Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe

Have you been wondering how to boost your natural energy levels, aid digestion and maintain a healthy weight all at the same? Look no further and try our a lean green smoothie dream!

If you’ve already tried one these nutritionally potent drinks, but it’s left a bad taste in your mouth, fear not. We’ve got a foolproof formula, and a tasty green smoothie recipe, that’ll get you hooked. You’ll be getting in so many vitamins and minerals with minimal effort in one convenient and satisfying drink.

Why get into green smoothies?

Where do we even start? There are countless ways in which green smoothies can positively impact your health and improve your life. Scroll on down and read about our top five of reasons.

1. Energy all day long

You may be tempted to reach for the coffee first thing in the morning, but if you’re looking for energy that’ll keep you ticking all day long, you’re better off with a green smoothie. Consuming vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables paired with healthy proteins and fats in the morning is a sure-fire way to stay energized. If you’re looking for even more of a boost, add natural energy enhancers like matcha, maca, cacao or cayenne pepper. They’ll keep you buzzing minus the afternoon crash.

2. Healthier muscles, joints, and organs

By enriching your smoothies with seeds and nuts, you’re consuming all-important omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 is responsible for keeping your hormones balanced, and omega-3 fatty acids are vital for your brain health – helping you fight off depression and anxiety.

3. Healthy skin from the inside out

Green smoothies are full of fresh fruit and vegetables, which means your drinking a glass full of health (e.g., vitamin C, A, and D). These are known to increase collagen production and improve the elasticity of your skin. You’ll radiate a natural glow that even a high-end beauty cream won’t match.

4. Manage weight loss

We’re not gonna make false promises here, but substituting a typical carb-heavy breakfast or fatty snack for a green smoothie every day can help support any weight loss efforts you may be working on. The fiber will keep you fuller for longer, and keep your metabolism working optimally throughout the day. That means a more regular bowel movement and more stable weight.

5. Broaden your food horizon

If you’re a picky eater, you may be missing out on essential minerals and vitamins found in particular fresh produce. Maybe you don’t know or like certain foods, or you’re just weary of them. In this case, you can use smoothies to experiment. Mix your go-to fruit and veg with more unfamiliar ingredients, and slowly train your palate to appreciate those former ‘no-go’ foods, herbs and spices and become even more daring with your ingredient choices.

Time to go green (smoothie)

So, first things first. What would a green smoothie be without greens? You might be wondering what kind of greens to add to your smoothie without it veering into soup territory. Truth is, most leafy greens are mild in flavor and blend well with other stronger flavors. Try spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, dandelion leaves, collard greens, and even swiss chard. They’re chock full of vitamins and minerals. Want to know exactly what kind? Read on.

• Kale: A jack of all trades that lends your body a natural detoxifying hand. That’s because it’s teeming with fiber and sulfur, key when it comes to liver function. Believe it or not, kale also contains more calcium than milk, which helps keep bones strong prevent. Just like it’s cousin spinach, kale high in iron, supporting your body in the transport of oxygen and promotion of cell growth.

• Spinach: Enjoy spinach raw if you want to reap its all its goodness. It’s very low in calories while high in nutrients like vitamin A, E and K. Eating spinach with a healthy source of fat like avocado or nuts will increase the absorption of the vitamins above. So it’s the perfect food to have in a smoothie!

• Romaine lettuce: For those looking to lose weight, romaine lettuce is a godsend. It’s low in calories but high in minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Plus, it’s packed with vitamins C, K, and folate, and naturally low in sodium.

• Collard greens: Like kale, collard greens are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as manganese. The latter facilitates the formation of connective tissues and the metabolism of carbohydrates. On top of all that, these vitamins help regulate blood flow, bone health, and boost your immune system.

The green smoothie of your dreams

Creating the perfect green smoothie takes practice. But to guide you along your way, we’ve got some valuable tips that’ll help you create a smoothie that’ll make those around you green with envy!

Follow the 60/40 formula

This simple formula will guarantee a fantastic smoothie: 60% fruits to 40% leafy greens. Pour in a little liquid like water, coconut water or your favorite nut milk. If you’re in the mood, level the health benefits up and add chia or hemp seeds, nut butter or sweet spices like cinnamon. The perfect smoothie base looks this:

2 cups leafy greens + 3 cups ripe fruit  + 2 cups liquid base = green smoothie perfection

Sweeten it naturally

To keep this smoothie as healthy as possible, try to sweeten your smoothie naturally by using especially sweet fruits in your green smoothie. Banana, mango, berries, avocado, peach, pear, apple, pineapple or grapes will complement the leafy greens beautifully. If your drink still isn’t sweet enough, add pitted dates, dried apricots or dried plums for a delicious kick minus the sugar crash.

Be kind to your blender

When using dried fruits, nuts or seeds, you’ll save your blender any potential damage if you soak them overnight before blending them. The same goes for the leafy greens. To avoid leafy chunks getting stuck in the blades, mix your smoothie in stages. First blitz your leafy greens together with the liquids. Once it’s smooth, add the fruit and blend again. It’ll ensure a silky smoothie that’s easy to sip on.

Freeze the fruit

If you fancy a cold smoothie but don’t have the patience to refrigerate it post-blending, try freezing the fruit beforehand. Not only will it make for a refreshing drink, but it will also lend your smoothie a creamier texture. Though ice cubes are an option, they will just dilute your beverage down. If you’re going to freeze your fruit beforehand, make sure it’s chopped up – your blender will thank you.

Follow our green smoothie tips, and we promise it’ll be love at first sip! If you’re feeling adventurous, take a look at one our newest green smoothie recipes below – it packs a punch in nutrition as well as flavor.

Green smoothie recipe

5 min200 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cups spinach
• 1 small apple
• 1 cup cilantro
• ½ cucumber
• ½ thumb of ginger
• ½ lemon

Method

1. Wash all your veggies thoroughly and peel the ginger.
2. Roughly chop up the cucumber, apple, and the ginger.
3. Add them to a blender, along with the spinach, cilantro, and the fresh lemon juice.
4. Blend until well combined and pour into your favorite smoothie glass.

Other green smoothie recipes in the app

If we’ve got you all excited about green smoothies, you’ll be happy to hear that we’ve got plenty more in the 8fit Pro app recipe book. All you have to do to get them is sign up and upgrade to Pro. That way you’ll have access to recipes like our Smoothie Bowl, Green Power Smoothie, Green Ginger Smoothie, Lemon and Spinach Smoothie, and even Apple Fennel Granola Smoothie. What are you waiting for?