This healthy green smoothie is creamy, delicious, and refreshing. See how to make this simple it is to make using 5 ingredients in just 5 minutes.
Recipe Highlights
- Green smoothies are blended drinks made with green, leafy vegetables. This healthy green smoothie is made with fresh and frozen ingredients and a natural sweetener.
- Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, it’s easily made in a blender in less than 5 minutes.
- Green smoothies are an easy and delicious way to enjoy your greens.
RELATED: Green Protein Smoothie
5 Green Smoothie Benefits
1. Rich in Antioxidants
Spinach contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Antioxidants reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
2. Supports Your Immune System
Green smoothies benefit your immune system. Spinach and apple contain vitamin C, which helps your body fight germs.
3. Promotes Healthy Digestion
Spinach, apple, and banana contain fiber. This is important for having regular bowel movements.
4. Protects Your Bones
Milk has calcium, which is needed for healthy bones.
5. Manages Blood Cholesterol
The fiber in this green smoothie can also manage high blood cholesterol.
RELATED: 12 Benefits of Eating Spinach
Ingredient Notes
- Milk: You can use any type of milk you prefer, including whole milk or plant-based milk like almond or oat.
- Spinach: Spinach has a mild earthy flavor. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals, so it’s a great ingredient for healthy smoothies.
- Apple: Apple add sweetness, which balances the flavor of spinach. It’s delicious in smoothies.
- Frozen banana: Bananas add smoothness and creaminess to the recipe. Frozen bananas are used to thicken the smoothie. They’re high in fiber and vitamins.
- Medjool date: My secret ingredient for adding natural sweetness and fiber to smoothies.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Variations
Seeds: Add 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, flax seed, or hemp seeds for extra protein and omega-3 fats.
Butters: Add nut or seed butters for extra creaminess and richness. Try almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter. Butters are definitely noticeable in the smoothie’s flavor profile, so start with just a spoonful.
Protein powder: Add a scoop of protein powder or collagen powder to a green smoothie, especially if you want to make it a meal replacement.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Pour milk into the blender.
Liquids always go in first.
Step 2: Add spinach, date, apples, and frozen bananas.
The last ingredient to go into the blender are the frozen banana slices.
Step 3: Blend until smooth. Start on a low speed, then increase to high.
Step 4: Pour smoothie into a cup. Serve immediately.
Blender Tips
Load blender properly for an efficient blend.
To prevent air pockets, put ingredients into the blender in the proper order. Liquids first, then dry and light ingredients, followed by fruit and vegetables, and finally, ice and frozen fruit. The heavier ingredients should go in last.
Use a blender tamper.
A blender tamper is a long tool that helps move food around in the blender while it’s on. It’s just long enough to push the ingredients down closer to the blades without getting near them. Always use the blender tamper with the blender lid on.
Cut fruit into chunks.
For best results, cut fruit into chunks. For a less powerful blender, cut fruit into small pieces.
Expert Tips
- To make this recipe dairy-free, you can use hemp milk, oatmilk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a small amount of milk and blend for 10 seconds.
- The Medjool date may be hard to blend if your blender isn’t powerful enough. Cut it into small pieces to make sure you don’t end up with big chunks of date in the smoothie.
- You can substitute the apple with another fruit. Some of my favorite alternatives to use in this recipe are pineapple and mango.
- Store leftover smoothies in the refrigerator in airtight glass containers. They’ll only last 1-2 days max and will lose nutritional value and freshness quickly. Some separation may happen, so give the smoothie a stir before drinking.
Questions You May Have
When made with fresh ingredients and minimal sweetener, green smoothies are very healthy. They’re high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Yes! You can use any milk you prefer, including non-dairy milk alternatives. Try oatmilk, hemp milk, or almond milk.
Yes, but don’t add too much. Ice can water down the flavor and texture of the smoothie. It’s better to use ice in addition to frozen fruit.
Related
- Blueberry Smoothie
- Spinach Smoothie
- Strawberry Mango Smoothie
- 17 Best Green Smoothies
- 17 Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- How to Freeze Fruit and Vegetables Properly
If you tried this Green Smoothie recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and let me know how you like it in the comments below.
Green Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup milk (any kind)
- 2 handfuls baby spinach
- 1 Medjool date (pitted)
- 1 apple (cored and sliced)
- 1 frozen banana (sliced)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put milk, baby spinach, date, apple, and frozen sliced banana into a blender. Secure lid. Place ingredients into the blender in the order listed.
- Blend until smooth.Start the blender on LOW speed for 10 seconds. Increase speed to HIGH for 30 seconds.
- Pour smoothie into a cup. Serve immediately.
EQUIPMENT
NOTES
- Any kind of milk can be used in this recipe, including dairy-free, like hemp milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, you can use hemp milk, oatmilk, almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
- If the smoothie is too thick, add a small amount of milk and blend for 10 seconds.
- The Medjool date may be hard to blend if your blender isn’t powerful enough. Cut it into small pieces to make sure you don’t end up with big chunks of date in the smoothie.
- You can substitute the apple with another fruit. Some of my favorite alternatives to use in this recipe are pineapple and mango.
- Store leftover smoothies in the refrigerator in airtight glass containers. They’ll only last 1-2 days max and will lose nutritional value and freshness quickly. Some separation may happen, so give the smoothie a stir before drinking.