Looking for a quick and healthy way to kickstart your day? Look no further than the best green smoothie recipe! With just a few simple ingredients, this delicious smoothie is perfect for anyone looking to prioritize their health without compromising on taste.
Plus, it's kid-approved and can be ready in under five minutes! And with a meal prep freezer option, you can enjoy this nutritious drink anytime, anywhere. So why not give it a try and see the difference for yourself?
This nourishing drink is packed with just a handful of superfood ingredients, kid-approved, and is ready in less than 5 minutes!
If you're looking for a tropical green smoothie, try this Healthy Mango Spinach Smoothie.
Are Green Smoothies Healthy?
Absolutely!...If you make them right. Green smoothie recipes can be a fantastic way to get more nutrition, fiber, and micronutrients into your diet. You’ll want to use natural, whole-food ingredients and steer clear of lots of added fruit juices. Here’s a breakdown of the health benefits of foods you’ll be using in your smoothie.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
KALE
Kale is considered the king of all the leafy greens and is one of the healthiest and most nutritious plant-based foods. Kale is low in calories, low in fat, and full of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), Lutein, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and zinc.
Read this Healthline Article to learn more about the health benefits of Kale.
SPINACH
Spinach is often called a superfood since it’s loaded with tons of nutrients and antioxidants like Vitamin A, Vitamins B6, Vitamin B9, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Folic acid, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium.
LEMON
Lemons are a great addition to a healthy lifestyle! They are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Antioxidants help remove free radicals that can damage cells from the body. Lemons are also great when paired with foods high in iron (like the spinach in this smoothie) since pairing foods that are high in vitamin C with iron-rich foods increases the body’s ability to absorb iron.
Lemon juice will help your smoothie stay fresh in your refrigerator for 1-2 days.
APPLE
An apple a day…. Apples are not only delicious but are good for you in so many ways! Apples have a good amount of flavonoids and pectin. Pectin is a fiber that breaks down in your gut.
If you’re juicing or removing the skin of the apple, you won’t get as much of the fiber or flavonoids. The fiber you get from the pectin and flavonoids can slow digestion so you feel fuller after eating.
BANANA
Bananas are considered one of the most popular fruits. They contain a moderate amount of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants like Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese.
Unripe bananas rank lower on the glycemic index than ripe and overripe bananas. The Glycemic index is a tool used to measure how quickly a food increases blood sugar levels. This is why overripe bananas are preferred for their super sweetness in homemade banana bread recipes'.
SMOOTHIES FOR TODDLERS AND KIDS
This delicious smoothie recipe might just be the answer to getting more nutrition into your picky eaters!
A lot of parents end up supplementing their child’s diet with sugary store-bought shakes and expensive nutritional supplements. Homemade smoothies are one of the best ways to get healthy clean eating, whole foods into your child's diet!
SMOOTHIE POPSICLES
A fun activity for kids is to freeze any leftover smoothies into freezer pops! Frozen smoothie pops are a huge hit on hot summer days and one more way to get fruits and veggies into your kiddos.
SMOOTHIE FREEZER BAGS
Wondering if you can meal prep smoothies for the week? You sure can!
- Wash, dry, and chop your fruits and vegetables then portion them out into freezer-friendly containers or bags.
- Then, place your bags into the freezer until ready for use.
- When you’re ready to make a smoothie, simply take the frozen fruit and veggies out of the bag, add them to your blender, add your ice water and orange juice, and blend. No need to thaw before blending!
Remember to always peel your bananas prior to freezing! This is also a great way to save any fruits that are close to becoming overripe.
HOW TO MAKE SMOOTHIES THINNER
I've found some smoothies, especially green smoothies, can be thicker than I like. And, my children always prefer their smoothies to be less thick.
There are two options to making smoothies thinner. Add more juice or add more water. Adding additional juices also adds more sugars to your smoothie, so add your juices slowly and taste often.
PROTEIN GREEN SMOOTHIE
Protein powder is an easy addition to smoothies. For this smoothie, a plain or vanilla flavored protein powder works best. Simply add the recommended serving size, usually 1-2 scoops to the blender, and blend up with the rest of your ingredients.
If meal prepping this smoothie the night before, I recommend waiting until the morning of to add the protein powder. Make smoothie as directed and store it in a blender bottle overnight. When ready to drink, simply add the protein powder, and shake until blended well.
BEST PROTEIN POWDER FOR SMOOTHIES
Not all protein powders are created equal and there are tons on the market. It can be had to know which one to pick! My recommendation is to look for a clean-food protein powder that meets your dietary needs and tastes good.
MORE DELICIOUS SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Looking to expand your smoothie recipe box? Here's a few of our favorite smoothies recipes we think you'll love!
- Triple Berry Smoothie with Pomegranate
- Incredible Iron-Rich Tropical Green Smoothie
- Orange And Banana Oat Milk Smoothie
- Creamy Apple Strawberry Smoothie
📖 Recipe
How to Make the Best Green Smoothie
Equipment
- High Powered Blender
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Spinach
- 1 ½ cups Kale
- 1 Banana peeled
- 1 Apple Cored and cut up.
- 1 ½ cups ice water
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 tablespoon orange juice optional
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into the blender in order listed above.
- Start blending on low speed. Increase speed to high once the spinach and kale start blending. Blend for 1 minute or until smooth.
- Pour into glasses and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
The nutritional information provided here is approximate and calculated using an online nutritional calculator. We strive to give you accurate information, but many factors can cause this data to vary widely. For more information, please read our full Nutritional Disclaimer.
Patrice says
Very nicely done! Your explanation and process were very clear and easy to follow along! Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Jessica says
So happy you loved the article!
Ksenia says
The balance of flavour in the smoothies fantastic. I am certain it’s going to taste sweet but wholesome!
Jessica says
I'm so happy you loved my green smoothie recipe!
Jill says
Thanks for such a detailed and informative post on smoothies! love your green smoothie!
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Linda says
I always enjoy a breakfast smoothie to start my day and this combination sounds so refreshingly good!
Jessica says
It's our favorite!❤️
Kim Guzman says
So refreshing! I have a two-pound box of spinach in the refrigerator so I've been trying to use it up. No kale but I had everything else. Delicious healthy treat!
Jessica says
Double the spinach and leave out the Kale...I've done this many times and it's still delicious! Enjoy!
Laura says
I lobee green smoothies, so fresh and full of vitamins, thank you for the recipe
Jessica says
Awesome! Such a great way to kick off the day!
Holly Poulsen says
Definitely saving this! I'm trying to add more smoothies this year!
Jessica says
Yay! I hope you love it as much as we do!
Gabriela Herrera says
This is the only way that I can eat greens in a smoothie. I have tried so much to eat salads and it is just so hard for me but I love how you combined it with the fruit and ice.
Jessica says
So good and refreshing! Thanks!
Tiffany says
Thanks for this recipe AND the blender recommendation! Finding a decent blender for smoothies is the main thing stopping us from having them more often!
Jessica says
You're welcome! I thought my husband was crazy when he bought the Vitamix...10 years later it works as good as new! It was definitely worth the investment and now our smoothies are silky smooth. 🙂
Carrie Ann | The Leafy Little Home says
This sounds delicious! I'm definitely making this tomorrow for breakfast—I love when I come across a recipe I want to try and I already have all the ingredients on hand! That's a great idea to make the leftovers into popsicles, too 😀
Jessica says
Thanks! The kiddos love the popsicles!!
Lindsay Fuce says
This looks fantastic! I usually make a green smoothie every single morning as well and love adding collagen peptides for extra protein!
Jessica says
Collagen peptides are so good for you! Love that you do this too!
Leah says
My 19m old toddler loves smoothies! I’m so glad because I tend to make enough for an army ? I will need to try this portioned one out, sounds delicious. I love the tip for adding lemon to help the iron from the spinach absorb more! I’m currently pregnant and just above the levels for being anemic so the more iron, the better. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica says
Thank you so much for your kind comments!
Ann says
Great post! Green smoothies are excellent food for your skin too 🙂
Jessica says
Thanks, Ann! So good for your skin!!
Leslie says
My kids love a good smoothie recipe! We always call the green smoothies, hulk smoothies or green monster smoothies. Will have to think of another fun name for this one! Thanks for the recipe!
Jessica says
How fun! I love that you give your smoothies names!
Andrea says
Awesome! Just printed the recipe to make tomorrow! I like green smoothies, I've just gotten out of the habit of having them. Thanks for this easy recipe.
Jessica says
You're welcome. Enjoy & Happy New Year!
Capri says
Thank you for this wonderful guide! I used avocado instead of banana and loved the smoothie!
Jessica says
Avocado is delicious in smoothies too! YUMMY!
Raquel says
One of the best smoothie recipes!
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Britt K says
This sounds delicious. I have always been a fan of smoothies, but I'll be honest... I've never tried green smoothies before. I think I was just skeptical based on the fact that it doesn't look like the fruit-based smoothies that I usually make. However, reading through this recipe I see that they really are just like my fruit-based smoothies but with some extra (nutritious) ingredients. I can't wait to try it out!
Jessica says
So happy you're giving green smoothies a go! We love them!!
Kimberlie says
At what I consider my healthiest I had a smoothie daily. The recipe you've given looks much better than the one I made because it includes kale and spinach. I'm eager to try it.
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Kay says
Going to be drinking a lot of these after all the rubbish I have consumed over Christmas! This looks so nice and will make me feel so much better about myself.
Jessica says
Hah, me too! Enjoy!
Jade Page says
I definitely need this after the indulgence of Christmas. I hav whad green smoothies like this before but not with Kale so will have to give it a try.
Jessica says
Right? Whew, these green smoothies are hitting the spot right now!
Alexandra says
This smoothie makes for such a great breakfast - nutritious and delicious!
Jessica says
Thanks so much!
Sondra Barker says
Always looking for new smoothie recipes! This looks so yummy and fresh! Thanks for sharing.
-Sondra Barker
https://www.cuisineandtravel.com/
Jessica says
Thanks, Sondra! Enjoy!
Liz says
This sounds so refreshing and so healthy! the perfect way to start the new year!
Jessica says
Thank you!
Ramona says
This looks so healthy and refreshing. I cannot wait to get myself into a healthy mode from the 1st January. I am saving this !
Jessica says
So happy you liked the recipe!
Katrina Crandall says
This is such a great green smoothie recipe. I really love your tips on meal prepping for smoothies! Such great ideas for saving time - and making it easier to stick to a healthy habit!
Jessica says
Thank you so much for your kind words!
Addison says
I love this green smoothie! The color and flavors are amazing!
Jessica says
Thanks, Addison!
Christina says
This is just perfect for the new year! Can't wait to make.
Jessica says
I hope you love it as much as we do!
Emily Flint says
This is just what I need for January! And I think you are right, my kiddo will like it too!
Jessica says
Yes! We always made a big deal about how pretty the green color was and our kids now comment on how colorful their smoothies are!
Alyssa Hixenbaugh says
This recipe has so many great ingredients! I always have kale around because it's excellent for health. I'm going to add this smoothie to my post-workout foods. 🙂
Jessica says
Yes! One of my favorite times to enjoy a green smoothie!
Cindy Mom, the Lunch Lady says
This sounds like an awesome green smoothie! I love adding apples to smoothies, it adds great sweetness and fiber. My fave green smoothie is coconut milk, kale, mango, protein powder, greens powder and a touch of maple syrup. Super YUMMY!!
Jessica says
Your smoothie sounds amazing! I'll have to try it out!
Sue says
Excellent! I love the addition of apple. It adds the perfect natural sweetness to this yummy smoothie!
Jessica says
Thank you!
jeannie says
I always love a good smoothie and stock them in the fridge as my power drink after running, They are easy to prepare and healthy 🙂
Jessica says
They're so good after a long run...especially if it's a hot day!