This article will walk you through how to make a green smoothie, as well as tips to make a green smoothie taste good, and my favourite everyday green smoothie recipe!
What is a Green Smoothie?
A green smoothie is just a smoothie that is made green by the green vegetables that are added to it.
If drinking something green makes you hesitant, not to fear! Green smoothies can be made to taste delicious! (I’ll show you how in this article)
That’s what makes them such a good health hack – I think it really is the easiest way to get in your veggies for the day without having to try to remember to actually eat them – super convenient if you’re someone who doesn’t really eat or enjoy veggies.
How to Make a Green Smoothie
The foundation of a basic green smoothie follows this general formula:
- 1/3 greens
- 1/3 fruit
- 1/3 liquid
However, these ratios are not strict and you can definitely add more/less fruit/greens depending on your taste preferences.
Greens: here are some options for healthy greens to make your green smoothie with:
- spinach
- kale
- chard
- lettuce
- cucumber
- celery
- broccoli sprouts
- cauliflower (not technically a green, but still a great Brassica vegetable to add to smoothies!)
Fruits: here are some of the best fruits to include in your green smoothie:
- banana
- apple
- pear
- peach
- avocado
- mango
- pineapple
- berries
Liquids:
- water, ice
- milk
- coconut milk
- coconut water
- lemon juice (this is a must – helps cut the greenness of the smoothie!)
In addition to this base of greens, fruits, and liquid, there are endless possible extra ingredients or toppings that you can add to make your green smoothie even more nutritious and tasty.
Extras:
- nut butters
- cocoa powder
- yogurt
- cinnamon, other spices
- vanilla extract
- fresh mint, other fresh herbs
- shredded coconut
- coconut cream
- dates (for added sweetness)
- seeds
- nuts
- protein powder
- citrus juice
- oats
- etc.
The other thing you need is a blender. If using frozen fruit, a high-powered blender is recommended. It helps not leave chunks, and the greens blend right in and go down easier.
How to Make a Green Smoothie Actually Taste Good
Tip #1: Add more fruits. Opt for sweet fruits like banana, mango, sweet red apples, or my personal fave – pineapple. You can toss in some pitted dates for added natural sweetness, or some honey or maple syrup.
Tip #2: Blend, blend blend! Sometimes it’s a texture thing. Getting a chunk of kale leaf or a stringy bit of celery can definitely be a throw off. Simply blend it for longer. Adding in some avocado, frozen banana, yogurt, or milk can all help create a more creamy consistency. On the other hand, just water and/or ice, and fresh juicy fruits can make it more like a juice which may be preferred.
Tip #3: Add a nut butter or other strong flavour like citrus or spices. A nut butter like peanut butter can easily dominate the flavour of a smoothie, which can be a good thing if you just want any green taste gone. I like to put spices like cocoa and cinnamon, especially in combination with certain fruits. Spices are a great way to add tons of flavour and mix it up/keep it interesting.
Pro tip: if the green colour is emphasizing the green taste, add in some berries – they’ll change the colour and make it look so fruity and yummy – you’ll trick yourself into forgetting there are even greens in there!
The BEST Everyday Green Smoothie Recipe
Here’s how to make my everyday, go-to, healthy and delicious green smoothie recipe (aka the BEST green smoothie recipe and the only one you’ll ever need!).
Here’s how to make this super quick and healthy everyday green smoothie…
Ingredients
- 2 cups spinach and/or kale, or other leafy dark greens
- half a celery stalk -> I don’t always add this, but I like it with apple and lemon and it adds a nice freshness
- half a large cucumber, or one whole small cucumber -> mostly water so it makes the smoothie super hydrating and fresh
- 1 banana
- 1 apple
- 1 cup frozen fruit -> mango, pineapple, berries, etc.
- juice from half a lemon
- 2 cups water or milk
Optional extras: (to change it up between days, and depending what I have on hand, I add in different ingredients to change the flavour, mostly in combination with whatever frozen fruits I add that day)
- cocoa powder
- cinnamon
- parsley
- basil
- yogurt
- avocado
Directions
- Blend all ingredients together in a high-powered blender until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
In just a few minutes you can blend up this super healthy, so-delicious-I-can’t-believe-there-are-multiple-greens-in-this, green smoothie!
Give my everyday green smoothie recipe a try and let me know how you like it! And please feel free to share any of your own tips for how to make a green smoothie, and your favourite green smoothie recipes!
Everyday Green Smoothie
This delicious blend of fruits and veggies is so tasty you won't believe there are so many nutritious greens in it!
Ingredients
- 2 cups spinach and/or kale
- half a celery stalk
- half a large cucumber or one whole small cucumber
- 1 banana
- 1 apple
- 1 cup frozen fruit (mango, pineapple, berries, etc.)
- juice from half a lemon
- 2 cups water and/or milk
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients together in a high-powered blender until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!