Weight Loss Green Smoothie
This Weight Loss Green Smoothie is a yummy drink filled with ingredients like spinach, banana, avocado, mango, and chia seeds. Not only does it taste great, but it’s also perfect if you’re looking to lose weight. This smoothie is creamy, sweet, and the perfect choice for a quick breakfast or a refreshing snack.
This creamy green smoothie is packed with nutrients and fiber, making it a great choice for weight loss and reducing chronic inflammation.
The spinach is low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals, while the banana adds natural sweetness and potassium. Chia seeds provide a boost of protein and healthy fats, and almond milk is a great dairy-free alternative to regular milk
Enjoy this green smoothie as a healthy snack or meal replacement, and feel free to customize it by adding other ingredients like berries, Greek yogurt, or nut butter. Or, see my full list of flat tummy smoothies.
Why You Need This Recipe
- This healthy green smoothie recipe includes simple, clean ingredients that come together to make a tasty breakfast or snack.
- Ready in less than 10 minutes, this satisfying smoothie can be blended up in your rush out the door.
- Using almond milk or your choice of nut or seed milk, this recipe is dairy-free, making it perfect for anyone that has a dairy allergy or intolerance.
Key Ingredients
Spinach: Spinach and other green leafy vegetables are low in calories and high in dietary fiber, plus vitamin K. It is also rich in water content.
These properties can help increase feelings of fullness, decrease overall calorie intake, and ultimately aid weight loss or help you reach your weight loss goals.
Leafy greens are such a great addition to blended drinks because you really can’t taste them! I like to use baby spinach or baby kale in this delicious green smoothie.
Banana: Bananas, especially green ones, contain resistant starch, which has been linked to reduced food intake and weight loss. Resistant starch also increases feelings of fullness after meals.
Use a frozen banana to make the smoothie extra rich and creamy (see my guide on freezing bananas for smoothies).
Avocado: Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, which are heart-healthy and can help with satiety, leading to less overeating. They are a great weight loss smoothie ingredient.
You can use fresh or frozen avocados in this recipe (see my guide on how to freeze avocados).
Mango: Mangoes are rich in dietary fiber and various antioxidants, which can help improve digestion and promote a feeling of fullness.
Mangos also add a tropical flavor and natural sweetness to the drink, plus they are rich in vitamin C which supports the immune system.
Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are high in fiber and protein, which are both known to support weight loss by reducing hunger and increasing fullness.
Chia seeds are a great addition with health benefits. I like these organic chia seeds.
Recipe Steps
Step One
Add all of the ingredients to a blender. I like to use a high-speed blender like a Vitamix.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Blend on high until smooth.
A high speed blender will ensure that the ingredients get super blended and creamy.
See my related article on the benefits of a green smoothie diet.
Step Three
Serve immediately.
I hope you agree that this is one of your new favorite green smoothie recipes!
Feel free to adapt it to your needs including adding healthy ingredients like an unsweetened clean protein powder, coconut milk, peanut butter, coconut water, almond butter, or other fresh fruits.
I would try to avoid using fruit juices as they tend to increase the natural sugar content of fruit smoothies. If you need to sweeten the smoothie, try to use a natural sweetener like a pitted date or whole fruits like extra banana.
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- This recipe can easily be doubled. Doubling the recipe is a great way to meal prep for a few days.
- You can use an un-frozen banana if you wish, but you may want to add a few ice cubes to help thicken the smoothie.
- For a smoothie with fewer calories, you can reduce the amount of avocado or leave out the chia seeds. But, it’s always a good idea to leave some ingredients with fat because healthy fats help your body to absorb nutrients.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, green smoothies can aid weight loss as they are typically high in fiber and low in calories, which can help keep you feeling full and reduce overall calorie intake.
However, they should be part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Weight loss smoothies in particular are designed to have a balance of macronutrients with no added sugar.
Yes, green smoothies can be used as a meal replacement, but they should be nutritionally balanced.
That means they should contain a good balance of macronutrients: carbs, protein, and healthy fats.
Only using fruits and vegetables might not provide enough protein or fat, which are both necessary for satiety and overall health. Try adding a source of protein and fat to your weight loss smoothies.
While there’s no “best time” that applies to everyone, many people find that drinking a green smoothie for breakfast helps keep them satiated throughout the morning.
Others may use them as a healthy afternoon snack to avoid reaching for unhealthy options. It depends on your individual routine and lifestyle, plus your weight-loss goals.
Yes, if not balanced correctly, green smoothies can lead to weight gain. They can also be used specifically to gain weight (see my Weight Gain Smoothie). This can occur if your smoothies are high in calories, particularly from added sugars or excessive amounts of high-calorie foods like avocados or coconut oil.
If you’re using a green smoothie in addition to your usual meals, rather than as a replacement, you may be adding extra calories to your daily intake.
Yes, green smoothies are typically packed with fruits and vegetables, which are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, all of which contribute to overall health, including heart health, digestive health, and more.
However, balance is still crucial, and it’s important to consume a variety of foods for overall health and healthy eating.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes You Might Like
- Avocado Chocolate Smoothie
- Creamy Detox Smoothie
- Green Apple Smoothie
- Moringa Smoothie
- Strawberry Protein Smoothie
- Iron Rich Smoothie
Don’t Miss These Smoothie Resources!
Weight Loss Green Smoothie
This Weight Loss Green Smoothie is a yummy drink filled with ingredients like spinach, banana, avocado, mango, and chia seeds. Not only does it taste great, but it’s also perfect if you’re looking to lose weight. This smoothie is creamy, sweet, and the perfect choice for a quick breakfast or a refreshing snack.
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 Serving 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 a lemon or lime, juiced
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup cubed ripe mango (you can also use frozen)
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup baby spinach (about 2 handfuls)
Instructions
- In a blender, combine the almond milk, lemon or lime juice, banana, avocado, mango, cucumber, chia seeds, and spinach.
- Blend on high for 30-45 seconds or until thick and creamy.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment
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Notes
- This recipe can easily be doubled.
- You can use an un-frozen banana if you wish, but you may want to add a few ice cubes to help thicken the smoothie.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Smoothie
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: smoothie, healthy, weight loss, dairy-free, spinach, banana, avocado, mango, cucumber, drink
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition. She is a top wellness and food blogger with nearly 10 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Very tasty! Only thing I changed was coconut water instead of nut milk.
★★★★★
So delicious you’d never guess it was healthy! 🙂
★★★★★