8 Ways to Make Your Green Smoothies Delicious

It’s easy to get lost in the intricacies of therapeutic diets and lifestyle habits that target specific health issues and problems. When you get right down to it and strip away all the extras, the core of healthy eating is about consuming lots of plant-based foods, choosing best quality ingredients that you can afford, and making food using whole foods as much as you can. One of the best ways to pack a nutritious wallop into your day is by making green smoothies a regular habit.

why drink green smoothies?

It’s easy to down a sweet smoothie loaded with bananas or strawberries. While I’m not knocking fruit-based smoothies, incorporating more smoothies with greens and other vegetables has numerous benefits. Dark leafy greens:

• Are high in fibre, which benefits our digestion and cholesterol levels
• Contain Vitamin K, magnesium and calcium for good bone health
• Are loaded with antioxidants to combat damage to our cells
• Have a boatload of B vitamins, which help us maintain energy levels and deal with stress
• Are low on the glycemic index to help manage blood sugar levels

When consumed in blended form, green smoothies allow you to sip up far more foods and nutrients than if you ate each vegetable or fruit on its own in a salad, for example. They’re an easy and quick food that can be portable for when you’re on the go (and even made ahead) and can be adapted so they’re kid-friendly.

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Choosing greens for your smoothies

Most greens have a similar nutrient profile, but the flavours are definitely different! Some greens have strong, bitter and spicy tastes. If you’re new to green smoothies, or aren’t used to bitter flavours, start off with:

• Spinach
• Lettuces, such as romaine, bibb, Boston or leaf
• Microgreens

Then, you can start mixing in stronger greens like:

• Kale
• Collards
• Arugula
• Watercress
• Beet and turnip greens
• Mustard greens
• Swiss chard

Don’t forget to play with green vegetables other than leafy greens, such as:

• Zucchini
• Celery
• Cabbage
• Sprouts
• Fennel
• Bok choy
• Broccoli

And even though cucumber and avocado are technically fruits, those are some excellent green ingredients for your smoothies. Cucumber adds a little sweetness and hydration, while the avocado makes every smoothie ultra luxurious and creamy.

best blender for green smoothies

The best blender to use to make your green smoothies is the one you already have!

If you don’t have a blender and are looking to make a great investment, the Vitamix is it for me. I am a huge fan of using a high-speed blender such as the Vitamix, as this kitchen tool is essential to my cooking in multiple ways.

If you’re working with a non-high-speed blender, start off by blending your greens with 1 cup of water and one or two high-water fruits (watermelon, cucumber, etc.). Then add the remaining ingredients in small increments as to not overwhelm your blender. This helps blend more smoothly. Add water as needed to reach desired consistency. Blend for longer than you think is necessary and then blend a little more.

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8 Ways to Make your Green Smoothie More Delicious and Flavourful

The advantage of a green smoothie is you can pack it with nutrient-dense veggies – but you don’t want it to end up tasting like a blended salad, either. The following are some great ingredients that add flavour and nutrition to your green smoothies.

1. Add Sweet Fruits

When you first start blending green smoothies, you may find yourself relying on the sweeter fruits and vegetables. This is absolutely fine – just don’t get yourself stuck in a smoothie rut where you’re only loading them with bananas and mango. Aim to reduce the sweetness of your smoothies gradually, adding fewer super sweet fruits and focusing on the lower glycemic fruits like green apples, berries, lemon/lime and pears.

Some fruits to consider:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Pineapple
• Papaya
• Pomegranate
• Cranberries
• Kiwifruit
• Figs
• Watermelon
• Lemon
• Lime

2. Add Sweet Vegetables

Sweeter veggies are great to add to your smoothies. Some to consider:

• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Carrots
• Sweet Potato
• Beets
• Winter squashes
• Parsnips

3. Add Herbs

Fresh herbs are a fantastic way to add flavour and a load of nutrition to your smoothie. What you add will depend on your tastes. Mint, parsley and cilantro are good basics.

4. Add Nut or Seed Milk

Skip the store-bought almond milk and blend your own, which you can flavour to your heart’s desire. Strawberry Almond Milk? Yes, please!

5. Add Coconut in Multiple Forms

Coconut products are packed with nutritious fats and fibre. They help make your smoothies sweet and creamy. Try:

• Coconut water (great for hydration)
• Coconut milk
• Coconut meat
• Shredded coconut
• Coconut butter
• Coconut oil

6. Try Herbal Teas

Chilled tea is a nutrient-rich base for smoothies. Make a large batch to enjoy in smoothies throughout the week, or freeze in ice cube trays for easy smoothie additions.

Some options:

• Ginger tea
• Turmeric tea
• 15 Herbs I Always Have On Hand

7. Try Nut and Seed Butters

Nut and seed butters offer fat, protein, fibre and a creamy texture to your smoothies. Like nut and seed milk, you can flavour these up handily.

8. Try Delicious Superfoods

Smaller amounts of superfoods can add a load of flavour to your green smoothies. Some of my faves include:

• Cacao powder
• Goji berries
• Dates
• Bee pollen
• Chia seeds
• Ginger
• Turmeric (fresh or dry)
• Lucuma powder
• Essential oils
• Protein powder (I like collagen)
• Flax, chia or hemp oil
• Walnut oil

putting it all together: creating a balanced and tasty green smoothie

For a smoothie to function as a complete, balanced meal or snack, it needs to contain fibre, fat and protein. It’s also important to use green smoothie ingredients in the optimal amounts (for example, 2 Tbsp of turmeric will make it undrinkable).

To maximize both flavour and nutrition of green smoothies, I recommend the following formula:

• 2 cups base liquid
• 1–2 cups green veggies
• 1/2–1 cup sweet fruits or sweet veg
• 1–2 Tbsp protein
• 1–2 Tbsp fat
• 1 tsp–1 Tbsp extras

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Making Kid-Friendly Green Smoothies

In our house, we try as much as possible for our son to eat whatever we are eating rather than making separate meals. The same goes for smoothies. Thankfully, our son is an adventurous eater for the most part and loves to drink smoothies.

If your kids (or family) is smoothie averse, try:

• Using sweeter fruits and milder greens
• Have them make the smoothie with you
• Freeze your smoothie into popsicle molds (kids are sometimes much more willing to eat them this way!)

Let’s put our green smoothie making into practice! Try this green mojito smoothie recipe – it’s a very delicious starter smoothie.

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These tips for green smoothies are a guideline, but I encourage you to experiment and get creative!