This Go-to Green Smoothie has only five ingredients. Yes, that’s right my friends. Five simple ingredients!
Smoothies are something I (stacie) enjoy all year round, even on those sub-zero, freezing cold, Minnesota days. Go ahead, you can call me crazy….or maybe you even agree with me!? If so, I think we should be friends! Smoothies make 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, post-workout, or as an afternoon snack.
Today, I’m sharing with you my go-to green smoothie recipe, one I make often.
If you are new to green smoothies, you 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 powerhouse ingredients.
- Banana – adds just 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).
- Avocado – the perfect source of healthy fat to add to your smoothie. Avocados are a great source of fiber and potassium, amongst many other nutrients, as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Read more about the nutritional benefits here.
- Spinach or Greens of choice – Leafy greens are a definite superfood 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. Silk is one brand that has recently removed carrageenan from their products.
- Protein Powder – not all protein powder is create 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.
- Bonus: Collagen Hydrolysate – 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. I personally try to consume about 2 Tbsp./day of Collagen Hydrolysate.
Now that’s what I call a Smoothie.
Are you ready to give this Go-to Green Smoothie a try? Awesome!
Make one smoothie for now and one to enjoy later by storing a serving in a mason jar for up to 24 hours.
- 1 cup ice
- 1 medium banana (recommend frozen)
- 2 scoops protein powder of choice
- 2-3 handfuls of spinach or greens of choice
- ½ avocado
- 1 ½-2 cups unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
- Place all ingredients into a blender in the order they are listed if using an upright blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy and no chunks remain.
- Serve and enjoy (or store in a mason jar with lid for up to 24 hours in the fridge).
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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Less of a comment, more of a question… What would be your best recommendation for a banana substitute? I am, quite unfortunately, deathly allergic to bananas. Even if touched by someone who has recently handled a banana and has not thoroughly washed their hands, I become acutely anaphylactic. Just looking for something that will provide the same (or better) nutritional benefit, sweetness, and satiety. Thank you!
Hey Andi…great question! I’m sorry to hear that you’re crazy allergic to bananas. BUT good thing there are plenty of other fruits available. I don’t always add bananas to my smoothies. A few of my other favorite frozen fruits to add include berries, mangos, peaches, and cherries. But in this particular recipe I would go with a 1/2 cup of frozen mango as the substitute.