Spinach Smoothies

I know I had a bunch of you request the recipe for the spinach smoothie, but I don't really follow a recipe. It's pretty much different every time I make it, but I found some good recipes on my friend's healthy foods blog that are similar to how I make it. I've tried both of them, and they both taste good!


Recipe from Marian:

This can be made many different ways, but this is the recipe that my kids like the best, so I stick with it. We have it for breakfast every morning!

1 1/2 c. water
1/2 c. orange juice concentrate
fresh spinach (I have a 5 cup blender, and I fill it all the way with spinach, packed down)

• Blend spinach down and add:

2 bananas
10 to 12 frozen strawberries
1 t. vanilla

• Blend until smooth.



Recipe from Eliza:

This is the smoothie that I usually make. Every day turns out a little different, but good. It is probably the lowest calorie/healthiest of the smoothies we have here because it only uses fruit to sweeten and water as a base.

3 c. water
4 to 5 c. spinach or kale (I just pack the blender full until I get up to the water line)
2 frozen bananas
1 to 2 c. fresh or frozen fruit (strawberries, peaches, berries, oranges, pineapple)
juice of 1 lime (optional but so good)
3 T. flaxseed (optional)

• Blend until smooth.

*Note: I also usually put in some broccoli. It's strong, so not too much (maybe 4 to 5 florets). I also sometimes add carrots but the kids don't seem to like that as much. The flaxseeds are great for omega 3's and they really don't change the taste. Just make sure you blend them all up! If it's not sweet enough, add a little bit of sweetener or just add more fruit. Bananas are a great sweetener. Whenever my bananas are getting a little old, I just peel them, break them in half, and put them in a ziploc freezer bag so we always have a rotating supply in the freezer.



Recipes are borrowed from:

My version:

I usually fill my blender full of fresh or frozen spinach. Then I add about a cup or more of pineapple juice, or 3 tbsp frozen pineapple or orange juice concentrate. Then I just add whatever fruit I have at my house, usually strawberries and bananas. I've used blueberries before, but they make the color so unappetizing, and my kids won't drink it. If my fruit is fresh I add ice, but if it's frozen it doesn't need it. I water and vanilla to desired consistency and sweetness.

See what I mean? It's hard to come up with my own recipe but there you go!