Green Smoothie
Looking for the perfect energy boost? Green smoothies are a great way to get your daily dose of fruits and vegetables, and they can be easily customized to fit your taste preferences. Experiment with combinations of greens, fruits, and other ingredients to find your perfect green smoothie!
We’ve had a green smoothie almost every day for the last three years. It began with my obsession with Dr. Rhonda Patrick and her scientific breakdown of why green smoothies are so important. I talked my husband into an experiment of having them Monday through Friday, but it wasn’t long before we both agreed to have them every day.
Of course, we also make other smoothies, such as this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie, this Green Tea Banana Smoothie, and this Berry Smoothie. But there’s nothing like the powerful super Green Smoothie, so let’s get to it.
What You Need
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
- Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
- Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
- Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
- Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
- Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
- Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
- Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.
- Bananas — You’ll need two bananas, fresh or frozen. If you use frozen bananas you won’t also need to use ice.
- Power Greens — You can buy packages of power greens, and we did that for years on our regular vegan shopping trips at Costco. Their bag of power greens includes kale, chard, and spinach. Now we buy spinach in bulk and add our own kale and chard.
- Moringa Powder — If you’ve never heard of this, you’ll be surprised to learn Moringa Powder has powerful nutritional benefits. However, if you’re new to smoothies, you may want to gradually move up to adding moringa powder to them because it does have a flavor that takes a while to get used to.
- Ice (if you don’t use frozen bananas) — Even as evolved as I am with my morning smoothie routine, I still prefer them cold. That’s why we add ice, to make them cold and frothy, too.
- Almond milk — Depending on how thick you want your smoothie, adding some type of plant-based milk makes a big difference to the consistency. See below for more options.
- Chopped carrots — We didn’t start out using carrots, but Dr. Patrick points to their health benefits (all that Vitamin A and carotene is important) so they’re a part of our daily smoothies now.
- Apple — Including an apple adds sweetness and fiber.
- Protein powder — This is an optional ingredient but highly recommended. There are several plant-based protein options these days, and adding a tablespoon or two enriches the smoothie experience a lot.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- NUTRITIOUS — Adding power greens — kale, spinach, and chard — contributes color, nutrition, and volume to these smoothies
- CREAMY — Using bananas makes these smoothies so creamy.
- DELICIOUS — Protein powder adds flavor and plant-based protein, making these smoothies filling and tasty, depending on the type of protein powder you use.
Best Greens for Smoothies
We’ve done our research and based on nutrition and flavor, these are the best fresh greens for smoothies:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Chard
- Romaine
Preparing Greens
Here are some tips for preparing greens for smoothies:
- Wash fresh greens
- Freeze greens to keep them fresh longer. Never buy frozen greens as most are parboiled and therefore not recommended for smoothies. However, you can freeze fresh greens. Portion out what you need for your smoothie and return it immediately to the freezer. Freezing greens has the added benefit of making their flavor milder.
Best Liquids
We like adding water and plant-based milk to make the consistency nice and smooth. You can add almond milk, soy milk, Cashew Milk, coconut milk, coconut water, Pecan Milk, and oat milk.
Best Fruits for Smoothies
Use any of these fresh or frozen fruits in your smoothies to add flavor, nutrition, and color:
- Apples
- Pears
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Mixed Berries
- Peaches
Add-ins
You can add any of these flavor or nutritional boosters to your green smoothie:
- Ground flaxseed
- Ground chia seeds
- Protein Powder
- Maca Powder — This adds a nice malted flavor and lots of nutritional benefits, too
- Moringa Powder
- Cocoa Powder
- Spices — Add ground nutmeg, cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice for added flavor
How to Make Green Smoothies Smooth
We burned through several blenders until we realized getting a high-powered one makes a difference. Not only do they make the smoothies, well, smooth (nobody wants a “chunky smoothie”), but they are also powerful enough to handle the day-to-day grinding required in making smoothies.
We use a Vitamix, but whichever blender you use, make sure it’s powerful enough to handle day-to-day blending.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Are green smoothies really that good for you?
Absolutely. Green smoothies are a healthy part of your daily diet. They add protein, healthy greens (which many of us don’t get enough of), fiber, and many more plant-based nutrients.
Is it okay to drink a green smoothie every day?
Yes, it’s healthy to drink a green smoothie every day because greens offer so many nutritional benefits. You can vary the add-ins, such as berries or apples to mix things up.
Can you taste the greens in smoothies?
When you include the right add-ins, such as bananas or flavored protein powders, and if you use fresh (not wilted) greens, the taste of the greens isn’t objectionable. The longer you have your daily smoothie, the more your taste buds will adapt, and you’ll likely come to enjoy the flavor of the greens!
Storage Tips
Green smoothies are best enjoyed the day they’re made, but when stored properly, you can extend their life. Pour any leftovers into individual glasses or a lidded container and make sure they’re covered. They will keep for 1 to 2 days in the fridge, but you may need to stir in some soy milk because they will thicken. You can also freeze smoothies in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Place it in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Smoothies for Beginners
If you’re new to green smoothies, you can start with fruit smoothies like a berry smoothie. Then you can gradually add greens. You can also start with spinach, then add kale and chard as your taste buds adjust. I find green smoothies so delicious, it’s the favorite part of my day! Here are more to get you started:
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Healthy Green Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ – ¾ cup plant-based milk
- 2 cups water
- 2 bananas fresh or frozen
- 3 cups power greens spinach, kale, and chard
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons moringa powder (optional)
- 1 cup ice (if you're using fresh bananas)
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 2 tablespoons walnuts , chopped
- 1 medium apple
- 2 tablespoons vegan protein powder optional
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to a blender jar in the order listed. Note: If you're using frozen bananas, you don't need to add ice.
- Let it sit for a minute or so, for the frozen bananas to soften slightly.
- Pulse slowly, to begin with, until the ingredients break down.
- Increase speed to high and blend for up to a minute, until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and serve immediately.
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Notes
- frozen mixed berries
- frozen blueberries
- oranges
- pineapple
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
If you’re doing keto, substitute avocado for the banana to add creaminess and healthy fats with low net carbs
Hi Ren, I love this idea!
This is amazing! I have tried it delicious. Definitely worth making it.
Hi Grace. So glad you like this smoothie. We have this or some version of it every day!
I’ve had this smoothie every morning for several years now and it’s great. There are very few things that have made a noticeable difference in my everyday health, and drinking this smoothie every day is one of them. I noticed having more energy and better digestive health within 1-2 weeks. If you’re trying this for the first time, give it a week to acclimate to the taste. I wasn’t keen on the ‘green’ taste at first but now I love it.
You are the smoothie master!