Show me the Basics.
Just show me the basics. I don’t need to know all of the extra details. Give me the core principle idea on which to start and I’ll take it from there.
If that is how your brain works and how you process new ideas, then this smoothie recipe is for you.
The basic principles of good health and well-being are; feel energized, feed the brain, feed the gut, nourish the spirit. I call this smoothie ingredient combination, brain food. The ingredients in this recipe nourish your cells to help you perform well throughout the day.
How to Make a Basic Green Smoothie.
After spending years trying many different smoothie ingredient combinations for creating a difference in flavors, I felt healthier but smoothie recipe overwhelmed. Yes, they’re all each amazing in flavor. Some I am still dreaming about. But to be honest, I just need the basics. My brain and sense of well-being function best on predictability and pattern. Many times the things we do are a result of a formed habit. If you can alter your habit, you change your perspective and pattern.
I wanted a simple green smoothie recipe that would serve as a base recipe. It needed to help me form the habit of starting the day with a hefty dose of greens. On days that I want only the basics, I make this recipe exactly. On days that I feel a little more creative, I add greens powder, gelatin powder, kiwi, mint, and what ever else I fancy for that day.
Basic Green Smoothie Recipe.
There are only four essential ingredients needed to make this smoothie. Anything else you add is for extra flavor!
Green leaves. Because of taste, I prefer collard greens, mustard greens, kale, or swiss chard. I will occasionally use red or green leaf lettuce. However, this gives the smoothie a slight taste of green peas, which is fine if you like green peas.
Fats. Fresh avocado is added for a creamy texture. Pro tip, you can freeze diced avocado to avoid loosing them to spoilage. Allergic to avocado? Try 1-2 tbsp of hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax seeds, or a blend of all three. Depending upon the efficiency of your blender these may need to be pre-blended dry if you do not like a seeded texture to your smoothie. You can grind the seeds in bulk and store in the freezer to use when ready.
Frozen ripe banana and/or dates. This group is to give the smoothie a soft and pleasant flavor. Sometimes green smoothies have a harsh bitter flavor, because they’re loaded with greens. The banana and date soften this, as well as provide a dose of prebiotic food for your gut microbiome. If you want to skip this step because of limiting sugars in your diet, consider using a green banana or green banana flour as a prebiotic resistant starch.
Coconut milk or water. If you wish, fresh made coconut milk gives this smoothie an incredible flavor. Otherwise, water works just as well. My preference is spring water.
Ingredients
- about 2 cups loose packed green leaves
- 1 avocado
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 medjool date (optional)
- 1/2 cup water or coconut milk
- 2 cups ice
- More water to blend, as needed
Instructions
- Begin by placing in the blender medjool date (if using), greens, frozen banana, avocado, and just enough water or coconut milk to bring to a consistent textured blend. Then add the ice, more water and finish blending.
How to Make a Basic Green Smoothie Fancy.
Let’s say you’re feeling creative and want to try adding superfoods to your basic green smoothie. This is a short list of some of my favorites and different additions that I keep on rotation when I feel like making a fancy green smoothie. It is possible to add all of these in balance within one smoothie, but to be safe and avoid tossing an epic green smoothie in the trash because it was “too healthy,” just picking two or three additional ingredients to start is sufficient. I listed them with clickable links for ease of ordering. Most of these ingredients are much easier ordered if you do not have a health foods store in your neighborhood.
- 1/3 tsp TriPow greens
- 1/3 tsp matcha powder
- 1/2 tsp grass-fed gelatin powder
- 1 tsp cold-pressed Hemp oil
- 1 tsp. green banana flour
- 1 scoop Epic Greens, Green Kingdom Protein powder
- 1/2 tsp grass-fed collagen powder
- 1/4 tsp ashwagandha root powder
- Fresh mint
- Fresh basil
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