Enjoy 7 days of green smoothie recipes with these yummy variations on a basic green smoothie. From berries to pineapple (and even chocolate!), you’re sure to find a new favorite for breakfast or a snack. What will be your next green smoothie?
There are two basic types of green smoothie makers:
TYPE A. The person who throws in whatever they think sounds good and VOILA! They have a deliciously healthy green smoothie.
TYPE B. The person who follows a recipe because they’re slightly afraid that just throwing in this or that will make their smoothie taste bad. And then they’ll feel bad for wasting all that produce. And then drink the smoothie anyway.
I’m type B. I want my smoothies to taste good, so I follow a recipe. Mr. Crumbs is Type A. He doesn’t care what it tastes like in the end as long as he’s getting a glass full of fruits and veggies. He says that it tastes “good,” but I’ve tasted a few and it’s hard to get past the look of it in order to qualify the smoothie as edible.
So, I stick to the green smoothie recipes. Mostly.
I spent 7 days drinking 7 healthy new green smoothie variations based on my original green smoothie recipe and I just want to say…
THESE ARE DELICIOUS SMOOTHIES! SERIOUSLY.
I’m addicted to smoothies. I can’t imagine having anything else for breakfast for the rest of my life. Looks like I’ll have to move my Scrambled Eggs with bacon and Homemade Biscuits to dinner time!
I figured if I liked these green smoothie recipes, you would too, so I’m sharing some basics and some variations for you to try.
7 DAYS OF GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES
Not only is drinking green smoothies a delicious way to enjoy a plant-based breakfast, but they are also:
- Healthy! Of course, it’s a no-brainer. But with leafy greens (like spinach or kale), which are high in fiber, protein, iron, folate, and a bunch of other vitamins and minerals, you can’t beat a green smoothie for breakfast!
- Quick and easy. Perfect for weekdays on the go, where there’s no time to fix Sourdough Pancakes, Cinnamon Blender Waffles, or a Breakfast Casserole.
- Convenient. Did you know that you can make frozen smoothie packs ahead of time? Then you just pull a pack from the freezer each morning, whiz in your blender with some liquid, and go!
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN A BASIC GREEN SMOOTHIE?
So, what should you put in a healthy smoothie recipe? Here’s my most basic green smoothie recipe:
- 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy milk like Coconut Milk or Almond Milk)
- 1 banana
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed (optional)
HOW TO MAKE A GREEN SMOOTHIE
Step 1. Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend on high until smooth.
Note: Add ice cubes to the blender if you want it extra cold and thick. Or use a frozen banana / frozen mango in place of ice for a creamy, thick green smoothie.
For even more about how to make a basic green smoothie, and why I picked the ingredients that I did, check out The Best Green Smoothie for Beginners here.
GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES HEALTHY
I set out to make my green smoothie recipes healthy and delicious, and I think I’ve done it! These variations all taste great, but day #4 was one of my very best green smoothie recipes, with the pineapple and mango! YUM!
Feel free to use these variations or mix and match ingredients to your liking. Don’t forget that you can always switch up the greens, substitute non-dairy milk, or add chia seeds rather than flax seeds.
DAY 1: SWITCH TO NON-DAIRY MILK AND ADD KEFIR
We’re keeping our green smoothie recipes healthy, but still adding variety. First, try switching out the dairy milk to non-dairy milk and adding kefir.
- ½ cup kefir (or use Greek yogurt)
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
DAY 2: ADD STRAWBERRIES TO YOUR BASIC GREEN SMOOTHIE
I love how strawberries add color to a smoothie, although you might find that with spinach smoothie recipes, strawberries don’t always make for the most appetizing color combo. I promise they taste delicious though!
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- 4 whole strawberries
DAY 3: ADD BLUEBERRIES TO GREEN SHAKES
Another fruit that makes your green shakes an interesting shade is blueberries. Sometimes you get purplish, and sometimes you get brown. Again, it’s the flavor that counts here, and I love this one!
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- ½ cup blueberries
DAY 4: PINEAPPLE AND MANGO GREEN SMOOTHIE
Pineapple juice and mangoes make this green smoothie amazing! This is such a fresh-tasting combination.
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup pineapple juice (strained from canned pineapple, or use orange juice)
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- ½ mango
DAY 5: PEANUT BUTTER SMOOTHIE WITH GREENS
Add peanut butter for protein to this smoothie with greens. The peanut butter combined with the banana is super yummy with just enough sweetness. Almond butter or another nut butter makes a good substitute if peanuts are out.
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
DAY 6: NUTELLA GREEN SMOOTHIE
Nutella makes this green smoothie rich and nutty with a hint of chocolate. You know it’s going to be a good day if it starts with chocolate!
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- 1 tablespoon Nutella
DAY 7: MIXED BERRY GREEN SMOOTHIE
A mixed berry variation makes this green smoothie bright and flavorful. I especially love a mixture that includes raspberries for a bit of tart flavor.
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup plain almond milk
- 1 banana
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed
- ½ cup mixed frozen berries
ADDITIONAL VARIATIONS FOR GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES
- Substitute 1 cup of kale for 2 cups of spinach. This is a great option if you have extra kale on hand from other recipes and you’re not in the mood for a Kale Caesar Salad.
- If you’re not ready for kefir, use ½ cup homemade yogurt and ½ cup coconut water.
- Use frozen fruit for the best green smoothie recipe. Using frozen fruit makes your smoothie cold and adds to the creamy texture!
- Increase the protein naturally with these other easy changes.
- Find 10 more smoothie recipes here, all tested and approved (and enjoyed!) during a 5-day smoothie fast!
- Need EVEN MORE smoothie recipes? Find 30+ high protein recipes in my eBook, High Protein, No Powder!
FAQS FOR GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES
How do you add healthy protein to a green smoothie?
Start by reading my post here on ways to add more protein to smoothies, and if you really want to dive in, my eBook “High Protein, No Powder” is the ONLY eBook that educates on the dangers of protein powders, teaches you how to make your own high protein smoothies using REAL food and offers 30 smoothie recipes you can make NOW. Read more HERE and continue the journey to healthy living!
What greens to put in a smoothie recipe?
Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, chard, and romaine lettuce) are high in fiber, protein, iron, folate, and a bunch of other vitamins and minerals that you probably didn’t know you needed.
You can pretty much add whichever greens you want. I first started with the basic recipe (the “no fail” recipe that even beginners would like), which uses spinach, and I built the variations from there.
Are green smoothies really that good for you?
Is it okay to drink a green smoothie every day?
According to myplate.gov, the average person should consume 3 cups of vegetables a day (or more). Green smoothies are the perfect way to get in a portion of your daily requirement for fruits and vegetables.
MORE DELICIOUS HEALTHY SMOOTHIES
Ready to experiment even more with your green smoothie? Here’s how to…
- Boost the protein. 12 Ways to Naturally Boost the Protein in Smoothies.
- Add superfoods. 7 Superfoods to Hide in Your Smoothie.
- Detox. Try this Detox Smoothie with Redmond Clay.
- And try these yummy flavorful smoothies:
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Enjoy 7 days of green smoothie recipes with these yummy variations on a basic green smoothie. From berries to pineapple (and even chocolate!), you’re sure to find a new favorite for breakfast or a snack. What will be your next green smoothie?
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy milk like almond milk)
- 1 banana
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tablespoon flax seed (optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend on high until smooth.
- Add ice cubes to the blender if you want it extra cold and thick. Or use a frozen banana / frozen mango in place of ice.
Notes
Variations:
- Day 1: Switch dairy milk to ½ cup almond milk and ½ cup kefir
- Day 2: Add 4 whole strawberries
- Day 3: Add ½ cup of blueberries
- Day 4: Use ½ cup kefir and ½ cup pineapple juice for the liquid, plus add ½ of a mango
- Day 5: Add 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- Day 6: Add 1 Tbsp Nutella
- Day 7: Add ½ cup mixed berries
Thank you so much for the great ideas! I’ve always stuck with kale, mixed berries, and a banana because I had no other recipes. These are awesome & will be trying ASAP!!!! Thanks Love!!
You are most welcome Shubham!
My family loves these!!!!! Thank you !
I’m way late to this party, but: peaches, apple, banana, and ginger plus your greens of choice – I usually do kale, but use spinach if I’m out of kale. So.stinking.good.
I’m on a diet recently and i think this post will help me a lot. It makes my recipe diversified. Thanks !
Love the different variations you put on your green smoothies. No need to over-complicate things! I’m a big fan of chia, too, as well as flax. Thanks for sharing these.
Thanks Tiffany for your reply. I just wonder you took only one smoothie in the morning? Is it enough to survive whole day?
During the fast, I drank one smoothie in the morning and one in the early evening. On a typical day, I drink one as a replacement for breakfast but still eat lunch and dinner.
Hi Tiffany!!
Firstly, I would like to thank you for sharing your recipes. I have a few questions regarding your “7-days of green monster smoothies” plan:
– Can the smoothies be replaced as your main meals, just like your “five days fast smoothies”?
-How many times a day can I drink each smoothie and how much do I consume in each serving?
Thank you very much in advance
Hi Mahasti! You can use these smoothies as your main meals if you’re looking to cut back on calories. I personally drink one smoothie each morning and drink whatever the blender makes (so the full recipe as written). Hope that helps!
This sounds so yummy. I wonder is there a substitute for banana. They make my mouth itch and I try to stay away from them, which is hard cause they are so yummy.
Hi Rachelle!
Mango, pears and even chia seeds can be used in place of bananas, which add a hint of sweet and creamy to the smoothie. Mango’s are in season and super cheap right now, so if possible, scope out your markets and buy “seconds.” Puree it all up and freeze in ice cubs to savor the flavor until pears are ripe. 🙂 ~Tiffany
PS – if bananas make your mouth itch, there’s a good chance avocados may too… which are also a good sub for bananas, but won’t help with the itch factor. 😉
BEAUTIFUL photo – I want to reach right through the screen and grab it! I am pinning this and sharing it on FB as well as making one as soon as I finish typing this!! YUM! Thanks for sharing, sweet friend!! 🙂
Hey! Thanks for sharing Kel! I’m SO addicted to smoothies, it’s insane. Then again I’m also doing a bit of research too… 😉 The one with mango is REALLY good, and I’m already looking forward to pumpkin season again! 🙂
Tiffany,
I made the basic Green Monster recipe this morning and boy was it tasty!!! I had tons of energy afterward and felt really clear and focused! It was simply amazing (since I AM NOT a morning person)!!!!!
Thank you so much for these recipe ideas! I will continue experimenting with additional fruits to keep it interesting! For the record, I’m hooked!
Jan,
I’m so glad you liked them! I’m hooked too, and feel almost “naked” when we run out of greens. We did a banana/mango/watermelon/orange one this week that tasted like a dreamsicle – delish!
I have been in the smoothie world for about two weeks, I’ve been looking at the famous green monster, but though I love spinach, I was afraid to try…today I did, following your day 1 recipe, adding some peanut butter (without knowing that one came later) oh my word! I’m in love!
So, thanks!
Gabriela,
Welcome to the amazing world of smoothies! I’m so glad you enjoyed your first green smoothie! We’re addicted in the Crumbs house, and have tried even more fruits as the seasons are changing. Enjoy the fresh flavors!! ~Tiffany
Mmmmmm,
What am I missing? I make ALL my smoothies w/o diary of any kind – I use water as the base. A typical recipe would be:
20-24 Oz water
2-3 cups Kale (keep frozen)
1-2 cups Collards (keep frozen)
3+ cups spinach
blend down.. add…
cucumber
orange or apple
honey (or bee pollen)
Stevia
2 cups or so of frozen fruit
Makes 2-3 Qts that I drink throughout the day.
I figure the negatives of today’s dairy products outweigh ANY potential health benefit.
I do drink Almond milk and use for recipes or on my cereal but I stay away from dairy.
I have drank well over 700 smoothies in the past year and feel FANTASTIC – no digestive issues, sleep great, have lost 50 Lbs and have turned the clock back 20 years as far as my energy level.
Have you tried using silken tofu? Or adding cocoa powder?
Agnes,
I don’t personally eat tofu because of the GMO issue with soy so I’m not sure how it would turn out. A smidge of cocoa powder would work, maybe 1/2 – 1 tsp (because a little bit goes a long way). A chocolate variety sounds yummy! ~Tiffany
Hi there I love your blog so much and wonderful information two questions
do these smoothies keep you full until lunch?
Do you use a high powered blender like vitamin or blender?
Thank you!!
Ozlem,
Thank you!! These smoothies keep me full for about 3 hours. A couple pieces of cheese or some veggie sticks would hold me over until the next meal time. I currently have a Blendtec, but I’ve made green smoothies in an Oster, commonly found at Target! ~Tiffany