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Green means Go, as in, ‘Go to the kitchen and make this Green Smoothie!’—a nutrient-rich powerhouse that will contribute to a healthier you.
I split my smoothies into two categories: sweet and savory. ‘Savory’, though, usually means, “You’re not going to enjoy this but it is very good for you so you should probably just plug your nose and get it down you.” And more times than not, those ‘savory’ smoothies are green. That’s because savory, good-for-you drinks contain spinach, kale, or some other such vegetable. They may be a superfood but they aren’t super tasty, at least not raw and not in liquid form.
That’s why this Green Smoothie is so special. The kale/spinach does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to nutrition, letting the banana, nut butter, orange, and almond milk deliver the flavor. It is downright inspiring the level of co-operation on display. And the kicker? Those ‘flavor’ foods are healthy in their own right. They are naturally sweet, so you don’t need to look elsewhere to make this palatable.
Don’t be turned off by the green—these smoothies are not only tasty, they’ll keep you lean!
Is This Green Smoothie Healthy?
Totally! If you skipped over my intro (side note: don’t do that!), you will have missed where I outline why these smoothies are so good for you. To recap: the green stuff is full of nutrients, the other ingredients are full of nutrients and flavor. It lends itself to numerous diets, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo, and dairy-free.
How Can I Change The Consistency?
Pretty much all the ingredients save for the almond milk will thicken your smoothie. So add whichever of the frozen spinach/kale, frozen fruit, and/or almond butter you prefer. If you find using all of those ingredients makes for an overly thick drink, you can thin it out by adding more of the other few ingredients. Almond milk, being made from nuts and not cows, doesn’t really add creaminess to the equation (though I find it does provide a creamy mouthfeel), so add more if you want to thin the smoothie. If you want to use something more neutral tasting, you can’t get more neutral than ice. It will freshen, chill, and yes, water down your drink.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup frozen spinach or kale
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 to 2 cups frozen orange segments
- 1/2 tsp chia seeds (optional)
- 1 cup almond milk
- ice
INSTRUCTIONS
Blend
Mix spinach, banana, almond butter, frozen fruit, and optional chia seeds with almond milk in a blender until smooth. Add ice for a frothy texture.
Adjust
Taste and add more frozen fruit for sweetness or almond milk for a thinner consistency. Blend to perfection.
Enjoy
Serve the refreshing Green Smoothie immediately and DEVOUR!
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
If you plan on drinking the rest of your smoothie in the next four days, store it in the fridge. You can keep it in the blender bowl or pour it into a mason jar or some other such container. If you want to freeze it, you can. Just leave room at the top of your jar for expansion. They should last for at least three months. Thaw it out at room temperature or in the fridge overnight.
If you aren’t going to use orange, I suggest going tropical. Frozen pineapple or mango chunks will taste great with the other ingredients.
Sure. Peanut butter has a more distinct taste, I find, which you may not appreciate, but assuming you’re asking this question because you like peanut butter more, this won’t be an issue. Just be sure to use 100% all-natural peanut butter to avoid the preservatives, sugar, and salt that is usually used in other peanut butters.
That’s definitely an option. You can use fresh kale/spinach, as well as fresh fruit, then pour the blended drink over ice to keep it chilled. It just won’t have the same thick consistency as its frozen brethren can deliver.
This smoothie serves as a great midday snack. It could also replace your lunch or breakfast. Thanks to its nutrients and fiber, you’ll be getting a healthful drink that should curb any hunger cravings. But I would probably refrain from replacing a dinner with it. Simply put, I don’t think there’s enough here to keep you sated until the following morning.
Other Nutritious Smoothies To Try
Peanut-Butter Keto Low-Carb Smoothie With Almond Milk: The name pretty much sums it all up. I love nut butter in my smoothies, which is why I regularly blend this one up.
Banana Vanilla Orange Smoothie: A fruity option that still delivers a lot of protein, thanks to the inclusion of vanilla protein powder.
Banana-Split Vegan Smoothie Bowl: A curveball in the world of smoothies that puts the yumminess in a—you guessed it!—bowl instead of a glass. Tastes like a banana split despite being vegan.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen spinach or kale
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 to 2 cups frozen orange segments or frozen pineapple or mango chunks
- 1/2 tsp chia seeds optional
- 1 cup almond milk plus more as needed
- ice
Nutrition Info:
Calories: 238kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 39g (13%) Protein: 6g (12%) Fat: 9g (14%) Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 4g Sodium: 350mg (15%) Potassium: 772mg (22%) Fiber: 9g (38%) Sugar: 25g (28%) Vitamin A: 3257IU (65%) Vitamin C: 109mg (132%) Calcium: 445mg (45%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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