On their own, leafy greens can have a distinct flavour that is hard to associate with a sweet breakfast smoothie, but when combined with the rest of the ingredients – you’ll barely taste them, while still getting all the benefits of their nutrition. Plus, since you’re using the vegetables raw, it means even more nutrients!
Fruits and vegetables were born to be combined, and this is the ultimate, best green smoothie recipe for beginners- those easing their way into adding more veggies into their shakes. Honestly, I now chuck some greens into every smoothie I make – it may not always look good (we’ve all had those weird brown looking smoothies, right?!) but it tastes delicious, and I know that I’m packing extra nutrients into the first meal of the day.
Are green smoothies healthy?
Short answer- yes, green smoothies are incredibly healthy – all depending on the ingredients that you’re combining the greens with. My ultimate goal when making any smoothie is not only for it to taste great, but to try and get a nutritionally balanced meal. This tropical green smoothie is a combination of leafy greens, healthy fats, fruit, fibre (I’ve used oats), and protein (I’ve used my homemade protein blend– but chia seeds, nuts, protein powder will all work). Greens: Leafy green vegetables are packed with fibre, minerals and vitamins while remaining low in calories. Plus, you can add a big handful into a shake with no need to worry about it tasting ‘green’. If anything, each green adds its own very subtle difference to your shake, and you’ll quickly come to choosing a favourite.
I particularly like adding spinach as it tastes sweeter and is more tender. So when you mix it with banana, mango and other ingredients, you definitely can’t even tell it’s there. I usually use fresh spinach, but frozen works too- no need to thaw.
Avocados provide creaminess and healthy fats and are incredibly nutritious (fibre, lots of vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants). Yes, they’re not the lowest calorie fruit out there – but the nutrients they provide are well worth the extra calories, for the rich, creamy flavour.
Plus, avocados are full of heart-healthy fats, and you only need half on a small avocado per smoothie. Top tip: If you have plenty of ripe avocados and are worried about them remaining green, chop them in halves and freeze in an airtight container and use for your smoothies.
Adding a small portion of fruit: Adding a small portion of fruit acts as a natural sweetener and adds flavour. I love mangos (or even mangos and pineapples) in this combo, but you can add your favourite fruit. Just be warned – depending on what you add, it will affect the colour of the shake. Other healthy Add ons: One of my favourites in simple healthy green smoothies is ginger. It provides a nice kick of flavour, is packed with antioxidants, and is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. I discuss the health benefits of ginger in more details on this ginger shots article.
When I don’t have fresh ginger handy, I either add dried powder or a ginger shot, which I always have in either liquid or frozen form (frozen ginger juice ice cubes).
Variations to this tropical green smoothie
Ultimately one of the best things about making healthy green smoothie recipes for breakfast; they are so adaptable to taste. The main thing is that you pack in some leafy greens; spinach, kale, swiss chard etc. with optional extras like zucchini and cucumber.
If you’re not a fan of mango – swap it out with pineapple or another favourite fruit of yours (or add them both if you’d prefer). Want to omit the avocado – sure, how about some homemade nut butter instead- Almond butter, peanut butter- the choice is up to you. It’s great to include some healthy fats to keep your body running at optimal levels and add richness to the green smoothie. Want some extra ‘zing’– Adding ginger and / or lime juice is a sure-fire way to pack more of a flavour punch, and even some cheeky additional health benefits. You probably already know I love ginger – whether in these Ginger Turmeric Immune-Boosting Energy Shots (juicer recipe) or Simple Beetroot And Ginger Juice Recipe – there’s lots of love for ginger on this blog. For a lighter, low calorie ‘snack’ green smoothie Omit the oats, and use a light liquid option like water/ coconut water.
Can I prepare smoothies ahead of time?
Smoothies are perfect breakfast meal-prep options. You can freeze most of the ingredients (which makes for a thick, creamy shake), neatly arranged in reusable freezer bags or freezer-friendly containers, and then simply add the liquid and blend when wanted. If your blender is low-powered, then it might find it hard to deal with all the frozen ingredients – make sure to put the liquid closest to the blades, along with the softest ingredients, to help get it going.
Best Liquids for blending smoothies
I like using dairy-free alternatives when making smoothies. Homemade nut and seed milks are perfect choices. When choosing which liquid to blend the smoothie in, be mindful of the high calories count in some of them, like coconut milk. I love using almond milk or hemp milk – or for this tropical smoothie, you might even like coconut water, for a lighter, sweeter taste. You can also use something like orange juice (fresh to avoid added sugars), or a healthy immune-boosting shot (linked above). You can control the thickness of the smoothie by adding more or less liquid of choice (also frozen fruits and veggies will naturally thicken the shake). I sometimes like to reduce the liquid content and eat my smoothie in a bowl, enjoying a slow sit-down breakfast. I can top my smoothie bowl with a few nutritious extras without going overboard. These could be shredded coconut, shelled hemp seeds, homemade granola, dragonfruit balls, other fruit, chia seeds and even edible flowers. If you’d like to try other healthy smoothies as well, I recommend checking these out: Citrus & Ginger Mango Smoothie Bowl and Mango Smoothie Bowl. With no further ado, here’s is this green smoothie recipe (great for smoothie beginners), including how to meal-prep and store the ingredients for the future.
The Tropical Green Smoothie How-To
NEEDED:
Banana, avocado, mango (frozen or fresh), ginger, lime, fresh spinach Protein powder, oat flour, Almond milk
MEAL PREP: To meal prep any smoothie is super simple. Measure out the required ingredients – this can feel like a tedious task if doing daily, but if you prep a whole week or two of smoothies in one go, then it cuts down those couple minutes each time, which makes a difference for busy-bee’s. Add the oat flour (optional) and protein powder to your freezer-safe container of choice, then add the spinach and avocado (feel free to add the spinach raw, if preferred). Add the measured and chopped banana, mango and ginger (optional) slices then close the container and freeze. You can keep it in the freezer for up to a month.
Blending the smoothie: Add the required amount of liquid and lime juice in your blender/food processor. Then add the frozen ingredients directly from the container.
Blend till smooth and enjoy immediately.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. Also, I love seeing your recreations, so feel free to tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie.
