I’ve seen lots of green smoothie recipes out there lately. They all look great but there’s one problem.
Most smoothie recipes call for a lot of fruit. I have no problems with fruit but it add a lot of calories.
Then I had this thought:
Could I make my own version of a green smoothie with tons of spinach, and lower calories but make it taste awesome?
So I went to work. I tried some different combinations and after lots of experimenting, I found the combination that works.
I may have been so excited that I jumped up and down in my kitchen to celebrate.
Yes I am that dorky!
By the way, BOTH of my picky eaters kids LOVE this smoothie and beg for more. I’m not joking–here’s the proof:
Have you ever heard a kid beg for something where the main ingredient is spinach?
Me neither. Until I started making this low calorie green smoothie.
Needless to say I’ll be making a lot of these!
Here’s the calorie count:
- One cup banana: 105 calories
- One cup strawberries: 48 calories
- 1.5 TBSP honey: 90 calories
- Light Greek yogurt: 90 calories
- 2 cups spinach: 14 calories
- Baby kale: 10 calories
Each smoothie makes about three servings and totals in 357 calories. Total calories per serving = 119
Let’s be honest. This smoothie is not the prettiest drink. Does it look disgusting? Yes. But trust me–it tastes awesome so the looks are worth ignoring.
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 ripe banana, cut in several chunks
- 2/3 cup cold water
- 1.5 TBSP honey
- 1 5.3 oz light strawberry Greek Yogurt
- 2 cups baby spinach (packed down into measuring cup)
- 1/2 cup baby kale
- Put ingredients into blender in order.
- Blend for about a minute until all ingredients are blended up. I usually have to stop the blender and push the spinach down towards the bottom to get it to mix in. I do this a couple times until the mixture is all blended up.
- Pour into cups and enjoy a sweet way to eat more veggies!
- This smoothie can be made using different frozen berries. Feel free to make your own version!
I’ve had that same thought, Carrie, about green smoothies being healthy but not necessarily low-calorie. Many people drink them as a meal replacement, in which case I guess it doesn’t matter quite so much, but for me, who drinks them as a snack, it’s much more important to be sure I’m not overconsuming daily calories in one drink. Thanks for sharing!
You and I are on the same page! I like to drink these as a snack too so keeping the calories down was the main goal. I hope you get to enjoy one of these soon!
Well, clearly I don’t need to tell you how great this looks, I had to scroll down quite a ways to leave a comment, so I think EVERYONE is pretty excited 🙂 I have avoided green smoothies this far but this one sounds really good. Thanks for experimenting for us all, will be trying!
It took me a little while to get up the courage to try one and I’m so glad I did! I’ve also made a version with frozen peaches and peach yogurt and that is pretty good too! Hope you enjoy this!
If it gets the kid approval, it must be good! Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next time.
Congrats! You are featured on Vintage Zest! Feel free to grab a button and link up to Do Tell Tuesday this week too. 🙂 http://www.vintagezest.com/2014/01/do-tell-tuesday-8-with-features-co-host.html
Diane @ Vintage Zest
Yay! Thank you so much, Diane!
Mmm. Smoothie! I adore a good smoothie! Thank you for linking up at the Weekend re-Treat Link Party!
This looks GREAT! It is amazing how the spinach flavor just melts into the other yummy tastes! Will have to try your version! Blessings! Also…I am hosting Family Fun Friday today…it is live and your smoothie would be a great addition to the party! Hope you can stop by!
It’s pretty amazing how this doesn’t taste like spinach at all! You’ll have to try it sometime! Thanks so much for the invite!
I love how nutrition this looks! I love making and experimenting with smoothie recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Alyson
This is such a nutritious drink that tastes so good! I hope you like it!
Love this! Just tried green smoothies for the first time doing a Dr. Oz cleanse. Thanks for this! Will definitely give it a try! Coming by from Wine’d Down Wed. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by from the party! I’m sure Dr. Oz would love this recipe!
Oh my gosh! I am making this tomorrow morning!! We have been on a major smoothie kick & this sounds perfect!
Thanks SO much for linking up to Hit Me With Your Best Shot! Hope to see you this week!
I hope you love it Shelly! We can’t get enough of green smoothies around here!
Wow! This looks so yummy. I have been looking for a green smoothie recipe and I think I am going to try this one! Thanks for the inspiration :).
Amanda
http://www.atouchofthat.blogspot.com
I’m so glad this inspried you! We’ve been having this green smoothie everyday for almost two weeks straight!
I love smoothies! Yummy !Thanks for sharing! I am doing a giveaway today and would love if you would stop by and check it out! http://www.thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com/
healthy and tasty, perfect! Hopping over from the Frugal crafty hop.
You’ll love it, Katherine! I hope you get to try it out soon.
I am sure ,it must have tasted delicious .
Bookmarking it
Totally trying this. We juice alot…I’ve never thought about throwing spinach in as a smoothie. Here’s our favorite smoothie to build immune systems…
http://www.mommyinsports.com/2013/02/fighting-fight-against-fluwith-smoothies.html
Thanks for sharing that Kristen. I hope you enjoy the smoothie!
Looks great to me! I love spinach in my smoothies!! Would love for you to come over and share at my Happiness is Homemade link party http://mommyondemand.com/happiness-homemade-3/
Thank you for the invite! I’m headed over to check it out now!
Yum, that looks great! I bought frozen kale but I haven’t used it yet…I think I’ve found a good use for it now, thanks!
Sure! Kale does have a strong flavor so I would only use about a 1/2 cup. I tried it once with more and it didn’t quite taste right. I hope you like this, Janelle!
These are similar to the ones I make for MY picky eaters! 🙂 So yummy.
I’m really pleased my picky eaters will drink this. Glad to see yours like it too!
I have started making green smoothies as well, so far like it! Thought it will be really gross but it turns out really yum! However I add a bit of water especially when using carrot or it will not work.
I see you don’t add any water so will try yours , can’t wait how that turns out
Yes there definitely has to be some water in it just so it can all blend together properly. It’s funny how the taste and the looks of green smoothies don’t really match up! But I’m glad they taste good and offer some good vitamins. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for posting this. I am a green smoothie addict and am always looking for healthier choices for me and my family.
You’re welcome, Nancy! This is definitely a healthy choice for the whole family. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Thanks for the recipe. I get looks and annoying comments from others when I juice or make green smoothies. I just ignore them. Green is good!
Green is good! They probably look at you that way because they think it tastes bad. But we know better!
Thanks for experimenting and sharing at the WWDParty!
Sure! Glad to be a part of it!
Sounds like it is worth a try! I love that you’ve created something healthy that your kids love. I pinned this for later!
Thanks for linking up to our Weekend Wind-Down Party!
Thanks so much for stopping by and pinning! I’ve gotten in a lot more veggies this week thanks to this recipe!
This looks so delicious! Thanks so much for linking up to this week’s Eat. Create. Party! 🙂
Sure thing, Jenn! Thanks for giving me a place to share it!
I honestly had no idea how few calories are in spinach and kale. This was informative!
I was surprised by that, too! Glad this post was helpful for you, Shannon!
You are absolutely genius, Carrie…. I love how you created this smoothie with the baby spinach and the sweetness with the fruit!
You’re too sweet! The sweetness of the fruit really masks the taste of the vegetables. Thanks for stopping by!
My husband is our chief smoothie maker! We love our veggies so I am game to try this! Visiting from LOBS!
My hubby does a lot of our cooking, too! Isn’t it wonderful? Thanks so much for stopping by!
Great recipe! It’s true, green smoothies aren’t that great unless you have more veggies and less fruit in them. This recipe looks wonderful, thanks for sharing!
I totally agree! I hope you like it as much as we do, Bethany!
I love this variation! I have a vitamix blender and we love trying new smoothies. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you like this variation, Lauren! I hope you get to try it out soon!
Oooh, I will be sure to try this! Much healthier than Pioneer Woman’s!! I guess you don’t top it off with any ice before blending since you use cold water. Will def. be trying!! Low cal is always better in my book!
I saw those from Pioneer Woman and they looked so good! But since I’m trying to cut calories, her smoothies weren’t an option for me. You can add some more ice to it to get a more icey texture if you want. Hope you enjoy it, Carrie!
Okay. Okay. I just might have to try this. But to get my littles to drink it I will have to rename it “green ninja juice”. 😉
Thanks for the inspiration!
Green Ninja Juice…I like that name! By all means…call it whatever you want if you think it will help! I’m so glad you took the time to tell me this inspired you. I hope you guys like it!
Haha, love that Ashley!