Foolproof Green Smoothie Formula (+ an Immune-Boosting Starter Recipe)

Don’t get us wrong—we love letting someone else do the work for us occasionally—but making healthy green smoothies at home is such an easy part of your healthy-eating routine. Just make sure to have a few essential ingredients on hand (here are 10 3-ingredient smoothies for inspiration), follow this green-smoothie formula, and mix and match flavors to your liking. So simple! (P.S., you’ll hardly taste the greens.)

Foolproof Green Smoothie Formula

1. Start with 1 cup liquid

Choose from:

Coconut, almond or another non-dairy milk (learn how to make your own here) or kefir
Cooled herbal tea
Water or coconut water
Fresh-squeezed juice (stick to veggies if possible—think carrot, or a celery-apple combo)

2. Add 1 1/2 cups greens

Use any combination of:

Spinach
Kale
Parsley
Chard

3. Add 1/2 to 1 cup fresh or frozen fruit for sweetness and added nutrients

Frozen fruit (especially banana) will add a great creamy texture and make your smoothie more “shake-like”—just note that you may end up needing more liquid if you go that route. Some ideas:

For a vitamin K and potassium boost: stone fruits like peaches, plums, cherries apricots or nectarines (pitted, of course)
For extra fiber: raspberries, avocado, pears, apples, bananas
For an immunity and antioxidant boost: peeled fresh orange or grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries
For extra omega-3s (and to keep it low-carb): raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, avocado, guava

4. Nutrition-boosting extras

These aren’t necessary, but can be a nice touch:

For added protein: 1 tablespoon bee pollen, nut butter, raw almonds (preferably soaked), or pumpkin seeds
For detoxing and a metabolism boost: 1 teaspoon turmeric, cinnamon or grated fresh ginger, or fresh herbs like mint or basil
For extra fiber: 2 tablespoons chia seeds or chopped dates
For omega-3s: 2 tablespoons raw walnuts or flax oil/seeds

5. Sweeten if desired (optional)

1/2 teaspoon all-natural vanilla extract
1 teaspoon raw honey (try infused)
Extra banana (the riper the better) or dates to taste
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar

To get you started, here’s one of our go-to green smoothies. It has naturally sweet oranges for a vitamin C-rich immune boost, protein-rich spinach, plus a nice subtle, minty finish. Use frozen banana to thicken it up!