Easy Spinach Banana Smoothie
This easy spinach banana smoothie is simple to make in only 5 minutes and it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. No strong green taste here—just mild, sweet and delicious. Vegan, gluten free and soy free.
Why You’ll Love This Smoothie
- Tastes mild and sweet
- Encourages healthy blood pressure
- Packed with antioxidants
This easy spinach banana smoothie is the perfect go-to green drink for those who want something healthy and mild tasting. It requires only 5 simple ingredients and can be easily customized.
Spinach gives this smoothie its pretty shade of green and lots of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important because they protect the body from radical cell damage that accumulates over time. Spinach also has anti-inflammatory properties. Both the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of spinach can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
The base of this smoothie is made with frozen pineapple and bananas. Both of these yummy fruits are high in fibre, which makes them helpful in maintaining healthy gut flora. Bananas also contain potassium, a mineral that balances sodium levels and lowers the risk of high blood pressure and heart problems.
Ingredients Needed
These are the ingredients you will need to make this easy spinach banana smoothie.
Fresh spinach: Wash any dirt from the leaves before adding to the blender.
Almond butter: Adds a rich creaminess when combined with the frozen ingredients.
Frozen pineapple & bananas: Creates the thick, creamy base of the smoothie and adds sweetness.
Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.
For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Benefits
Hydrating
Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!
High fibre
Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.
Nutrient dense
Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.
Variations
Add nuts & seeds
Try adding some nuts and seeds to this simple green smoothie for extra good fats and nutrients. Some nuts and seeds that go well in this smoothie are hemp seeds, chia seeds, cashews and almonds.
Try an alternative plant milk
This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.
Adjust the consistency
If you prefer a thicker consistency you can try the recipe using a bit less liquid than what is suggested. If you want a thinner consistency, try adding a bit of extra liquid to the recipe.
Switch base ingredients
If you don’t like bananas then try something else as the base! Mango usually substitutes banana well. If you’re allergic to or simply dislike a suggested ingredient then try to find something with a similar texture that you enjoy the flavour of. There is no wrong way to make a smoothie, and you can always omit any ingredients you don’t have on hand.
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Pour into a glass and serve your easy spinach banana smoothie.
Prep & Blending
Add ingredients in the correct order
Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.
Use a tamper
Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.
Don’t over blend
Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.
Use a high power blender
For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.
Chill your glass
By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!
FAQ’s
Does this smoothie taste like greens?
No, spinach is a very mild tasting green. When combined with the pineapple and banana, all you taste are the tropical fruity flavours! Spinach is a great green to try out if you are new to green smoothies and don’t want anything too strong tasting.
Can I lose weight with smoothies?
Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.
Can smoothies be refrigerated?
Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.
Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?
Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.
How can I increase the protein?
If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant based protein will work in any smoothie. Alternatively you can try adding hemp seeds or even silken tofu.
Related
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Easy Spinach Banana Smoothie
Equipment
- high power blender
Ingredients
- 2 cup oat milk
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 handful fresh spinach
- 1 ½ cup frozen pineapple
- 3 frozen bananas
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.
- Pour into a glass and serve.