Is This the World’s Tastiest Green Smoothie?

I’m a huge of fan of smoothies, especially the green smoothie I’m about to share with you here. I think it’s the WORLD’s tastiest green smoothie. What do you think?

Now, one common fear many people have about drinking (or eating) greens is that they taste “yucky”.

Because of that, I’ve made it my mission to design an arsenal of green smoothie recipes that taste absolutely amazing. And if my young boys approve of them, then I know I’m on the right track.

Today’s green smoothie is no exception.

And, if you’ve still got questions about how to make a green smoothie then I’ve compiled the ultimate green smoothie FAQ for you at the bottom of this post to equip you with everything you need to make green smoothies a regular part of your life. But for starters…

Here’s the Tastiest Green Smoothie Ever…

Here’s the follow-along video for this recipe:

Your Green Smoothie Questions Answered

Here are some of the most common questions I’ve been asked over the years about green smoothies. I’m sure you’ll find these answers helpful.

What are green smoothies?

Green smoothies are essentially blended smoothies that incorporate green leafy vegetables and/or greens powder, along with other ingredients like fruit. As a result, most but not all of them (depending on ingredients), end up looking green – hence the name.

What to put in green smoothies?

A good green smoothie should consist of fruit, green leafy veggies, protein, fiber, and healthy fats – ideally in that order.

By making fruit the base (about 60%) of your smoothie, you mask the taste of the greens and make your smoothie much more enjoyable. The protein, fiber, and healthy fats balance the sugar load and make it a more satisfying “meal”.

How many green smoothies per day is recommended?

I would recommend at least one per day. However, you can certainly thrive on more than that. Some days could even be a “green smoothie day” where all of your meals are various green smoothies. There really are no rules.

Why are green smoothies healthy?

Green smoothies are healthy because they’re usually packed with several servings of fruits and vegetables. This is important because we know that getting more of these plant foods into our diet is the key to great health.

In fact, did you know that the higher your average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease?

The largest study of its kind looking at 110,000 men and women revealed that, compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake (less than 1.5 servings a day), those who averaged 8 or more servings a day were 30% less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke.

The study also found that green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard; and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale; and citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit (and their juices) were the most important contributors.(1)

Which blender is best for green smoothies?

I’m a big fan of the VitaMix because it can easily handle anything you throw its way. Not only does it easily crush and pulverize ice, but it also slashes through the tough cell walls (ie. fiber) found in all vegetables and fruit.

A recent study from the University of Toronto determined that the VitaMix processing method does indeed alter plant cell wall structure in a unique way, influence particle size differently, and may increase bioavailability.(2)

What does this mean to you?

You can only get the benefits of food when cell walls are broken to release the trapped nutrients. Chewing may only release a portion of these nutrients as shown by these lab micrographs. VitaMix processing power breaks open more cell walls which may release MORE of these nutrients.

What greens to use in green smoothies?

Any leafy greens are fair game for a green smoothie. However, it’s helpful to understand the slight difference in flavours that each green leafy vegetable provides.

If you want a subtle taste, then use spinach or Swiss chard. Kale and collard greens will provide a slightly “spicy” taste because of their sulfur content. Lettuce is also fairly neutral but offers a little more of distinct taste than spinach.

When is the best time to drink a green smoothie?

I like to recommend drinking your green smoothie as one of your first meals of the day. That way, you’ve got it done. As with any healthy initiative, the longer you wait to do it, the less likely you’ll actually do it.

With that said, there is no wrong time to drink a green smoothie. Another great time is right after your workout, especially if your green smoothie is higher in fruit (and thus sugar) which can be ideal for muscle glycogen replenishment.

How to make green smoothies taste better?

My friends Jadah and Jen from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com recommend that as long as you follow the 60/40 formula (60% fruits; 40% leafy greens), you should not be able to taste the green veggies in your smoothies.

The fruits naturally mask the taste and bananas are the perfect natural sweetener for any green smoothie packed with spinach, kale, or other leafy green. I agree with them.

How to make green smoothies thick?

If you want to thicken up your green smoothie try either of these three options: add an avocado, add ice, and/or add 1-2 tbsp of chia seeds (for a 2 serving smoothie). Either of these options will thicken up your smoothie.

How to make green smoothies more filling?

The key to making any smoothie more filling is to add protein, fiber, and healthy fats in to the mix. Protein and fiber, especially, are well-known to keep you full for hours and prevent cravings.

Although I’d recommend a good protein powder for many smoothie recipes, when it comes to green smoothies, some protein powders just won’t cut it.

For that reason, adding in high protein foods like 2 hemp seeds, 1/2 cup almonds, or 2 tbsp almond/peanut butter are great protein options for a 2 serving smoothie.

For fiber and healthy fats, consider adding 2 tbsp of ground flax or chia seeds. You can also add in 1-2 tbsp of coconut oil or flax oil for a more direct infusion of omega-3 fats.

How to make green smoothies less chunky?

If you have a high-speed blender like a Vitamix, you will always have a perfectly smooth smoothie.

If you’re using a less powerful blender, blend your leafy greens and liquids first (water, almond milk or coconut water) until you get a juice-like consistency, then add in the rest. You should be able to achieve this texture in 30 to 60 seconds.

How to make a delicious green smoothie?

It’s all about the ingredients and the proportions of each. For starters, it’s easiest to make your smoothies 60% fruit and 40% greens (and other things). This will make your smoothies taste great. Check out these 11 delicious green smoothie recipes for more ideas.

Why use chia seeds in smoothies?

As mentioned above, chia seeds provide fiber and omega-3 fats to your smoothies – both really good for your health and for keeping you full longer.

Because chia seeds also hold about 12x their weight in water they will thicken your smoothie quite substantially if you let it sit too long. That’s not a bad thing, just a texture thing to consider.

Which smoothies are good for weight loss?

Any smoothie packed with tons of micronutrients from vegetables and fruit alongside a healthy serving of protein and fiber will help with weight loss.

Which protein powder is best for smoothies?

For most smoothies, I would recommend my Pure Plant Protein powder since it tastes amazing and is the highest quality plant protein on the market.

However, for a green smoothie I would recommend using actual whole foods like hemp seeds, almonds, or almond/peanut butter since they naturally fit and taste better with greens.

Why are fruit smoothies bad for you?

Fruit smoothies aren’t necessarily bad for you. Conversely, juicing fruit is and that’s because juicing strips away the fiber that slows the absorption of problematic fructose (found in fruit).

Because a good smoothie will still have all the fiber of the entire fruit plus some veggies and protein, fiber, and fat, all of these combine to reduce the sugar load of an otherwise “high sugar” fruit smoothie.

Why are smoothies better than juicing?

Smoothies aren’t necessarily better than juicing, they’re just another option. Juicing, as mentioned above, strips away the fiber of the juiced produce. That’s beneficial if you’re juicing vegetables and want easier absorption of those nutrients.

Smoothies contain the whole foods (fiber, etc..) and will naturally be more filling and allow you to add in more protein, fiber, and fat than if you were just drinking a green juice.

What liquid should I put in my smoothies?

For most green smoothies, water is best. However, if you want a touch of sweetness, then coconut water is another good option. For recipes, like the Sweet Green Almond on this page, almond milk is the preferred liquid. So, it really depends on the recipe.

There you have it, the ultimate green smoothie and most commonly asked smoothie questions. If you’ve enjoyed this post, pass it along to your friends who are also into green smoothies and be sure to download your FREE 1-page Perfect Smoothie Printable below.