Green smoothies are incredibly good for you and fun to drink. I like to teach my clients to not get too caught up in specific recipes and instead just learn the method to make a great-tasting green drink.

Here’s my method for constructing the perfect green smoothie:

My green smoothie formula is simple: 2 to 3 cups of leafy greens, about 1 cup of fruit, a tablespoon or two of nuts or seeds, and 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid. Blend, add a splash more water if it’s too thick, and that’s it. Keeping about two to three times as many greens as fruit is what keeps it from turning into a sugar bomb.

The Green Base:

Add 2-3 large handfuls (about 2-3 cups) of leafy greens to the blender.

Spinach has a mild flavor so start there if you’re a newbie. Kale, collard greens, chard, romaine and green leafy herbs like cilantro, parsley and mint are all great. There are hundreds of types of greens out there. Try any of them and mix things up to find flavor combinations you like. My Glowing Green Goddess Smoothie uses a mix of baby spinach and romaine.

I usually end up using what was a good price at the store that week and what I have left in the refrigerator. Cucumbers are also a fantastic green addition to your smoothie for both their high nutrition content and high water content (the green peel is excellent for you, but peel it if it’s not organic).

The Fruit:

Add about a cup of fruit next for extra antioxidants, texture, and flavor, because let’s be honest, a green smoothie can end up tasting like a blended salad.

Greens on their own are wonderful and do taste delicious, adding the fruit just sweetens it up, adds more flavor and packs in more nutrition.

Berries are low in sugar and high in flavor, while 1/2 a banana or 1/4 of an avocado will give your smoothie a super creamy texture. I also find that 1/2 of a banana really sweetens the entire drink.

A half teaspoon of citrus zest will add amazing flavor, and a squeeze of citrus juice adds a little vitamin C and a lot of brightness. Keep your green smoothie to at least a double, preferably triple, greens-to-fruit ratio to keep the sugar content of your drink low and reasonable.

The Nut or Seed Superfood Add-In:

Next into the blender: add a tablespoon or two of a nut or seed superfood add-in for even more nutrition and a little bit of good fat.

Some of the nutrients in plants, specifically vitamins A, K, E, and D are fat-soluble, meaning they need to be accompanied by some fat to be absorbed properly. (Another reason fat-free salad dressing isn’t a great option, but that’s another post for another day.)

Adding in flax seeds, flax oil, chia seeds, hemp seeds, raw almonds or raw walnuts accomplishes that. Each of those things is full of healthy fats and tons of other nutrients as well.

(Quick note, this should be a tablespoon or two, so about 6-8 nuts. No need to be adding 1/2 cup of nut butter or handfuls of nuts to your smoothie. Too much makes it heavy.)

The Liquid:

Add 1/2 – 1 cup purified water, coconut water or unsweetened nut milk to help the blender work its magic and turn your smoothie into a drinkable texture.

Add more filtered water as needed to blend your green smoothie to your desired texture.

The Extras:

If you need a little sweetness to make it palatable, try adding a tablespoon of organic raw honey (keep it raw to keep the enzymes and nutrients intact) or a few organic (pitted) dates.

Just be mindful of how much sugar you’re adding to prevent blood sugar spikes.

6-10 drops of liquid stevia will also sweeten it up a bit without adding any extra sugar if you feel good with stevia.

Also feel free to add in any more veggies if you’re feeling adventurous and the spirit moves you (broccoli, anyone?).

The Method:

Add all ingredients to your blender and blend away. You may need to pause and push the ingredients down a few times to help your blender along.

Quick Tips:

• Wash all produce and use organic ingredients whenever possible.
• Blend for about 30 seconds at a time until the desired texture is achieved. Always be careful not to let the blender run so long that it warms up the smoothie.
• Warm smoothies rarely taste good. Frozen fruit or a few ice cubes go a long way to making your smoothie a tasty treat.
• Your green drink might turn out purple or another wild color from the other ingredients; it doesn’t actually have to be the color green to be a green drink.
• Run the blender under hot water right after you pour your smoothie into a glass and let it sit while you drink. Then just rinse it and let it air dry for easy/quick cleanup.
• For inquiring minds, I have both a Vitamix blender and a Nutribullet blender. Both are great, the Vitamix is bigger and has more power (better for large batches and frozen stuff) and the Nutribullet is great for smaller smoothies and you can drink right out of the cup you blend in. Any blender is fine, and I suggest investing in a high-speed, good-quality one that has a warranty, is easy to clean, and has a good amount of power to blend your smoothies.

Green Smoothie FAQs

How do you make a green smoothie taste good?

Start with spinach, since it’s the mildest green, and add half a banana or a handful of frozen fruit. A little citrus zest and some ice make a huge difference too. If it still tastes too green, add a couple of pitted dates or a drizzle of raw honey.

What’s the best liquid for a green smoothie?

Filtered water, coconut water or unsweetened nut milk all work. Water keeps it light, coconut water adds a little natural sweetness, and almond or cashew milk makes it creamier.

Can I make a green smoothie ahead of time?

You can, as long as you store it in an airtight jar filled to the very top and drink it within 24 hours. Here’s how to save a smoothie for later.

Do I need a high-speed blender?

No. Any blender will work. A high-speed blender just makes kale and other tough greens extra smooth. With a regular blender, blend the greens and liquid first, then add everything else.

Check out my favorite Spinach Smoothie Recipe to get started!

More Healthy Smoothies

• Simple Blueberry Smoothie Recipe
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe
• Frozen Banana & Cacao Recipe
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie Recipe
• Apple & Avocado Green Smoothie Recipe
• Cherry Chia Green Smoothie With Coconut Water

You can also check out even more ideas in my Healthy Smoothie Recipe index.