Pineapple Orange Green Smoothie

Banish any notions you have about green smoothies being a “pinch your nose” kind of affair that you guzzle for the sole purpose of nourishment. This Pineapple Orange Green Smoothie has nothing in common with that stereotype. In fact, when I served tall glasses to my 14-year-old nephew and his buddy a few months ago, they sucked them down with such enthusiasm you’d have thought I’d delivered cherry Slurpees on a hot summer day. This is seriously good stuff. 

A Simple and Nutritious Green Smoothie

The basics of the smoothie are simple. It starts with the tasty triumvirate of pineapple, banana and orange embellished with a generous amount of fresh spinach, plain kefir, and a spoonful of vanilla extract. The combination adds up to a nourishing drink that’s high in fiber, calcium, vitamins A and C, and gut-friendly probiotics.

Tips for Making this Smoothie

Though it’s an easy formula, there are a few things to keep in mind when making this Pineapple Orange Green Smoothie:

• Choose a ripe banana and be sure to peel and freeze it first. This lends natural sweetness and is key for a thick, creamy texture. 
• Make sure to use a seedless orange. Navel or Cara Cara will do the job. And yes, you can simply peel and throw it in whole. 
• Fresh or frozen pineapple are fair game. The latter, of course, makes quicker work of the recipe.  
• Look for plain kefir, which adds good-for-you probiotics and creaminess. If you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute equal parts milk and plain yogurt. 

Healthy Add-Ins

If you want to pump up this smoothie with even more goodness, there are a range of extras you can add to the mix. Add one to two tablespoons of any of the following and you’ll add a pop of nutrition without significantly altering the flavor:  

Hemp seeds

Chia seeds

Ground flax

Cashews or cashew butter

Psyllium husks

Plain, unsweetened protein powder

Collagen peptides. 

Got Leftovers?

Not all smoothies hold up well as a leftover, but this one is an exception. Of course, it’s at its very best straight from the blender, but if you have any leftover you can store in the fridge to drink the next day. Alternatively, pour any extras into a pop mold and enjoy as a frozen treat.

If you like this Pineapple Orange Green Smoothie, you might like:

Wild Blueberry Brain-Boosting Smoothie

Creamy Banana Date Shake

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie

Coffee Smoothie, a recipe I created for Simply Recipes

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie, a recipe I created for Simply Recipes