Share These 5 Simple Smoothie Recipes With Beginners

James McLoughlin
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

Whenever I’m in a social environment with a homemade smoothie in hand, I inevitably get asked what’s in it.

My answer is influenced by whose asking the question.

For example, if it’s someone I’m on the same nutritional page with, I’ll describe it in detail. Highlighting, rather than hiding, the healthiest ingredients first.

“Big handfuls of spinach, frozen banana, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon, two dates and rice milk”.

Alternatively, if it’s a guy whose looking at my green smoothie like it’s made of pungent pond water, I’ll lie.

“Banana, honey, peanut butter, a little spinach.”

Once they hear peanut butter their face usually swaps disgust for curiosity. At which point I’ll offer them a sample. The fear of same sex cooties prevents that person from accepting but they’re normally more open minded going forward. My hope is that they start questioning their toast or sugar bowl routine.

A week or two later that same person will ask me for a good recipe to get started.

Blending For Beginners

The good thing about smoothies is that the simpler they are, the better they taste. And there’s very little nutritional difference between a healthy beginner smoothie and a naked yoga superfood Instagram $17 LA smoothie.

It’s all about the fruit, veg, nuts and seeds.

The only real difference with the beginner ones I’ll share is that they’re a little sweeter. But that just gives you a base to improve upon. As you get more comfortable, two or three dates, becomes one. And then maybe none (I’m not there yet; I love dates).

Spinach Is King

You’ll notice that every recipe has spinach. It might be repetitive but it’s effective. Of the healthiest vegetables on the planet (kale, red cabbage, cauliflower, watercress), baby spinach has the least flavour. It’s absolutely tasteless in your smoothie. The trick is to add bigger and bigger handfuls as you get more comfortable.

5 Healthy Beginner Smoothies

The method for these is all the same. Add everything to a blender and brutalise the ingredients until they’re creamy.

Any blender will do. Although, if you want a new one we recommend the Nutribullet. It’s cheap, powerful and takes seconds to clean.

1. Peanut Butter & Jelly

  • Frozen blueberries — 1 cup
  • Spinach — 1 handful
  • Peanut butter — 1 tablespoon
  • Dates — 2
  • Rice milk — 1 1/2 cups

2. Cinnamon Crunch

  • Frozen banana — 1 large one (if you haven’t pre-frozen, just use banana + a handful of ice)
  • Spinach — 1 handful
  • Raw honey — 1 teaspoon
  • Walnuts — 1/2 cup
  • Cinnamon — 1/2 teaspoon
  • Almond milk — 1 1/2 cups

3. Pina & Coco

  • Frozen pineapple — 1 cup
  • Spinach — 1 handful
  • Shredded coconut — 1/2 cup
  • Dates — 2
  • Almond milk — 1 1/2 cups

4. Coffee Me

  • Frozen banana — 1
  • Spinach — 1 handful
  • Raw almonds — 1/2 cup
  • Dates — 2
  • Coffee — 1 1/2 cups (cold)

5. Mint Condition

  • Spinach — 1 handful
  • Mint — 1/2 handful
  • Avocado — 1
  • Raw oats — 1/2 cup
  • Maple syrup — 1 tablespoon
  • Ice — 1/2 cup
  • Rice milk — 1 1/2 cups

image credit: twobluelemons.com

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James McLoughlin

Written by

James is a Green Press Co-Founder. He developed most of our organic juice recipes from his shoebox Soho apartment, now at 525 Little Collins St, Melbourne.

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