5 healthy smoothie recipes

I love green smoothies (and all smoothies) because they provide the most bang for the buck when I am in a rush or need an easy but nutritious snack or meal option. Earlier this week, I gave you what I like to call the “crash course in smoothie making.” If you missed that post, check it out and use the tips to try some of my favorite recipes featured below.

Before we get started, I would like to add in a few more points about green smoothies:

• Contrary to popular belief, a green smoothie doesn’t necessarily have to be green. You may find that as you add in ingredients like berries (especially blueberries), you will end up with a variety of colors — and that’s okay!
• Green smoothies don’t taste bad even if you don’t like spinach, kale, arugula, collard greens, or other leafy vegetables. The taste is masked for the most part by the other ingredients.
• You will need a blender to make your smoothies. I do not recommend rushing out to purchase the newest and most expensive blender on the market. Whatever you have in your kitchen should be fine to start. I use a Magic Bullet and have used a regular blender too.
• Be careful with meal planning while drinking smoothies. Don’t use smoothies as a diet to lose weight or to replace most of your meals and snacks throughout the day. Use them as a supplement to a well-balanced diet!
• Make sure you rotate through your green veggies and fruits. If you buy spinach one week, try kale or another green the next — same with fruits. Try to buy in season, but also use frozen fruits to maximize your vitamin and nutrient intake.

Below are a few of my favorite smoothie recipes. Again, you can substitute some of these ingredients to make them your own or to complement what’s in your pantry. I don’t recommend just throwing a bunch of things in the blender because you won’t be able to replicate that great taste again. Use measuring cups and a notebook to track all ingredients so you can repeat and share with others!

Peach Paradise

• 1.5 cups spinach
• 1 cup orange juice
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup peaches (frozen)

Calories: 297    Fat: 0g     Carbohydrate: 63g    Protein: 6.5g

Raspberry Dream Smoothie

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup orange juice
• ½ cup water
• ¾ cup frozen raspberries
• 1 apple (cored)

Calories: 230    Fat: 1g     Carbohydrate: 48g     Protein: 5g

Pear Punch

• 1 ½ cups spinach
• 1 ½ cups water
• ½  cup frozen pineapple
• 1 cup fresh pear
• 1 small banana

Calories: 285    Fat: 0g     Carbohydrate: 58g     Protein: 5g

Blueberry Bliss

• 1 cup spinach
• 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 apple
• 1 banana

Calories: 280    Fat: 3.3g     Carbohydrate: 44g     Protein: 6g 

Citrus Splash

• ½ cup Kale
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup orange juice
• ¾ cup frozen pineapple
• 1 orange (peeled)
• Calories: 230    Fat: .5g     Carbohydrate: 52g    Protein: 4g

When it comes to green smoothies, the possibilities are endless. I’ve shared some of my favorite substitute and combination ideas below. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to make your own green smoothie!

Liquid Base:

• Coconut milk
• Coconut water
• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Fat free skim milk
• Orange juice
• Water
• Fresh squeezed juices (any)
• Tea

Leafy Green:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Celery
• Arugula
• Collard greens
• Bok choy
• Dandelion greens
• Carrot tops

Fruit:

• Berries (blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, blackberry)
• Melon (honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon)
• Tomatoes
• Apple
• Banana
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Avocado
• Peach
• Plums
• Cherries
• Kiwi
• Pear
• Citrus fruits (lemon, lime, oranges)

Herbs:

• Mint
• Basal

Vegetables:

• Carrots
• Celery
• Beets
• Pumpkin
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes

Are you already making green smoothies? If you have a favorite recipe of your own, we’d love to have you share with us and other readers in in the comments below.