Green smoothies - what's in yours?

skankamaggot

I just started making green smoothies for breakfast because sometimes I don't get enough fruits and veggies per day and a smoothie I can make quick and be out the door. I've been using about two cups of fresh spinach, frozen fruit (mixture of banana, strawberry, blueberries), Greek yogurt, about a cup of skim milk, and a bit of ground flax seed. The consistency is great, but I can still taste the spinach quite a bit. I'm wondering if I should try less spinach and more fruit. What's in your green smoothies? Any recipes you've tried and liked would be great!

Thanks in advance.

ClassicPearl

A little bit of peanut butter might help.

I do almost the exact thing as you do! It tastes GREAT!

gimmegimmemoar

I literally just made my first one today!! Kale, a banana, 2 tbsp of flaked coconut, 1 tsp of peanut butter, skim milk, vanilla pea protein powder, and ice. LOVED IT! I thought it was delicious and def. will be incorperating more green smoothies in my diet!

Mutant13

I make a few different ones but my go to is

Big handful baby spinach
Frozen banana
Protein powder
Almond milk
Pinch of stevia
Ice

Then I either add PB2, Vanilla, Cocoa, Frozen berries, cinnamon, chai, Greek yoghurt with honey, some avocado, a date or two, chocolate chips, home made caramel sauce, frozen orange juice... There are so many options!

cydthemomma

I think that pineapple kills the spinach taste. 1/2 pear, pineapple chunks, 1/2 apple, spinach, flax seeds, 4 walnuts...yumm! You can also add 1/2 orange or a clementine.

Polly758

Anyone ever try using frozen spinach?

skankamaggot

Thanks for the tips everybody! I think I need to try adding a bit of peanut butter like a few of you said.

Re: cydthemomma - do you use fresh apple and pineapple? I use a magic bullet and I'm not sure if it could handle cutting up an apple but I'll try anything!

meshamoo

You might want to try to add ginger, a good friend turned me on to this. Ginger is a great taste and no calories.

hollyk57

People.

ACatherineC

Handful of spinach, a handful of kale, one banana and a squirt of lemon - all i taste is delicious banana!

Adding ginger is a great tip and so good for you!

keepitcroosh

I need to start making smoothies again. Do you guys freeze the fruit, veg or is it all fresh all of the time?

Nikki_XC

Mine are kale based, and are blended not juiced. My boyfriend makes them each morning (for two).

Base:

kale (1-2 cups, stems removed)
banana
blueberries
unsweetened almond milk
water

Additional Items we often add:
- any other fruits on hand like pear, apple, kiwi, etc.
- broccoli, spinach, carrots, celery


That's it. He makes them for purpose not pleasure. So some of the suggestions above are great for improving the flavor!
I was adding plant-based protein powder (Garden of Life's RAW Vegan stuff) but I ran out of it a while ago. For now, I just drink them with my normal breakfasts.

Experiment and enjoy! Chunky smoothies aren't terrible either...think of the fibers!

skankamaggot

You might want to try to add ginger, a good friend turned me on to this. Ginger is a great taste and no calories.

Fresh ginger? I only have dried/grated ginger but if I'm going for flavor it might be worth a try.

I don't put any yogurt or milk in mine. Just spinach, half a banana and frozen mango and peach. I have other recipies I made my self..

Unfortunately my magic bullet will not break down the other stuff without the extra liquid! I wonder if it would taste OK with just adding water instead though.

I need to start making smoothies again. Do you guys freeze the fruit, veg or is it all fresh all of the time?

I've been using fresh spinach and frozen fruits and I also freeze bits of greek yogurt to blend. I don't have any protein powder on hand currently so I've been using the yogurt for the protein.

ladanivita

I love green smoothies! My boyfriend and I start our day out with one, at least on the work days.

Base is always the same and I make it in our vitamix for 6 cups total,
-water
-kale or spinach
-banana or 2
-frozen, no sugar added strawberries

Then a few of these, depending on what we have in the fridge and how much time I have,
-carrots
-broccoli
-celery
-dandelion greens
-other kinds of fruit (pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, mango)
-a date or two (depends on how much green vs. fruit, only added to sweeten really green drinks)
-persian cucumbers
-juice of a whole fresh lemon/orange
-1/4 cup of dry oats
-a tbsp of peanut butter

I looove them! They fill me up til breakfast and give me lots of energy.

katythemommy

Lots of great ideas! I'm hoping to get a vitamix soon and would love to try all of these!

kloa71

Hi! I drink one almost every morning. I blend together 2 cups spinach, 1 banana, flax seed, 1 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter, cup of ice (if I forgot to freeze my banana and 1 cup of unsweetened almond vanilla milk. Yummy!!

ladanivita

Lots of great ideas! I'm hoping to get a vitamix soon and would love to try all of these!

I'm so in love with my Vitamix, I swear it changed my life! haha

dancerom

I usually use frozen spinach, some avocado, pink grapefruit, lemon juice, protein powder and flax seed and sometimes some greek yogurt or ginger or whatever else is in the fridge. Just try out and enjoy!

NikkiSixGuns

Frozen spinach works great! I love smoothies of pretty much any variety, but I love the flavor and texture that spinach adds.

gimmegimmemoar

I also throw my vitamins I have a tough time swallowing in there... Luckily mine dont taste terrible and I can just drink them instead

SaShmy1022

I have been making mine with unsweetened chocolate almond milk, vanilla (soy and dairy free) protein powder, cooked oatmeal, half a banana and a handful of baby spinach or kale. I'm thinking I might start adding some almond butter and swapping the banana out for some frozen, no-sugar added berries. Great ideas here though!!

0gone0

2-3 cups spinach, 1/2 of a frozen banana, 1/2 to 1 cup homemade milk kefir, and 1/2 cup frozen berries or other fruit (like mango). Give it a whirl in my blender.

SaShmy1022

Anyone have any ideas on other vegetables that taste alright in smoothies... I'm thinking I need to up my veggies in my smoothie!!

AZChatterB

I've been adding a cucumber and three stalks of celery to mine (3-4 cups of water, protein powder, flax seed, various fruit). The fruit covers the taste of the vegetables, but gets me to add more vegetables to my diet.

Cassierocksalot

I add water as my additive and I like it just fine, plus it cuts back on the unnecessary calories. My usual is:

Handful of spinach
1 Banana
flax seed
1 cup of berries
1 scoop of protein powder
1 cup of water (I add more for consistency if needed)

Tina2Cats

These all sound really delicious! I'm going to try these.

XtyAnn17

1-2 cups spinach
1 banana
1 cup oj
1 yoplait lite very vanilla
1 cup ice

sparklenessluv7

I usually do a pretty simple one, that fills you up, and is super yummy and healthy, with vanilla froyo(can be substituted with frozen bananas,) carrots, pineapple juice, and oj, it's very citrusy and yummy!

SaShmy1022

Changed up my whole shake recipe as of this week. Now I'm doing -

Vega One Nutritional Protein Powder - dairy/soy free
Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Milk
2 oz Organic Aloe Vera Juice
1 tbs Organic Chia Seeds
1 tbs Raw Organic Almond Butter
1/3 Fresh Banana

Then to that I either add Raw Greens Powder or a handful of kale or spinach.

Super super yummy.

tynger112

Good call With the "Ginger" for the Young and motivated ladies, Ginger is actually a household remidy dating back to the chinies that helps lighten up Menstual symptoms

BJPCraig

We're just coming off a 7-day smoothie fast. We got the recipes from IncredibleSmoothies.com. Check there!