Green Smoothies

Brandzilla
Brandzilla Posts: 51 Member
edited October 1 in Recipes
I'm trying to start drinking some green smoothies to get some healthy live greens and fruit in me.
I made my first one today.
Ice, fresh pineapple, banana, coconut oil, spinach, and kale.
It was pretty good. Not amazing like a milkshake, but pretty darn good.

Any of you have any good recipes or tips for me?
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Replies

  • bprague
    bprague Posts: 564 Member
    bump
  • NPS1985
    NPS1985 Posts: 79 Member
    BUMP
  • jldaley09
    jldaley09 Posts: 219 Member
    bump too, Im also interested in good green smoothie recipes.
  • Saksgirl1
    Saksgirl1 Posts: 248
    I actually really like cucumber, green apple and spinach! Sounds weird, but it's delish!
  • mzdetermined
    mzdetermined Posts: 3 Member
    I have a question about green smoothies. How are the calories counted when its juiced? Though I hear you have to be careful with fruits because they retain a lot of sugar, Anyone?
  • Brandzilla
    Brandzilla Posts: 51 Member
    I realized after I made it that the coconut oil had 14 g of fat! yikes. lol. Think I'll skip it next time. Or put in a tsp instead of a Tbsp.
  • B3Streeter
    B3Streeter Posts: 292 Member
    I make mine with Spinach, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, peanut butter, banana, & almond milk & ice. It is SOOO good!
  • Angiebug1969
    Angiebug1969 Posts: 152
    I don't sell it, but I'm a fan of Shakeology (chocolate and greenberry). It's hard to beat the nutritional value of what's in them!!
  • JeninBelgium
    JeninBelgium Posts: 804 Member
    maybe coconut yogurt for some protein? not sure of the cal content though


    btw

    mmmmmm You can really taste the Kale!

    (cheers - veggie boy episode reference)
  • 3ball
    3ball Posts: 338
    Are you using a blender? Smoothie blender? Or a juicer? Just curious as I have a smoothie blender thing and wonder if that would be good enough. It goes through ice no problem, but would it mix up spinach, etc., ok?
  • rdmchugh
    rdmchugh Posts: 76
    Green smoothies

    1 Mango
    2 whole peaches or 1/4 fresh pineapple
    1/4 pkg tofu
    1.5 Cups organic spinach (1 generous handfull)
    6-8 oz Goodbelly or no sugar added fruit juice
    6-8 oz water

    Can substitute blueberries, strawberries, apples or what ever fruit you like that is in season. The taste of the spinach really disappears in these smoothies, all you taste is fruit. I have trouble with dairy and yogurt and have found that tofu adds protein without changing the flavor or texture. I use a Blendtec blender when I am home and a Cuisinart compact portable blender when I am traveling.

    YUMMY!
  • kitkatkait
    kitkatkait Posts: 87 Member
    My favorite:

    1 banana
    a handful of frozen strawberries
    1-2 giant handful(s) of spinach
    about 1/3 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
    1/3-1/2 cup ice

    I vary the ratios a little and never really measure, but it comes out great every time. Its an awesome pick-me-up, and under 200 calories. :D
  • Rachaelluvszipped
    Rachaelluvszipped Posts: 768 Member
    Love this post!:flowerforyou:
  • c2sky
    c2sky Posts: 487 Member
    For our combination birthday, father's day, anniversary present we bought a "Vita-mix". It was about $400. But we use it at least 2 times a day. We used to throw away so much produce when it would start to get wilty or mushy. Now we put in the smoothie. I have a juicer too. But I rarely use that any more. And no, I do NOT know how to figure out the calories in juice. I used to just figure the calories from the fruit in the juice. That's one reason I do smoothies now, instead of juicing. But to make a carrot apple beet juice, it takes 2 apples and about 10 carrots for a glass. Whereas my smoothie just has 1 fruit and 1 carrot per glass, a lot less calories and more fiber. I did make a smoothie one time in my regular blender. It didn't turn out nearly as good. AND ONE TIME, BECAUSE MY OLD BLENDER MADE MY SMOOTHIE MORE CHUNKY, i ACCIDENTALLY CHEWED ON A FLY THAT FLEW INTO MY SMOOTHIE While I WAS AWAY. EWWWWW. SO CHECK YOUR CHUNKS. LOL .If you like them, I highly recommend getting a VITAMIX. I bought mine at a special event at my Costco warehouse sale. It was cheaper than what I could have paid online.

    I do NOT worry about the sugar in the fruit because of when I time my drinking of the smoothie. I have some right before a run, usually, and then the rest right after.

    Spinach is always great because it's sweeter than things like brocolli or kale,, so I think it tastes better. I still have those other veggies, but I have them with other things during meals.

    I put vanilla whey powder in mine on days I know I'm working out really intensely or extra long, and leave the protien out on days that are normal. I also put in a little flaxseed. I love my green smoothies. I just put the basic recipe in my recipe data base on MFP. If the fruit or veggies change, then I change those ingredients on the recipe.

    Normally it looks something like this:
    2 cups of spinach
    1 carrot
    1 nectarine
    1 banana
    1 serving of vanilla protien powder
    1 tbsp. of flaxseed
    1 cup water
    1 and 1/2 cups ice

    I count this as two servings. The calories range from 200-270 for protien smoothie servings and 120-170 for non protien smoothies....a lot less calories then juicing, I imagine, and a lot more satisfying.

    If I don't put in the protien powder I use Splenda for sweetener. Or if you you are using powdered or liquid vitamins, that will sweeten it up too. Some people use agave or honey. Over time, I diminished the sweetener, to where I don't really need it anymore.
  • Ladypuma
    Ladypuma Posts: 14
    I once had a Spinach smoothie that had vanilla extract in it. I really want to find the recipe. It was at a demo at Costco for one of those amazing blenders.
  • ginandtonica
    ginandtonica Posts: 54 Member
    I do a smoothie with a 1/2c plain nonfat yogurt, 1c nonfat milk, 1 scoop Muscle Milk Vanilla protein powder, a packet of Crystal Light Classic Sunrise Orange and fill the blender the rest of the way with spinach. Whirl it up and add a couple of cups of ice and I promise you cannot taste the spinach. My 2 year old shares mine with me. It tastes just like an Orange Julius. Okay, maybe not EXACTLY, but I am telling you it is pretty darn good. it makes a whole blender full and is only 345 calories. Yum, yum, yum!
  • c2sky
    c2sky Posts: 487 Member
    I once had a Spinach smoothie that had vanilla extract in it. I really want to find the recipe. It was at a demo at Costco for one of those amazing blenders.

    Here you go.

    http://www.vitamix.com/recipes/
  • c2sky
    c2sky Posts: 487 Member
    it didn't have a spinach smoothie. But it['s basicly like mine without the protien powder and flax seed, and adding a little vanilla and sweetener. You just have to experiment.
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    Frozen blueberries + cocoa powder should be added to every smoothie you make - They are amazing together and the blueberries add a great consistency. Much better than other frozen fruit IMO.

    I use almond milk, protein powder, PB, cocoa, spinach, strawberries and blueberries in my fave Go-To smoothie. I've tried dozens of variations using yogurt, cottage cheese, different fruits, milks, coconut, avocado, etc and this is by far the best. No question.

    Good luck figuring out what you like! :bigsmile:
  • bprague
    bprague Posts: 564 Member
    four leaves of kale (approximately 25 g)
    1 peach
    1/4 cup of raspberries (frozen unsweetened)
    3 ice cubes
    3 tablespoons of greek yogurt

    Makes an 8 oz glass

    I must say this was quite good. 120 some odd calories, 26 carbs, 8 grms protein, 19 grams of sugar (but all fruit based), 5 grams of fiber.
  • sunny145
    sunny145 Posts: 73 Member
    OP- thanks for posting this!

    I just starting browsing the message board yesterday and "green smoothie" caught my eye. I am a big fan of smoothies for breakfast and I have a terrible time getting my veggies in. I never would have thought you could add spinach to a smoothie without compromising the taste. I added about a cup of baby spinach to my smoothie this morning and didn't notice it at all! Tomorrow I think I'll put some cucumber in, too.

    My (general) smoothie:
    Kefir lowfat plain yogurt-milk
    frozen blueberries
    flax meal
    whey protein

    and now spinach!
  • sanura
    sanura Posts: 459 Member
    I love so many of the ideas in this thread!!!
    I like adding fennel to smoothies with strong tasting greens like kale, sweetens it with very few calories
    I also love using parsley!
  • Beatrix0810
    Beatrix0810 Posts: 138
    Bump to the bump dee bump dee bump bump!

    I can't wait to make these!!!! SO many good ideas.
  • alisonwww
    alisonwww Posts: 104
    Maybe coconut water?
  • skye15
    skye15 Posts: 19 Member
    Drinking my green smoothie right now! :)

    1 cup of frozen mix berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries)
    2 cups of spinach
    1/2 of rapini (just the leaves not the bulb)
    a few leaves of Kale
    carrot juice or yogurt

    So good, and it lasts me usually the whole day! :)
  • bluegirl10
    bluegirl10 Posts: 695 Member
    bump
  • lvk2000
    lvk2000 Posts: 5 Member
    I make green smoothies using soy milk or nonfat milk, kale, carrots, beet,, an orange and a banana. The beet really sweetens it. Sometimes I add cilantro. I use a Ninja Prep - I like it because you can still distinguish the individual ingredients.
  • tameejean
    tameejean Posts: 197 Member
    Bump! I have a BlendTec blender and make green smoothies most days of the week. Love them! :)
  • AmythistRae
    AmythistRae Posts: 107
    This batch does an entire day of green smoothies....

    2 oranges (juiced whole in my juicer)
    1/4 pineapple
    2 cups frozen blueberries
    2 cups spinach
    1 cup kale
    1 cup water...

    works out to 3 smoothies to do through out the day...It has a tropical citrus taste and gives you a massive boost of energy.....


    total of 533 calories....still leaves plenty for supper...If you research the green smoothies it is suggested to not add any milk products and to go raw.....at least with the smoothies....I know for me it is changing how I taste food....
  • meagalayne
    meagalayne Posts: 3,382 Member
    I make green smoothies using soy milk or nonfat milk, kale, carrots, beet,, an orange and a banana. The beet really sweetens it. Sometimes I add cilantro. I use a Ninja Prep - I like it because you can still distinguish the individual ingredients.
    Do you use raw or steamed/boiled beets? I've been incorporating more beets into my daily diet but am having some GI issues. Love the taste but want to make sure I'm cooking them enough...
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