Five-Ingredient Go-to Green Smoothie

This Go-to Green Smoothie has only five ingredients. Yes, that’s right, five simple ingredients!

Smoothies are something I enjoy all year round, even on those sub-zero, freezing cold, Minnesota days. They make for a great well-balanced, nutrient-packed, and nourishing meal with an adequate source of carbs, proteins, fats and fiber. I generally choose to enjoy a smoothie for breakfast (when I’m not having my beloved eggs or grain-free waffles) or as an afternoon snack.

Today, I’m sharing with you the base of my go-to green smoothie recipe, one I make often.

If you’re new to green smoothies, you will love this one, as it’s not so “green”. The banana adds a nice sweetness which makes for a perfect beginner green smoothie! It always turns out a beautiful green color, too. No brownish-greenish smoothies here.

Five simple ingredients.

• Banana – don’t fear the banana, folks…it adds the right amount of sweetness and provides a host of nutritional benefits. Bananas are rich in potassium, an electrolyte that promotes healthy blood pressure and electrolyte balance. In addition, bananas are a good source of insoluble fiber which promotes digestion and regularity. They’re a good source of soluble fiber too, which increases satiety (feeling of fullness). By pairing bananas with a source of healthy fats and/or quality protein like in this smoothie, it helps to control the rise of blood sugars compared the blood sugar spike that happens when consuming a banana on its own.
• Avocado – the perfect source of healthy fat to add to your smoothie and adds a delicious creaminess. Avocados are one of our favorite sources of fats. It’s not common that I consume an avocado a day. They’re a great source of fiber and potassium, amongst many other nutrients, as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
• Spinach or Greens of choice – Leafy greens are a nutrient dense food and one that you should eat everyday. Rich in antioxidants, fiber and loaded with nutrients.  When blended, juiced or cooked the nutrients become more absorbable when compared to eating raw so adding spinach to smoothies is a perfect way to take full advantage of the nutritional benefits. I recommend purchasing organic spinach as it’s one of the produce items on the dirty dozen list.
• Milk – Unsweetened almond, coconut or cashew milk is what I recommend. They’re all dairy free options that add a nice and subtle flavor to the smoothie. One thing to look out for is the added sugars, so be sure to purchase unsweetened nut milks or you can simply make your own. If you’re purchasing a nut milk, I’d also suggest finding one with out Carrageenan, which is an ingredient made from seaweed that may cause gastrointestinal inflammation.
• Protein Powder – not all protein powder is created equal. I suggest a protein powder that is natural and organic and free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, colors as well as free from soy and gluten. Most importantly, one that you can tolerate. If you choose a whey protein, I’d suggest one that’s made from grass-fed cows milk. My favorite protein powder to add to smoothies is Collagen Peptides which is unique in its amino acid structure because of its high amounts of glycine, lysine and proline. Collagen provides a number of benefits including joint support, muscle repair & growth, cell growth, healthy hair & skin, promotes digestion and healthy gut, improves mood and energy. Read more about collagen here. If you’re looking for a plant-based protein powder, I like Natural Citizen.
• BONUS: Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil – derived from coconut oil, this Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) will super charge your smoothie and your day. Brain Octane, the shortest MCT found in coconut oil (C8 or caprylic acid), is efficiently converted into ketone energy, which can be used by the brain, an alternate energy source to carbohydrates and sugars. The brain thrives off of this form of energy. So why not just add coconut oil? You most certainly could as coconut oil is a healthy fat however, only 6% of coconut oil is C8, the most effective MCT oil. Additionally, MCT provides fuel for your mitochondria which produces energy and burns calories (increases metabolism). Lastly, I have found that adding Brain Octane Oil to my smoothies keeps me satisfied and my metabolism humming for hours. Since Brain Octane is completely flavorless and odorless, you can mix it in tea, smoothies, salad dressings, drizzled over your favorite foods or used in Bulletproof Coffee.

So there you have it, my 5-ingredient go-to green smoothie! This is the base of almost every smoothie I make. For an added boost of flavor and nutrients I’ll add ingredients like various fruits and veggies, ginger, turmeric, matcha, cacao, hemp seeds, chia seed, flax seeds, brazil nuts, nut butters, maca powder, probiotic powder and the list goes on.

Are you ready to give this Go-to Green Smoothie a try?

Make one smoothie for now and one to enjoy later by storing a serving in a mason jar for up to 24 hours.

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Let's Get Cookin'

Five-Ingredient Go-To Green Smoothie

This is our go-to green smoothie with only five ingredients and packed with nutrients. Kick-start your day with this creamy, go-to green smoothie.

• Author: The Real Food Dietitians
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 5 mins
• Yield: 2 servings
• Category: Smoothie

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups ice
• 1 medium banana, fresh or frozen (may sub 1 cup fruit of choice such as green apple, frozen pineapple, or mango)
• 2 handfuls of spinach or greens of choice
• ½ avocado
• 1 ½-2 cups unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
• 2 scoops protein powder of choice (such as collagen peptides) 
• Optional – 1 Tbsp. MCT Oil

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into a blender.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy and no chunks remain.
3. Serve and enjoy (or store in a mason jar with lid for up to 24 hours in the fridge).

Notes

All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words and link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians so credit is given where credit is due. Thank you!

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1/2 of recipe
• Calories: 215
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Carbohydrates: 22 g
• Fiber: 7 g
• Protein: 13 g

Not only are Green Smoothies packed with nutrients and tasty — they’re beautiful, too. Well….most of the time. I’ve definitely had my fair share of brownish/greenish/grayish colored smoothies!

What are your favorite Smoothie ingredients? Comment below!

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About Stacie Hassing

Stacie is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian from rural southern Minnesota where she and her husband reside on 5 acres with their two pups, Walter & Lucy. She’s a creator of simple and wholesome recipes, a lover of nature, a crossfitter, a seasonal runner, and she’s on a mission to inspire as many as she can live a healthier and happier life from the inside out.