Green smoothies are a fresh, fast and easy way to make sure you are packing your day full of nutritious fruits and vegetables. However, if not done correctly you can have a smoothie that is lacking important nutrients or tastes just plain awful! Follow these tips to create the perfect green smoothie every time.
The 5 Important Building Blocks of a Healthy Green Smoothie
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are the foundation of every green smoothie and where they get their green color. Every smoothie should have at least 1-2 cups of leafy greens. I recommend rotating your greens from week to week tomake sure that you are reaping the benefits of all of the different greensand preventing alkaloid build-up. If you are just starting out, try spinach because it tends to have the least flavor. As you get more comfortable, add in other greens such as kale, collard greens,Swisschard, etc.
Fruit
Fresh fruit not only provides other healthy nutrients but also adds a bit of a naturally sweet flavor. Remember, healthy food only works if you actually eat it so it’s important that you enjoy your green smoothie! Each smoothie should have ½-1 piece/serving of fruit. Opt for lower glycemic and higher flavor fruits like berries and apples.
Liquid
The amount and type of liquid that you use is based on how thick you want your smoothie as well as how you want it to taste. Although fruit juices may seem like a good way to add flavor and vitamins, it is also a good way to add a lot of extra sugar. I would avoid using fruit juice whenever possible. Instead, opt for water, green tea or milk (dairy or non-dairy). I start with 1 cup per smoothie and then gradually add more if I need to thin the smoothie out a bit.
Protein
Adding protein to your green smoothie will make it a complete and balanced mealreplacementkeep you satisfied longer and lower the smoothie’s impact on your blood sugar. My favorite proteins are Greek yogurt, protein powder, nuts and hemp hearts.
Fat
Fat is the most often forgotten ingredient in a green smoothie. Typically we try to avoid it to keep the smoothie low in calories. However, fat needs to be present in order toabsorb thefat-solublevitamins (Vitamins A, D, E and K). So if your smoothie is fat free you may be letting some important nutrients slip through your fingers. Oftentimes fat and protein come together (i.e. nuts, yogurt, etc.) but some other great options are coconut oil, avocado, chia seeds and nut butter. Shoot for about 1tsp per smoothie.
As long as you make sure the 5 ingredients are included, you can experiment with your favorite fresh ingredients. Here is my personal Post Workout Smoothie to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup coconut water
- ½ cup plain full fat Greek yogurt
- 1-2 cups spinach
- ½ banana
- ½ cup frozen pineapple
(Calories: 250 Protein 11g, Carbs 43g, Fat 6g)
Time Saving and TasteTips for Your Green Smoothies
Even knowing all the health benefits of green smoothies, sometimes they can still be time consuming or not taste the way that you like. Here are some of my favorite tips to cut down on time and improve taste:
Blend the Greens First
Add the greens and liquid first and blend. Then add the other ingredients. This will make sure the greens are fully broken down and you don’t end up with an embarrassing piece of kale in your teeth.
Make Green Smoothies in Bulk
Green smoothies will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator. I like to double my recipe andthen I’m all set for two days. The ingredients may separate, but after a quick shake it will taste perfect!
Use Freezer Bags
I like buyingproducein bulk and proportioning them into individual freezer bags. So each of my bags will have the fruit, vegetable andsometimes fatcomponents of my smoothie.When it’s time to make it, I just pull out the freezer bag, dump it into a blender,addthe liquid and protein and blend. You’d be surprised how even cutting down on a few minutes makes life easier and makesyoumore likely to do it! Plus, you can save a lot of money by buying in season produce in bulk.
Cut the Taste of the Greens with Lemon Juice
Even with fruit, sometimes greens can be bitter. Add a splash of lemon to cut the taste of the greens and make your green smoothie even more delicious!
I’d love to hear any green smoothie tips or recipes you might have! Leave your recipes in the comments below. Happy blending!
