The Ultimate Green Smoothie

Every once in a while, I get obsessed with a certain recipe, and this ultimate green smoothie recipe is one of them! Why? For one, you would never guess there’s spinach in it. And, it’s SO GOOD, I make it on repeat.

It’s Not Your Mom’s Spinach

When I was growing up, the only spinach I can really recall eating was the frozen kind my mom would thaw out to put in lasagna. I can’t say I was a huge fan, but when it was blended in with cheese and noodles, it wasn’t so bad. However, I am still grateful that I never had to eat it boiled or canned. Yuck!

The truth about spinach, though, is that it really isn’t so different than other vegetables. It tastes different depending on how it’s prepared. Think of something like carrots, for instance. They’re sweeter and have a crunchy texture when raw, but when cooked, they mellow out. I’ll eat them in casseroles but I can’t say cooked carrots blow me away with flavor. Raw spinach doesn’t really happen to have much of a taste when served raw at all, which is why it’s amazing in this smoothie. I also love it cooked in a skillet with a bit of olive oil and salt. Yum! Then there’s the avocado. It’s so amazing on trendy avocado toast, but I don’t ever think I could tire of guacamole either. Just sayin’.

What’s So Great About Spinach?

Well, let’s just say Popeye was on to something. It’s a superfood that’s loaded with all kinds of good stuff like vitamins A, K, C, and folate, along with iron, magnesium, and B2 in a low-calorie package. If you haven’t tried spinach since your parents made you eat a forkful at dinnertime years upon years ago, perhaps it’s time to give it another go. You may be amazed at how your tastebuds have evolved!

As for the avocado, it’s another nutritional powerhouse. Avocados serve up similar vitamins as spinach, along with potassium and healthy fats, which help your body absorb all those nutrients.

Why A Smoothie?

I love the fact that I can whip up this smoothie and take it on the go. I can bring it in to the office and drink it as the main part of my lunch. And it honestly takes less time than assembling a salad just for myself. It’s refreshing, filling, and is an excellent fuel for a busy day. Sure, I could drive to one of those smoothie shops on my lunch break. But, I’d likely pay over five dollars for something I can whip up at home for a fraction of the cost and have complete control over what goes in it.

How To Make The Ultimate Green Smoothie

Like many of my recipes, all you need is a blender and a handful of ingredients: milk, yogurt (optional), a banana, your favorite nut butter, a handful of fresh spinach, and avocado. 

You can use any milk you prefer, even Lactaid. I prefer using unsweetened vanilla almond milk, even though I love organic skim milk. I also added in a small amount of plain Greek yogurt for a thicker consistency. It’s optional but gives the smoothie a creamier consistency. You can also use your favorite nut butter or plain old peanut butter. I happen to love this nut butter from Costco, which I also used to make these Easy, No-Bake Energy Bites.

It’s much lower in sugar but also has chia, sunflower, pumpkin, and flax seeds in it. For the avocado, I buy frozen, pre-chunked avocados, which you can find with other frozen berries and fruits. The spinach can be fresh or bagged. Just don’t use frozen or canned!

As far as blenders go, someday, perhaps I’ll have a Vitamix or Ninja. For now, I’m perfectly happy with my Food Network blender. It works like a charm, and it’s the easiest thing to assemble and clean ever. I’ve had it for years, way before the Vitamix came on the scene, and was a fraction of the cost. Ready to make this smoothie? Let’s get to the recipe.

The Ultimate Green Smoothie Recipe

• 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, or whatever milk you prefer
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (optional) for creaminess
• 1 tablespoon of nut butter
• A big handful of spinach
• 1 banana, chunked
• 1/4 cup of frozen chopped avocado

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 15-30 seconds. Pour into two smaller glasses if you’re willing to share. I won’t blame you if you want to keep it all for yourself!

Do you have a favorite, go-to smoothie? Let me know in the comments!