The Best Vegan Green Smoothie

The Best Vegan Green Smoothie – Perfectly sweetened, chock full of greens (but you won’t taste them!) with a healthy dose of plant protein. Green smoothies are great for busy mornings, afternoon pick-me-ups or when you want to get some greens in but you’re too busy to sit down to a salad!

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What’s in a vegan green smoothie?

Banana: I like using a frozen banana because it adds sweetness while at the same time helps thicken the smoothie. But if you can’t stand the taste of banana, don’t worry, you can just use a little more frozen fruit (1/2 cup) or a handful of ice.

Frozen mango: Mango is my favorite frozen fruit to use in smoothies, but I also like to switch things up by using blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, peaches or a mixture of these.

Greens: You can easily add 2-3 cups of greens to your smoothie and barely taste them! Baby spinach will have the most neutral, undetectable flavor. I usually use a super greens mix because I like to get a variety of greens in, not just spinach all the time. Kale works, too but definitely has a stronger taste.

Hemp seeds: These little seeds are a healthy source of fat and add protein to your smoothie. They even add creaminess when they are blended with the other ingredients, and have a neutral flavor. If you can’t find them, you can substitute ground flaxseeds or even chia seeds.

Orange juice: A little bit of orange juice (1/4 cup) adds the perfect amount of sweetness and flavor to a green smoothie, in my opinion. You could always sub more almond milk, pomegranate juice or water.

Almond milk: My usual liquid of choice for smoothies. Almond milk adds creaminess, as well as a hefty dose of calcium. You can use any kind of non-dairy milk you like, sweetened or unsweetened, or just plain water.

Dates (optional): For additional sweetness. Sometimes I add one or two, especially if I’m serving it to my kids. Make sure you pit them before adding to the blender!

Other fun ad-ins: A squeeze of lemon/lime juice, 1/4 of an avocado, vegan protein powder or a probiotic capsule.

How do you make a vegan green smoothie?

You will need a high powered blender in order to really break the greens down. Before I had my Vitamix, I attempted to make green smoothies in my regular blender, and it just wasn’t do-able. No matter how much I blended, I was still left with little pieces of greens.

If you don’t have a high powered blender, you can try first blending the liquid and greens together, then add the rest of the ingredients.

If you have a high powered blender like a Vitamix, simply add all the ingredients to it and blend for a few minutes, until smooth and creamy. If it’s too thin, add a little more frozen fruit or ice and blend again. If it’s too thick, add some water until it’s just right. I like my smoothies pretty thick in texture.

Will a vegan green smoothie keep overnight?

A green smoothie is really best when consumed right away, but you can make it the night before, pour it into a jar with a lid or something like that and cover tightly. That will help keep it as fresh as possible for the morning. In the morning, simply shake it well and drink.

Tips:

• If you plan on bringing a smoothie on the go, find a good to-go cup that will keep your smoothie cold. I have a few of these inexpensive stainless steel bottles that I LOVE for smoothies. It can take me a few hours to drink, and these bottles allow me to shake it up frequently and keep the smoothie cold for a long time. I also have my eye on these cups with a straw.
• Buy a big container of greens and freeze immediately for using in smoothies. This is what I always do, as the greens are already clean and I don’t end up with a huge container of greens going bad in my refrigerator. When I make a smoothie, I just take out what I need, quickly so the greens don’t wilt, and place the container back in the freezer.
• Instead of purchasing expensive small bags of frozen fruit, try to find somewhere where you can by frozen fruit in bulk for cheaper, like Costco or other discount stores. Bananas are very cheap, so buy extra and wait from them to get spotty. When they do, peel, chop into chunks and freeze.
• I always open my probiotic capsule and add it to my smoothie. I actually hate taking pills, so this is an easy way for me to get in any supplements I’m taking.
• IF YOU HAVE A BABY OR TODDLER: These Reusable Baby Squeeze Pouches are genius! I still use it occasionally with my 3 1/2 year old. The perfect way to serve green smoothies to little ones.

When is the best time to drink a green smoothie?

Green smoothies make a great breakfast, especially if you are in a rush or on the go. Sometimes I split it with my toddler or husband, and have some toast alongside it.

You can enjoy a green smoothie any time of day! It makes a great pick-me-up in the afternoon. Perhaps kids will enjoy an after school smoothie to help wind down after a busy school day.