smoothies– the banana taste will not be as strong.
Join the conversation!
What’s your relationship with bananas? Love ’em or hate ’em? Share what you use as a banana alternative in the comments below.
June 15th, 2015 at 10:28 am
I really like bananas, just make the smoothies tooooo thick. Thanks for tips of other alternatives, I will try them as well.. 🙂
August 3rd, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Hi Dee,
Yay! We’re so happy we could help!
June 15th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Hello Err’body :),
If I am using frozen peaches would I use 2cups in place of 2 peaches?
Thanks
August 3rd, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Hi Dee,
Yum, we love reaching for frozen fruit! Using 2 cups of peaches in place of 2 fresh peaches sounds perfect!
August 3rd, 2015 at 7:19 pm
hi, for , is that 1/2 a cantaloupe, or 1/2 cup cantaloupe? Thanks!
August 3rd, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Hi Lisa,
Great question! We suggest using half a cantaloupe! Too much? Feel free to adjust the recipe to your liking!
Cheers 🙂
August 4th, 2015 at 4:44 am
I ended up using about 1 1/4 cup. Also added some raw organic walnuts. Delicious, thank you!
August 4th, 2015 at 6:55 am
Perfect, Lisa! So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe!
November 30th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
I love your beginners green smoothie. It was so awesome and love you can give modifications. I read where a dietician stated she wouldn’t eat raw spinach due to the possibilities of it being contaminated with bacteria. Do you think I could sauté it first then put in a smoothie.
Thanks
December 1st, 2015 at 5:40 am
Hi Shell,
Worried about bacteria in spinach. We love blendin’ our leafy greens raw they’re delicious + there is no loss of nutritional value. Giving your leafy greens a good wash prior to blendin’ is key! Check out our tips here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-eating/washing-produce
November 30th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Can I sauté spinach in a skillet with a little bit of water first, then put in smoothies to avoid bacteria contamination?
December 1st, 2015 at 5:40 am
Hi Shell,
Worried about bacteria in spinach. We love blendin’ our leafy greens raw they’re delicious + there is no loss of nutritional value. Giving your leafy greens a good wash prior to blendin’ is key! Check out our tips here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-eating/washing-produce
December 17th, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Hello! Are sweet potatoes an appropriate substitute for bananas to get a creamy texture?
December 17th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
Hi Afua,
That’s a great idea! If you’re looking for that creamy texture we suggest roasting your sweet potatoes prior to blending. Learn more about our love for sweet potatoes here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/sweet-potatoes
January 8th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Just want to share my substitute for frozen bananas in smoothies: frozen green papaya.
Use one cup of peeled and chopped frozen green papaya for one frozen banana.
I’m sensitive to bananas and always react to them, so I’ve experimented with a lot of substitutes. I tried some combos — like mixing frozen cucumbers with frozen avocados — but the best, simplest substitute is green papaya.
The green papaya fruit is usually very large. So you can buy one, peel it, seed it and cut it up, and measure out one cup increments into baggies and freeze them.
One green papaya fruit will yield many cups. I’m not sure how many, but maybe a dozen — a lot, anyway.
Green papaya is supposed to have enzymes that are very good for your digestion. I haven’t noticed any special effect, but that’s what they say.
They’re also less sweet than bananas, which is good, from my point of view. I don’t like things to be too sweet.
I’m sure green papaya is cheaper than bananas when you use them this way, too.
cheers
January 11th, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Hi GraffitiGrammarian,
We love using papaya as a banana substitute! Thank you so much for reaching out and sharing your experience using green papaya. We love the idea of freezing it, to have on hand for your next green smoothie!
Cheers 🙂
April 2nd, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Just found out have allergies and allergic to banana, avocado, pears, and apples. Any suggestions for replacement.
April 3rd, 2016 at 8:28 pm
Hi Arlene,
Thanks for reaching out! Looking for banana substitutes? Some great options that meet your allergy restrictions are mango, papaya, chia seeds, and nut butters.
Pears? Swap in Nectarines + Plums
Avocado? Swap in another healthy fat! Here are a few of our favorites…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/healthy-fats
Apples? Swap in Red Grapes, Black Grapes, Cherries, Blackberries, or Blueberries
Peaches? Swap in Nectarines, Mango, or Apricots
Looking for more substitution ideas? Check out our Rawkstar Substitution Guide…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/substitution-guide
April 2nd, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Its me again. Forgot to mention that I
m allergic to peaches a well.
February 28th, 2018 at 9:55 am
How much applesauce would you use in place of a banana? Should you freeze the applesauce in portions?
March 2nd, 2018 at 9:52 am
Hi Kathy,
I usually swap in 1/4 – 1/2 cup of applesauce. And nope, no need to freeze. Add the apple sauce either chilled or room temperature to your green smoothie!
February 4th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
I literally add anything and everything, I don’t aim for taste.
Blueberries 25g
Blackberries 25g
Raspberries 25g
Strawberries 25g
Avocado chunks 70g
Spinach 25g
Kale 25g
Cucumber 2 inches
A bit thick but I just down it every morning after my oats/flax seed breakfast
May 1st, 2019 at 2:04 pm
Thanks for sharing!!
April 30th, 2019 at 4:32 pm
I can’t have coconut, what do you substitute for it?
May 1st, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Hey Rita,
If you cannot have coconut oil a great substitute would be MCT oil.
Hope that helps!
January 7th, 2020 at 8:05 pm
Used the cantelope. Liked it and the texture.