10+Easy Spinach Recipes for Smoothies: How To Make Yummy Spinach Smoothies Your Family (& Kids) will Devour!

by | Green Smoothies, Kids, Smoothie Recipes

Let’s face it – with our busy schedules, we don’t always have time to sit down and eat a healthy salad or prepare proper healthy dishes that the whole family would enjoy.

So I have a solution for you! Below are some super-easy smoothie recipes. Choose one that you like and whip up a quick green smoothie for yourself (and your family). It will give you energy, and fill your belly for a couple of hours with all the right foods.

Spinach is typically thought of as a lunch or dinner ingredient in a savory recipe, so spinach in a fruit smoothie may sound strange at first, but – even if you don’t enjoy its taste by itself  – the other ingredients will mask the flavor, I promise.

If you haven’t been eating your greens every day, simply jump-start your day with a green smoothie, so that before you even start your day, you’ve already sucked down your veggies, greens, and fruit to boot.

And better yet? So have your kids and other family members.

Benefits of Spinach

Do I even have to talk about the benefits of spinach? We all know it’s good for us. Spinach has been cultivated in many parts of the world for hundreds of years, not just as a food source, but also as an important medicinal plant in many traditional systems of medicine.

Spinach benefits cannot be overstated. In the past it has often been regarded as a plant that helps restore energy, increase vitality, and improve the quality of the blood. The main reason for this is that spinach nutrition provides twice as much iron as most other greens.

Other nutrients it contains include calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, and the B-complex vitamins. It is also a good source of Niacin and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

Spinach, just like other greens that contain chlorophyll and carotene, is a remarkable protector against various diseases, including cancer, anemia, digestive problems, skin problems, as well as acting as a mild laxative. Women who are worried about osteoporosis should consume spinach because it is a rich source of calcium and vitamin K.

In fact, when compared calorie for calorie to other vegetables, some say that nothing is as nutrient dense as spinach, while also being very low in calories.  And no, you don’t have to worry about the oxalates in spinach hurting you.

Spinach is Super Low In Calories & Super Dense in Nutrients = Great For Weight Loss!

Spinach, it’s really low in calories, so it’s an excellent ingredient for all weight loss smoothies, as well as meal replacement smoothies.

1 cup spinach, raw (30g) = 7 calories (!)
1 bunch spinach (340g) = 78 calories (!)

The great thing is that once you try a spinach smoothie recipe, you’ll be consuming lots of it and it won’t matter anymore if you or your picky-eaters at home don’t enjoy munching on spinach salad!

Just adding a few spinach leaves to a your smoothie recipe, is so easy, tastes delicious, and it’s also incredibly good for you!

spinach for smoothie

Health Benefits of Spinach

A bunch of spinach has a mere 78 calories, while providing 10g of protein.

So, how do you prepare a spinach smoothie?

When preparing spinach smoothie recipes, as in the case in most other greens, feel free to experiment and include a wide variety of other fruits and veggies.

By experimenting with different combinations, you will be able to come up with something that you and the whole family will love. You’ll even have an easier time getting your children on board to adopting a healthier diet.

The great thing about spinach is that it’s mild tasting, so it’s a perfect starter green for green smoothies. Even the most picky eaters won’t mind a few leaves of spinach in their fruit smoothie (use some deep colored fruits, such as berries, or colored glass containers to mask the green color for those most green-resistant eaters).

Generally speaking, Vitamix or Blendtec blenders will do a great job with any type of greens, including the tougher greens such as kale, collard greens, or celery tops. These smoothie makers will give you smoother liquid, compared with other blenders.

However, even if you have an inexpensive blender you can make spinach smoothies without worrying about rough texture – spinach is soft enough, so most blenders will handle spinach well.

First, when buying fresh spinach it should be dark green and free from any evidence of decay. Choose spinach that has vibrant deep green leaves and stems with no signs of yellowing. The leaves should look fresh and tender, and not be wilted or bruised. Avoid those that have a slimy coating as this is a sign of decay. Slightly wilted spinach can be revived to freshness by dipping it in cold water.

Do not wash spinach before storing as the exposure to water encourages spoilage. Place spinach in a plastic storage bag and wrap the bag tightly around the spinach, squeezing out as much of the air as possible. Place in refrigerator where it will keep fresh for up to 5 days.

Prior to preparing a smoothie, wash spinach under running water. If using non organic spinach, you may want to soak or spray it with a biodegradable wash, then rinse. Use a salad spinner to dry.

The leaves can be used as is. You don’t need to remove the stalks, as you would for a salad.

Put the leaves into your smoothie blender together with your fruits and veggies – bananas, strawberries, apples, celery, etc.

That’s basically all there is to it!

Spinach Smoothie Recipes

Here are a few green smoothie recipes with spinach for you to try!

I encourage you to experiment mixing spinach with other fruits, greens and vegetables. Also, I’m really not good with exact proportions, so you will need to experiment with quantities, to get that perfect green smoothie for your taste.

spinach smoothie recipe

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Spinach-Pear-Celery Smoothie Recipe

Spinach-Pear-Celery Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 pears
  • 2 stalks of celery
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. Blend well all ingredients in your blender. Pour into glasses and enjoy!
https://greenreset.com/spinach-recipes-for-smoothies/

More Green Smoothie Recipes with Spinach

Spinach-Mixed-Berries

2-4 cups of fresh spinach
a handful of strawberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 blackberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 raspberries (fresh or frozen)
(OR 1 cup of mixed berries from BJ’s)
2 bananas (fresh or frozen)
1 1/2 cup water (more or less, to desired consistency)

For the Mixed Berries Smoothie I usually use frozen organic mixed berries I buy at BJs – a big 3 lbs bag for $9.99 – they are amazing in smoothies – and this is simply my favorite smoothie!

Spinach-Blueberry

1 large banana, ripe
1 cup blueberries, frozen (or Wild Blueberries from BJ’s)
1 cup oz spinach, fresh
1 1/2 cups water (more or less, to desired consistency)

This is my son’s favorite. For this smoothie, I’m using frozen Wild Blueberries from BJ’s – a big 3 lbs bag for $7.99 – they are amazing in smoothies – and this is simply my favorite smoothie!

Spinach-Mixed Tropical Fruit

1 large banana, ripe and peeled
1/4 avocado
6 oz spinach, fresh
1/2 cup pineapple, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup mango, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup grapes, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 1/2 cup water (more or less, to desired consistency)

For this smoothie, I’m using frozen mixed fruits from BJ’s – a big 5 lbs bag for $9.99 – great value and taste!

Spinach-Pear-Celery

2 pears
1 stalk of celery
1 cup spinach
1 cup water

Spinach-Peach

6 peaches
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
2 cups water

Spinach-Kiwi

1 banana
2 peaches
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
1 cup water

Spinach-Watermelon-Strawberries

One half small seeded watermelon, peel and all
10 strawberries
1 bunch spinach
1 cup water

Spinach-Mango Green Smoothie

1 large banana, ripe
1 cup mangoes
1/2 cup strawberries
5 oz spinach
1 1/2 cups water

Spinach-Banana-Orange Smoothie Recipe

2 large ripe bananas
2 oranges
2 large handfuls of baby spinach

Spinach and Cantaloupe Melon Smoothie Recipe

1/2 cantaloupe melon
1 cup of spinach

Spinach-Tomato

Here is a savory recipe for a spinach-tomato smoothie:
4 ripe plum tomatoes
1 handful of spinach leaves
4 leaves of basil leaves

One note here on using frozen fruits in your smoothies. Personally, I don’t like smoothies that are really cold, so if I’m using a lot of frozen ingredients, I add some hot water to the mix to make them room (or rather – my stomach) temperature. I know that many people like frozen drinks, but drinking a lot of frozen smoothies is not really that healthy, in my opinion.

I admit – I am totally hooked on green smoothies!

I never use exact recipes – I constantly experiment by adding different ingredients, depending on what sounds good to my body each day.

Although some smoothies taste more delicious than others, I haven’t been disappointed yet!

Note: Because of the high oxalic acid content of spinach, some experts recommend to keep your spinach intake down to once or twice a week. While I don’t subscribe to the view that greens (including those rich in oxalic acid, such as spinach) are dangerous, if you have any health issues such as kidney stones, speak to a qualified doctor or nutritionist about your concerns and any changes to your diet.

can green smoothies devastate your health with oxalates?

Now that you know how to make some basic spinach recipes, you can experiment with other variations on this theme. When you are ready, start incorporate other, stronger tasting greens into your smoothies.

For all my blending recipes I use Vitamix. If you don’t already own a VitaMix, I strongly encourage you to check out what this machine is capable of! For more information about VitaMix you can go directly to the VitaMix website. You may also want to read my post about the Best Blender.

I LOVE my VitaMix and highly recommend investing in one if you are ready to make serious changes to your diet. I have had mine for almost 5 years and use it daily!

If you decide to purchase Vitamix – be sure to use Promotional Code 06-004554 to get free shipping.

Spinach Smoothie in Vitamix

The Making of Spinach Smoothie: Inside of my Vitamix

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!

I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!


Green Power Soups and Salads: Savory & Crunchy Alternative to Green Smoothies

by | Salads, Soups

Green smoothies are great, but they are sweet-tasting, and sometimes, for whatever reason, we want a more savory flavor.

Plus, the fruit content in many smoothie recipes may be a problem for some people with diabetes and blood sugar issues.

Also, the smoothies are really, …well… smooth (duh!)- almost like baby food – which is important for good assimilation of nutrients, especially if you add hard-to-chew greens, such as kale or collard greens. So, for variety, you may want to add some crunchiness to your meals from time to time.

Whatever the reason, I encourage to add some Green Power Soup and Salad Recipes to your blending repertoire :-).

Low-Calorie, Low-Sugar, Low-Fat Raw Blended Soups and Salads

Ingredients For Blended Soups: Green Power Soups are made of juicy vegetables and leafy greens. The idea is that you create a soup base first, by blending the tough ingredients with some water, and then add softer ingredients, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach and zucchini and blend everything at low speed to add texture. The soup should have thick, creamy consistency with crunchy texture, and can be eaten from a bowl.

Best Ingredients for Blended Salads. Green Power Salads are made of primarily juicy vegetables and greens, that are blended at lower speeds than smoothies, for shorter times, WITHOUT ANY WATER. They have thicker consistency, crunchy texture, and can be eaten from a bowl like a soup or stew.

The best ingredients for blended salads include cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, peppers, and zucchini, with only delicate greens added, such as spinach or lettuce. The reason not to add hard and bitter greens such as kale is that you are only blending the mixture to a consistency of thick salsa or stew – and these ingredients would make it unpalatable.

Herbs, Sprouts and Condiments. You will want to add lots of herbs, such as basil, dill, parsley, cilantro, and other for outrageously delicious taste. Sprouts are also terrific to add to the blend or just sprinkle on top. If you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs are fine too. You may also experiment with other condiments, such as curry powder or hot sauce, onion or garlic.

Sweeteners. Even though this is supposed be a savory tasting recipe, adding some sweetness is really important. Of course, you may skip sweeteners altogether, but – unless you have strong reasons to do it – I really advise you to also add a little bit of sweetness for more yumminess. I like to add some sweet fruits, for example, a piece of a sweet pear, apple, a few strawberries, or grapes, but you may choose to add a little bit of honey, agave syrup, or some other sweetener to make the blended salad even more delicious.

savory

Green Power Creamy Avocado Energy Soup

As I said, the only difference between soup and salad is just that you add a bit of liquid, such as water, to your soup; whereas salads require no added liquid – which makes them a little bit more tricky to do, especially if you don’t have a powerful blender (see the tips below).

So, let’s start with a soup recipe that I put together in a spur of the moment – my husband was coming home soon and I wanted to make a blended salad, but did not have the usual juicy ingredients in my kitchen that are required for salad, such as tomatoes and cucumbers.

I blended the tougher ingredients first – in this case celery with a piece of avocado and a bit of water to create a soup base, and then added other ingredients on low speed to create some texture.

Here are the ingredients that I used (just because I had them in my kitchen at the moment) – and the soup turned out quite tasty!

Ingredients for soup base:
1 large stalk celery
2 lettuce leaves
1/2 small avocado
Blend well on high speed. This will create a nice creamy base.

Ingredients for texture:
1 small zucchini
1/2 pear or a bit of agave (for sweetness)
fresh basil leaves to taste (from my window garden)
a small piece of green onion
Blend on lowest speed that will get the job done. Optionally, you may just chop these ingredients and mix them with the liquid. I also a pinch of salt.

Pour into a bowl and enjoy!

Live Avocado-Cucumber Soup

Here is another soup recipe from my soup ebook.  This rich and creamy blend of avocados, cucumbers, and cilantro is luscious and satisfying.  It is garnished with pieces of cucumber and cashew sour cream. (To make cashew sour cream simply blend a handful of cashews with water and add a splash of lemon juice.)

Simple and delicious!

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Live Avocado-Cucumber Soup

Live Avocado-Cucumber Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and diced
  • 4 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and chopped
  • ½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus a few springs for garnish
  • 4 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ½ cup water
  • For garnish:
  • 1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 julienned radish, for garnish
  • ½ red bell pepper, cut into strips, for garnish
  • ½ cup fresh corn kernels, for garnish
    • Variations:
  • Substitute cilantro with fresh dill, chopped for Cucumber-Dill soup.
  • Add 1 cup chopped spinach or lettuce.

Instructions

  1. Put the avocados, cucumbers, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice, water and a dash of salt, if using, in a blender and process until smooth. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about one1 hour or up to 3 hours. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish each portion with radish, bell pepper, corn, and cilantro. Serves 4-6.
  2. Garnish with cashew sour cream. To make cashew sour cream, squeeze some lemon juice into cashew cream.
https://greenreset.com/green-blended-salads/

How to Make a Blended Salad?

This is important.

Because you are not going to add any water to your salad, so it is important to start with ingredients that contain most water – tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. – so, cut them into pieces and put them into your blender FIRST.  Switch your blender ON and keep it on the lowest speed that will get the job done.  Next, gradually keep adding other ingredients – leafy greens and herbs. If adding honey or other sweetener, add it to the mix at the end, so it doesn’t just stick to the container.

This is important especially if you are using a regular blender to make the blended salad, and not VitaMix – which is the best blender on the market to make green smoothies and blended salads. It’s expensive, but totally worth it!

Low-Calorie, Fat-Free Blended Salad Recipe (No Salad Dressing Required!)

The problem with many salads is that the greens are soaked in fatty dressings with many unhealthy ingredients. Of course, you may make healthy low fat salad dressing yourself using a blender, like I describe in one of my other posts.

This Italian-flavored Green Power Salad requires no salad dressing whatsoever – and it still tastes delicious!

Ingredients:
• 1 stalk celery
• 2 tomatoes
• 1 cucumber
• 2 scallions
• some fresh basil leaves (adjust quantity to taste)
• some fresh oregano (can substitute dried oregano)
• raw honey or raw agave nectar (adjust quantity to taste)
• optional jalapeno or other hot pepper
• 5 oz spinach
• optional toppings: handful sweet bell pepper, diced, 1 chopped celery stalk

Step 1.
Save 1/2 tomato and a piece of cucumber for garnish. Blend the remaining tomatoes, cucumber and celery in your blender.

Step 2.
Chop the remaining ingredients and add to your blender and blend on slow speed. If you don’t have a powerful blender, then you may want to add spinach gradually as you blend. Remember to use low speed. If you have a Vitamix, use the pusher to help do the job.

Step 3.
Pour the salad into a bowl. Chop remaining tomato and cucumber and sprinkle on top.

Enjoy!

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

If you have a favorite recipe, why not submit it here in the comment section of this smoothie recipes blog for others to enjoy too!

I also welcome any comments, questions and suggestions. Thanks!