When you need a pick-me-up, try this cool and refreshing mixed berry smoothie. The combination of berries, spinach, yogurt, and bananas makes for a nutritious drink that will energize your day.
Need help getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet? This colorful and creamy mixed berry smoothie is the answer. In fact, it’s a recipe my kids often request and help me prepare. They love adding in each ingredient, even the spinach! It’s one way to talk about the importance of eating healthy and getting them to enjoy it too.
I like to balance the frozen fruit with tender greens and yogurt. The combination yields an eye-catching glass, filled with antioxidants, protein, and probiotics. Those vibrant jewel-toned strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries not only add juicy fruit notes but are also packed with phytonutrients.
Using fresh or frozen fruit
If you’re short on time, grab a bag of frozen mixed berries, or individual varieties to make your own blend. Typically frozen options come with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
If you have ripe fresh berries, use them! However, to achieve a thick and creamy texture, freeze them in a single layer inside a large resealable bag until solidified. I usually do this the day before. If the strawberries are larger than 2-inches in size, halve or quarter them to make it easier to process when frozen.
Instant nutritional boost
Adding in a generous handful of leafy greens like spinach delivers extra vitamins, minerals, and fiber in each sip. This vegetable is very mild in flavor so you barely taste it. Bananas and Greek yogurt provide a creamy texture and extra protein. The probiotics in the yogurt also deliver beneficial bacteria for gut health.
How to make a berry smoothie
To make sure that the spinach gets completely blended, you want to add it to the blender first. This allows the leaves to get immediately chopped into fine particles. The yogurt is added next, followed by the frozen ingredients like berries, bananas, and ice cubes.
The almond milk is added last to help process the smoothie. The texture should be thick and creamy. For a thinner consistency, gradually add in more liquid as desired. Just like my favorite green smoothie, in just 10 minutes, a refreshing sippable snack is ready to provide instant energy and nourishment.
Customizing the smoothie
- Make the recipe dairy-free by substituting Greek yogurt for coconut, cashew, almond, or soy yogurt.
- For more of a tropical flavor, use coconut milk instead of almond milk.
- Add some fiber and omega 3 fatty acids with chia seeds or flaxseed.
- Add some extra protein and creaminess with almond butter.
- If you like a sweeter taste, add pure maple syrup or honey.
Using fresh berries and bananas
Want to make a smoothie with just fresh fruit? Increase the ice amount to 1 ½ to 2 cups. Just note that the berry flavor won’t be as strong and the ice will dilute the flavor as the smoothie melts. The benefit of frozen fruit is that when it’s blended, the solidified water in the cell walls gets broken into tiny particles. This adds volume and density to the drink.
Berry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup frozen banana slices, about 1 medium banana
- 2 cups frozen mixed berries
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Add spinach, yogurt, frozen banana slices, frozen mixed berries, ice cubes, and almond milk to a blender.
- Cover and process on medium speed for about 30 seconds, using the tamper as needed. Increase to high speed for 15 to 30 seconds until thick and smooth.
- Adjust with more almond milk if needed to reach the desired consistency.
Equipment
Notes
- Recipe Yield: 4 cups
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Make it VEGAN: Substitute Greek yogurt for plant-based yogurts like almond, soy, cashew, or coconut.
- For a sweeter smoothie: Add some pure maple syrup or honey, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired sweetness level is reached.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Mary Ann says
Delicious, my husband said he could drink this for breakfast several days a week!! Yoohoo!! Thank you, it is a winner here.
Jessica Gavin says
Thrilled to hear that the family enjoyed the smoothie recipe!
Sharmila Chakraverty says
I used orange juice instead of milk and it came out kind of sour. So added some honey. It was tasty. I didn’t have any spinach.
Joanne Kerr says
Can you tell me if I can use something else instead of bananas as I am not able to eat them
Jessica Gavin says
I would just add 1/2 cup more mixed berries instead of the banana.
Francine says
I assumed the banana would be the sweetener, so just add honey, maple syrup, agave or your favorite sweetening agent. Yum!!!
Jessica Gavin says
Yes, if you like the smoothie sweetener, definitely add in your favorite sweetener. Thanks for sharing, Francine!