Spinach Smoothie

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If your body is craving a boost of nutrition, then this spinach smoothie will do the trick. This healthy smoothie recipe using simple ingredients that are easy to find and blend up quickly for a delicious breakfast that’ll have you feeling great all day.

Eating the required amount of vegetables every day is something most people struggle with, including me! I’m not one to munch on carrots and kale all day.

One of my favorite ways to increase the veggies in my diet is to drink them in a smoothie.

Spinach is my favorite green to use in any green smoothie recipe. It has a subtle flavor that doesn’t overtake the other sweeter ingredients and doesn’t leave you with a bitter taste like kale does.

This spinach smoothie is a great way to eat more fruits and veggies without even really thinking about it.

Just blend all the ingredients and drink it.

Reasons You’ll Love This Spinach Smoothie Recipe

Filled with nutrition – Fruits, greens, and superfoods blended to create a delicious healthy smoothie.
A fast, no-cook breakfast – All you need is a blender and less than 5 minutes to whip together a super healthy smoothie recipe.
Inexpensive and nutritious – One of the biggest misconceptions about eating healthier foods is that it costs too much. However, that’s not true. Even if you purchase all organic ingredients, you’re still less than $2 a smoothie.
Dairy-free and gluten-free – Start your day with a smoothie that’ll go easy on your tummy and support healthy digestion.
Can be prepped ahead of time – All of these smoothie ingredients can be frozen or blended the night before. I’ll give meal prep tips below.

Ingredients

Baby spinach – I prefer using organic baby spinach leaves that are cleaned and ready. Also, baby spinach is more tender and less bitter than mature spinach or other greens, making the fruit shine and not become overpowered.

Baby spinach is also easier to handle when throwing a handful into the blender or making smoothie freezer kits.

Pineapple – I purchase organic frozen pineapple chunks. You can also buy fresh pineapple chunks or even a whole pineapple and cut it up yourself.

However, frozen pineapple makes it easier to prepare smoothies and helps to create that cold slushie texture.

Apple – Any apple will work in this spinach smoothie recipe. I prefer Fuji apples when I want a sweet smoothie or granny smith for a tart and sweet smoothie.

Almond milk – I prefer to use non-dairy milk when making smoothies. Dairy milk can cause digestion issues and slow down any detoxifying benefits of a smoothie.

Any non-dairy milk will work; my favorites are almond and coconut milk. Be sure to purchase unsweetened to keep additional sugars out.

Chia seeds – My go-to superfood to blend into all the smoothies I make is chia seeds. A one-ounce serving has 11 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, 5 grams of omega-3 fats, and other antioxidants. It’s incredible the nutritional value of these little seeds!

FAQs

Does a spinach smoothie taste bad?

A spinach smoothie doesn’t taste bad, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner smoothie drinker. You can’t really taste the spinach but it does have more of an earthy taste when compared to all fruit smoothies.

However, there is a natural sweetness from the apple and pineapple that’s tasty and refreshing.

So, if you’re not used to smoothies that include spinach, then it will be noticeable.

Also, spinach smoothies have a pulpy consistency because spinach is fibrous. However, using baby spinach will have a more subtle flavor and blend better.

If you want to add spinach to your smoothies, then I recommend adding a small amount at a time.

Can you freeze fresh spinach for smoothies?

Yes, you sure can. Freezing spinach is very easy to do.

You can freeze the spinach with the other smoothie ingredients and create a smoothie kit.

Or place the spinach into a freezer bag, and grab what you need when you’re ready to make a smoothie.

Here are more instructions for freezing spinach.

How to make a sweet spinach smoothie?

I don’t recommend adding sugar to your spinach smoothie. Instead, you can create extra sweetness by using fruit.

A small ripe banana will create a sweeter flavor and a creamy texture. Mango will also work.

Why is my spinach smoothie brown?

If blueberries, blackberries, or even strawberries are blended in with spinach, it will turn the smoothie a brownish color. Don’t worry; the taste won’t be affected even if it doesn’t look that appealing.

How to blend spinach into a smoothie, so there are no leftover chunks

Having a high-speed blender will make a huge difference when it comes to blending spinach into a smoothie. A powerful blender will breakdown the spinach and create a spinach smoothie free of chunks.

I know a high-speed blender is pricey and an investment, so If you don’t have one, then I have another trick for you. Blend the spinach and liquid before adding in the fruit.

Where can I purchase inexpensive organic ingredients?

I always recommend purchasing organic smoothie ingredients.

You want your smoothie to be as healthy as possible, which means free of chemicals and additives.

You can purchase large bags of organic frozen fruit and fresh fruit at wholesale stores like Bj’s Wholesale, Costco, and Sam’s Club.

You can also find organic spinach, non-dairy milks, and even superfoods at wholesale stores.

Substitutions

Thrive Market is another one of my go-to online natural and organic marketplace for purchasing superfoods. They offer a vast selection of superfoods, protein powders, and supplements at affordable prices. You can see their selection of superfoods here. If you want to learn more, then read my Thrive Market Review.

Add protein to your spinach smoothie with greek yogurt or nut butters. I prefer to drink dairy-free smoothies, so I’ll use non-dairy yogurt to add extra protein.

My favorite nut butters to use in smoothies are almond butter and peanut butter.

Be sure to measure any extras because the calories and fat can quickly add up if you’re not careful.

Switch up the fruits. When I make spinach smoothies, I tend to use the fruit that I have on hand. So really, any fruit will work in this recipe.

Again, keep an eye on the amount of ingredients used because it’s easy to turn a healthy smoothie into a high sugar bomb.

Add flavor with vanilla extract – If you want another layer of flavor, blend in ¼ – ½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. You can also add a little extra sweetness with ½ – 1 teaspoon of pure maple syrup.

Add in your favorite superfoods – I already said that chia seeds are my favorite superfood to use in smoothie recipes.

However, here other superfoods I like to use:

Flaxseeds
Hemp Hearts
Matcha Powder
Cacao Powder
Coconut Oil
Collagen

Add in metabolism-boosting spices. Ground cinnamon and ground cayenne can help naturally boost metabolism and burn fat. A little goes a long way, so don’t add more than ¼ teaspoon per smoothie.

Supplies to Prepare a Spinach Smoothie

High-speed blender – I’ve owned this Vitamix for close to 10 years, and it’s still going strong. If you plan to make smoothies regularly, I recommend investing in a high-quality blender. If a Vitamix is too pricey, then check out my recommendation for the best blenders for smoothies.
Glass tumbler – I often use a 32-ounce mason jar for drinking smoothies. I also have this 18-ounce Ello glass tumbler.
Reusable straws – These Ello reusable straws work fantastic for smoothies.
Straw cleaner – Definitely grab a straw cleaner to keep those straws clean.
20-ounce Yeti tumbler – I love using my Yeti tumbler to keep smoothies cold on the go.
Reusable silicone bags – These bags come in handy when putting together freezer smoothie kits.

How to Make a Spinach Smoothie

step by step picture instructions for making a spinach smoothie

This smoothie comes together quickly!

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. If needed, add water until you get the consistency you want.

Meal Prep & Freezer Tips

This smoothie can be blended 1-2 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight glass container in the fridge. I like to use mason jars to store smoothies.

My favorite way to prep smoothies ahead of time is to prepare smoothie freezer kits. Place all of the ingredients except the liquid into a quart-sized freezer bag (plastic or reusable) and freeze up to 4 months.

When you’re ready to make the smoothie dump the ingredients into a blender, add the liquid, and blend.