Fresh Or Frozen Fruit
This is where you get the most of your sweetener and flavor, so its important to use fruit that you like. Just like with the greens, almost anything goes when it comes to adding fruit to your smoothie and you can use any combination, as long as it equals 3 cups.
If youre making the green smoothie recipe below youll need a cup of mango, a cup of pineapple, and two bananas.
Tip: Use frozen fruit to make a cold smoothie. You can freeze one of the bananas, and/or use frozen mango instead of fresh. To save time and money, you can also make green smoothies with fruit that is only frozen.
For a sweeter smoothie, use ripe fruit that has strong flavors such as banana, mango, berries, orange, and pineapple. If you prefer a more green taste, stick to milder fruit such as pear, apple, and avocado.
Of course, that all depends on your own preferences and taste you may need to experiment with different combinations to get it just right.
Why This Blueberry Smoothie Is So Great
Blueberries. Feel free to use fresh or frozen berries to make your blendwhatever you have on hand will work and makes this healthy smoothie perfect to enjoy year round! Plus, blueberries are loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K.
Spinach. One of my favorite veggies to add to smoothies and baked goods, spinach just disappears into this blend. Fresh or frozen spinach will work here too! Just use less if you go with frozen since delicate spinach wilts when frozen! And while no one needs me to tell them that spinach is good for you, it is awesome to know that it is rich in vitamins A, C and K, magnesium, iron and manganese.
Greek Yogurt. Im a big believer in the benefits of making sure protein is part of breakfast! Plain yogurt is the perfect way to up the protein in this blueberry spinach smoothie and adds a lovely creaminess too.
Ripe Banana. Blueberries bring the tang, but ripe bananas bring the sweetness naturally without using added sugar to sweeten this smoothie.
Did you make this smoothie but now you have leftover spinach? Check out How to Store Spinach .
Using Spinach In Smoothies
Spinach is probably one of the most popular smoothie greens. Many people love to add spinach to their smoothies because it has a very subtle taste that blends well with other ingredients so it becomes pretty much undetectable, except for its green hue!
When it comes to using spinach in smoothies, I recommend starting with a little and then moving to larger amounts once you are used to it. Start with 1/4 cup per serving and increase to as much as 1-2 cups per serving of smoothie.
For this recipe, I used 1/4 cup of spinach as I wanted to keep the smoothie color pink.. I am an eat-with-my-eyes kind of person so when it comes to smoothies, I like to maintain an appealing color tone. Adding more spinach to this smoothie is totally fine but the color will become less pink and more of a green-brown tone.
Read Also: Berry And Banana Smoothie Recipe
Meal Prep & Freezer Tips
This smoothie can be blended 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight glass container in the fridge. I like to use mason jars to store smoothies.
My favorite way to prep smoothies ahead of time is to prepare smoothie freezer kits. Place all of the ingredients except the liquid into a quart-sized freezer bag and freeze up to 4 months.
When youre ready to make the smoothie dump the ingredients into a blender, add the liquid, and blend.
Spinach Smoothie With Fruit
Don’t let the bright green color of this smoothie scare you off! It has a tropical flavor that’s actually sweet and fruity. I love this spinach smoothie with fruit because it requires little preparation, is made with very simple ingredients and has 8 grams of fiber!
This pineapple spinach smoothie is perfect for a quick energy boost on busy mornings or as an afternoon snack to keep you full until your next meal. Adding raw spinach to smoothies is such a great way to boost its fiber content and make it extra hydrating. Plus, you’ll have one serving of veggies down for the day.
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How To Make Frozen Smoothie Bags
Prepping smoothie bags ahead of time will make quick work of smoothie-making any time the craving strikes.
Grab some quart-size freezer bags or reusable bags and your choice of smoothie ingredients. Pack ingredients into each bag, ensuring that they have a little space so it doesn’t freeze into one giant mass.
Its easy to assemble several at one time, and theres no reason they all need to be exactly the same. Mix and match fruits and flavors to keep it fun and interesting. Just dont forget to label the bags if you cant tell them apart.
The bulk of your smoothie will likely be fruit, but its important to choose wisely, and to add in healthy fats and fiber to ensure your beverage will actually be filling, satisfying, and full of nutrients. Heres what we suggest you add to each bag to make one to two smoothies.
How To Make Green Smoothies
These are the simple steps to take in order to make this delicious green smoothie:
Place the softer ingredients closer to the blade and the frozen fruit further from the blade.
Serve with diced pineapple, mango, and a straw.
Recommended Reading: Best Easy To Clean Blender For Smoothies
Easy Spinach Smoothie Recipe
· Modified: May 12, 2022 by Ashley Phipps · 981 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article. · · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads and sponsored posts · This blog uses cookies · See our privacy policy for more info Filed Under: Green Smoothie Recipes
Green smoothies are seriously my jam and this easy Spinach Smoothie recipe is a definite keeper. My Simple and Delicious Green Smoothie Recipeis another amazing green smoothie recipe that is different than this one, but also super yummy. This spinach smoothie recipe is easy to make, only requires 5 ingredients and is crazy healthy for you! And the best part is, you can’t even taste the spinach in it! It just tastes like a yummy tropical smoothie even though it happens to be packed full of amazing green vegetables. If you have tried a green smoothie before and didn’t like it, you need to try this one because it doesn’t taste “green.” And if you have never had a green smoothie, this is a great beginner green smoothie because it has a mild, fruity taste to it. So keep reading for my recipe for this Spinach Smoothie.
Affiliate links included for your convenience. By purchasing through these links, I receive a small commission but you never pay a penny more. Thank you for supporting my blog.
Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothies In Minutes
Its time for another simple, delicious, and healthy smoothie recipe!
This nutritionally balanced strawberry banana spinach smoothie is packed with a mix of whole food ingredients containing all of the macronutrients and loads of micronutrients . The spinach takes a classic smoothie combo of strawberries and banana up a notch with a dose of green goodness.
I love the flavour of this satisfying smoothie and its just so easy to whip up, even for the most novice smoothie-makers!
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Water Or Other Liquid
Last, but definitely not least, is water. You can use plain water, or try coconut water, coconut milk, almond milk, or any other liquid base of your choice.
Like with the other green smoothie ingredients, you can also use a combination of liquids as long as it totals two cups.
If youre really into smoothies and would like a copy of the 5 best smoothie recipes here on 100 Days of Real Food, you can grab it from our Free Membership Area !
Lisa Leake
Reasons Youll Love This Spinach Smoothie Recipe
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Is It Safe To Eat Spinach Raw What About The Oxalates
Raw food is in its most natural state and most easily accepted by the body. It is both safe and good to eat spinach raw, which I have done every day for more than 15 years. Cooking, by any method, kills 100% of the greens enzymes.
A popular theory and opinion in nutrition is that greens are high in oxalates and should be avoided because oxalates cause kidney stones or gallbladder problems and may interfere with absorption of calcium in the body.
Another popular opinion is that cooking spinach renders the oxalates harmless.
Heres the truth about oxalates in spinach:
Peer-reviewed research reveals that the ability of oxalates to lower calcium absorption is small and does not outweigh the ability of those foods to contribute significant calcium to the diet since spinach is rich in calcium.
A few rare health conditions require oxalate restriction: absorptive hypercalciuria type II, enteric hyperoxaluria, and primary hyperoxaluria. These are not the more common condition where kidney stones are formed.
And this: cooking has a small impact on the oxalate content of foods, with no statistically significant lowering of oxalates after blanching or boiling of greens.
Guest Post: How To Make A Simple Green Smoothie
We have a super simple and healthy recipe weve been itchin to share with you!!! As a crazy-busy passionate mom, Ive been known to fuel my body with processed junk. Like those days when we found ourselves at Starbucks twice in one dayor driving through Taco Bell for dinner .
I was starved for time, low on energy and just.overwhelmed.
Can you relate?
Well, I discovered something that quickly changed our lives green smoothies. This blended drink of fresh fruits and dark leafy greens gave us energy, a fast healthy meal, and transformed our bodies from the inside out.
No joke. And we made this healthy habit really stick for the past 2 1/2 years and going strong. Now we have over 500,000 people from all around the world hooked on the green smoothie lifestyle too. I hope youll join us!
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Can I Use Frozen Spinach In My Smoothie
In short, yes you can use frozen spinach in your smoothie. And research suggests that using frozen spinach is actually better than using fresh spinach. Thats because the nutrients in raw spinach deteriorate from the moment its picked.
Vegetables that are frozen shortly after being harvested will have more nutrients than spinach leaves that are fresh, and the great thing about them is that they have an enhanced flavour and texture profile too.
Whether you opt for frozen or fresh spinach in your spinach smoothie, it doesnt really matter. Both count towards your daily intake of fruit and vegetables, so consuming either of them is a good thing.
Spinach Berry Smoothie Recipe
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients besides into blender and blend until smooth. Add more almondmilk if smoothie is too thick.
2. Taste your smoothie. Add sweetener like honey or Stevia as desired to taste.
3. Pour into a chilled glass, sprinkle with extra berries.
Recipe adapted from Ambitious Kitchen
I get it its not chocolate cake, but those berries and spinach sure are pretty, dont you think? Plus, it is a piece of cake to make !
What healthy recipes are you making for your New Years resolutions? Id love to hear! Be sure to watch the video below in the card to see this berry spinach smoothie recipe in action:
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What Blender Is Best For Smoothies And Milkshakes
There are many blenders you can use for making smoothies, milkshakes and frozen drinks, but I personally own the Vitamix 780 and think it is simply the best. I get smooth, consistent results every single time which is exactly what I want for all my drinks! You can buy your own Vitamix 780 HERE. It is my favorite and I know you will love it too!
Tips For Making This Blueberry Spinach Smoothie Extra Awesome
- Blend it in stages. Especially if you dont have a high-speed blender. Blending the spinach, yogurt and milk first will puree the spinach to be sure you dont have any leafy bits in your smoothie.
- Make it vegan and/or Paleo by making it dairy-free .
- Adjust the sweetness to fit your personal preference. If you like your smoothies sweeter, add an extra banana to the blend. If you like them less sweet, reduce to 1/2 a banana or skip it all together in this blueberry spinach smoothie.
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Ingredients For Spinach Fruit Smoothie
Although the spinach imparts a distinct color to the smoothie, it is really mild in taste. This green smoothie has no discernible green flavor. You can also substitute kale or arugula, although the flavor and texture will be slightly different.
Ripe bananas naturally contain sugar. Once blended, they also help to thicken the smoothie. Whole fruits like pineapple and strawberries not only make this easy smoothie taste wonderful, but also make it super healthy for you.
Fruit, whether fresh or frozen, works well in this spinach fruit smoothie recipe. We normally skip the ice if were using frozen fruit straight from the freezer, but if were using fresh fruit, we grab a handful of ice to add in.
Youll need some sort of liquid to incorporate into your smoothie and help it blend together. Orange juice lends a citrus note to the smoothie and complements the tropical flavors. If you cant get orange juice, use almond milk .
This is an optional step. Make the smoothie first and then add the honey if desired. Because bananas and pineapples are naturally sweet, you may not feel the need to add any extra sweetener.
You can easily substitute your favorite yogurt for almond milk to turn this smoothie into a vegan version, just know that the texture will be a bit thinner. This spinach fruit smoothie is also fantastic with peanut butter or half an avocado, if thats your preference.
Add a handful of ice cubes if you want your smoothie to be especially cold.
Recipe Variations And Substitutions
- Add additional protein. If you would like to add more protein to your mixed fruit smoothies with spinach, adding a serving of either plain or vanilla whey protein, plant-based protein, or collagen is a great option. Note: adding protein powder or collagen powder will thicken your smoothies, so you may want to add some additional liquid to your recipe .
- Replace the ground flaxseed. Swap out the ground flax for another nutrient rich ingredient, like chia seeds or hemp hearts.
- Use a different liquid. I personally love smoothies with coconut water, and it tastes great in this recipe. Coconut water is low in sugar and full of electrolytes, vitamins, and nutrients making it a great option for smoothies. Using unsweetened almond milk is another popular choice for smoothies. Replace the orange juice quantity one-for-one with liquid of choice.
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What Greens Are Good For Smoothies
Spinach and kale are the most popular greens for a smoothie and there is a good reason why. Both spinach and kale are insanely good for your body, but they are also mild enough that fruit can overpower the spinach or kale which means you will get the green smoothie benefits without the green taste.
Spinach and kale are also really easy to come by at any local grocer. Personally, I prefer spinach to kale because the flavor is a bit more mild and easier to hide, but both are great options!
Spinach Banana Smoothie Ingredients
- Milk of Choice. Feel free to use any milk you like in this recipedairy or nondairy. Personally, I prefer to use soy milk for a bit of added sweetness, creaminess, and protein!
- Spinach. I like to use fresh spinach leaves, or you can make a frozen spinach smoothie if preferred. If you make a lot of your healthy smoothies with spinach and you want some variety, swap out the spinach and make a kale smoothie insteador even an arugula smoothie!
- Banana. A frozen banana adds creaminess & sweetness to this green smoothie recipe, but you can also use a fresh banana instead. Either way, be sure to use a ripe banana for the sweetest flavor and best taste! For a flavor change , substitute with a different tropical fruit like pineapple or mango.
- Yogurt of Choice. I love the thick, satisfying texture of a Greek yogurt smoothie, as well as the boost of protein. By combining Greek yogurt with soy milk, you can turn this into a spinach protein smoothie with 20g of protein! Alternatively, you could use a regular dairy yogurt, or any nondairy yogurt for a vegan smoothie.
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