Posted Jul 27, 2019, Updated May 08, 2024 I drink a green smoothie every day, and have for almost a decade! So this post, explaining “how to make a green smoothie” with all my tips and tricks has been something I’ve wanted to write since I started this blog! This is a long and comprehensive post and video, so settle in while we get started. I’ll start by sharing how to meal prep smoothies. I’m always prepared to make a delicious green smoothie in a moment’s notice. Because every minute in the morning before the kids wake up is precious! I don’t want to waste any time measuring protein powder, chopping fruit, etc. Next, I’ll share my favorite green smoothie recipe! It’s a simple green smoothie for beginners that is naturally sweetened with fruit (no added sugars) and loaded with greens and protein.
How to Meal Prep Green Smoothies
I think that green smoothies are the best when they’re served fresh, straight from the blender. So I meal prep smoothies by having all the ingredients on hand and ready to go. This means I always have my freezer stocked with frozen fruit and greens and pre-portion all of the add-ins like protein powder!
1) Freeze Bananas
In my opinion, bananas are an essential ingredient to make the best green smoothies for both natural sweetness and a creamy texture. So make sure to purchase bananas designated to freeze for smoothies when you go grocery shopping! Let the bananas ripen then cut them into halves or thirds. Flash freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight, freezer-friendly container to store!
2) Use frozen fruit & greens
This green smoothie recipe calls for 1 cup of frozen fruit in addition to one frozen banana. Using frozen fruit and greens is key to the thickest, creamiest green smoothies. You’ll notice I do not use ice in any of my smoothie recipes, because it waters down the flavor and gives smoothies an icy texture – which I am not a fan of. I recommend stocking up on frozen fruit in the winter when produce isn’t readily available. During the summer, purchase seasonal produce on sale and flash freeze it in the same way as the bananas!
Fruit to use in a green smoothie
Here are some suggestions for fruits to use in this green smoothie recipe. In this post I used half mango and half pineapple, which is my favorite combination! Be aware, that if you use darker fruits like blueberries, blackberries, cherries, etc. the color will change and you will likely make a brown smoothie that is delicious but not green in color! 🙂
mango pineapple strawberries blueberries raspberries peaches cherries oranges grapefruit
Greens to Use in a Green Smoothie
If you are making this simple green smoothie recipe as a beginner, then I recommend sticking with spinach as the green of choice. I buy large container of spinach or power greens and toss them into the freezer when we get home from our shopping. That way I know the spinach is fresh and that I’m stocked for the months ahead. Here are other suggestions:
spinach (try this spinach smoothie too) kale swiss chard romain lettuce beet greens carrot tops collard greens celery
Blend Greens and freeze in cubes
If you don’t have a lot of space in your freezer, you can take the fresh spinach (or other greens of choice) and blend with a small amount of water until the mixture is smooth. Then freeze in ice cube trays and store frozen cubes of greens in an airtight container in the freezer. I used to do this when we lived in a condo and didn’t have an extra freezer in the basement!
3) Pre-portion add-ins
Measuring out the add-ins for my green smoothies has been a game-changer for me! I wake up early and nurse my baby, exercise, shower, eat breakfast and drink my coffee all before my 5 kids wake up for the day. So I have the morning routine down to a science to get the most alone time possible before 7:30 AM! So, I measure out the smoothie ingredients into these small containers and prepare two weeks worth of smoothies at one time! I even have a drawer right under my Vitamix blender where I store the containers for easy access. All I have to do is pop the lid and dump the ingredients in, no measuring required!
Best Green Smoothie Add-ins
I started putting add-ins into my green smoothie recipes when my third baby was born. A few scoops of nutritional boosters gave me increased energy throughout the day and made the green smoothies taste even better! So here are some of my suggestions!
Protein Powder – this is my favorite plant-based, whey-free protein powder in vanilla and chocolate. Collagen Powder – a neutral tasting protein boost! Also good for gut health! Maca -for increased fertility and hormone balance. Chia Seeds – added protein without powders. Ground Flaxseed – a dose of Omega 3s! Bee Pollen – boosts immunity. Acai Berry powder – antioxidants! Raw cacao nibs – a healthy way to add a little chocolate! Nuts or seeds Coconut Oil – increases metabolism, keeps you full for longer! Cinnamon – anti-inflammatory and delicious! Amazing Grass Green Superfood– great way to add even more greens!
How to Make a Green Smoothie
Ok, now that we’ve talked about all the delicious ingredients that go into making a green smoothie, let’s actually dive into how to make a green smoothie recipe!
Step 1: Use a Vitamix blender!
If you’ve been around my blog for a while then you know that I exclusively blend with a Vitamix (and have for a decade)! So it’s not surprising that I will tell you that the best way to achieve silky smooth green smoothies is to use a Vitamix blender! I bought my first Vitamix because I was sick of chewing my green smoothies (can anyone else relate)? I wanted a blender that would pulverize anything and everything I put into my smoothies and the Vitamix was the answer. Check out my Vitamix Buying Guide where I give my exhaustive reasons for choosing a Vitamix blender a decade ago, and my top recommendations about which model to buy!
Step 2: Add Liquid Ingredients
When making a green smoothie, it’s important to always add the liquid ingredients into the blending container first. This ensures the other ingredients don’t get stuck under the blades! It also creates a vortex that pulls everything into the blades for a smooth blend!
Best liquids to use in a green smoothie recipe
I always use some sort of non-dairy milk in my green smoothies because I think it gives them the best taste and texture. However there are many different liquids that could be used:
Almond Milk (my personal favorite) Coconut Milk Any percentage of dairy milk Rice Milk Oat Milk Cashew Milk Coconut Water Water (not recommended, but can be used)
Step 3: Add Frozen Greens
Next, add your frozen greens of choice on top of the liquid.
Step 4: Add Frozen Fruit & Add-ins
Putting the frozen fruit on top of the greens helps push all the leaves into the blades and prevents them from sticking to the sides.
Step 5: Blend
Now it’s time to blend our green smoothie! Start blending on low speed and gradually increase to high. Blend on high speed for 50-60 seconds or until the green smoothie is smooth!
Enjoy
Pour the green smoothie into one to four cups and enjoy! In my opinion, this recipe makes two good-sized adult servings or 4 kid servings! To be as helpful as possible, I want to take a minute and answer a few frequently asked questions about making this green smoothie recipe for beginners! If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
