Let’s give it up for the Ugly Green Smoothie! All the health accolade is given to bright, vibrant green smoothies but the truth is that many healthy smoothie recipes kind of look like mud!
A green smoothie refers to way more than a smoothie’s colour. For me, this label refers to what’s in the smoothie more so than what it looks like. If you’ve stuffed any variety of leafy greens in your smoothie, it’s a green one! Even if it looks brown.
Most of my morning smoothies are often various shades of brown or sludge green. This kind of makes the smoothie less glamorous and a little less “look at me, I’m green and healthy”, but it’s equally delicious (most of the time more delicious) and just as healthy.
Adding any kind of berry or purple/red pigmented fruit to your green will definitely result in the less fashionable Ugly Smoothie but this is ok. Keep experimenting with different fruits and veggies and who cares what it looks like! The beauty is on the inside!
Don’t be ashamed of the ugly smoothie! I’m not but I’ve never once posted one of my sludgy concoctions. I only reach for the camera when my smoothie is emerald green or at least a definitive colour. Until now!
This Ugly Green Smoothie has been my go-to for a couple of weeks and I’m showing off this brown, purple, bog-green masterpiece with pride! But really though, what colour is this?
Healthy Smoothie Suggestions-What To Put In & Leave Out!
I like mixing and matching smoothie ingredients but there are a few guidelines I follow and a couple of things I ALWAYS pop in (or leave out) of the blender. Here they are;
- Ground flaxseed. Flaxseeds are one of the richest plant based sources of omega 3 fats, which we know are anti-inflammatory. Flaxseeds are also tremendously high in lignans, this is a phytonutrient that may help prevent and fight cancer. Flax also provides soluble and insoluble fibre, both of which have long reaching health benefits including aiding digestion. Flaxseeds are a no-brainer and should be enjoyed every single day! Grind them yourself using a coffee grinder. If you eat them whole, they will go undigested and you miss out on all these yummy nutrients!
- Greens. Even if you’re making a chocolate or coffee flavoured smoothie, why not add some greens? The more vegetables the better and why not add them where you can?! Baby spinach is virtually undetectable and will go unnoticed in almost any smoothie! I add spinach or kale, sometimes broccoli or swiss chard, to every smoothie.
- Juice-Free! Leave the juice in the fridge (or on the grocery store shelf). Fruit juices carry a lot of calories and loads of sugar. When we eat whole fruit, we consume the fruit’s sugar but we get fibre, vitamins and minerals as well that help to minimize any impact on our blood sugar. Fruit juices are unnecessary in smoothies and I suggest leaving them out of the smoothie rotation altogether….forever. Use water, unsweetened dairy free milks or herbal teas as the liquid portion of your smoothie!
Blogged while procrastinating the unpacking process and drinking this very ugly smoothie! I’m just back from vacay and I’m in slow-mo mode!
Speaking of smoothies, check out my Mind Body Green article on how to make your smoothie addiction a little more affordable! Eating healthy is expensive! I use these tips and tricks every day to increase the nutrient density of my smoothie without completely breaking the bank!
Recipe Remix: Turn this smoothie into an overnight smoothie bowl by reducing the liquid to ½ cup. Make this in the evening before bed, mix it with 1/3 cup rolled oats and leave it in the fridge overnight. If you like it a little sweeter, use a full frozen banana.
The Ugly Green Smoothie
Cook Time: 5 mins
Servings: 1
All the health accolade is given to bright, vibrant green smoothies but the truth is that many healthy smoothie recipes kind of look like mud!
Ingredients
- 1 cup packed spinach or kale
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup frozen or fresh blueberries
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 2 teaspoons chia seeds
- pinch cinnamon
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or ½ cup almond milk & ½ cup water
- Optional add ins: 1 tablespoon nut butter ½ peeled kiwi, 1 clementine, 1 teaspoon matcha, ½ teaspoon spirulina, handful fresh basil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in order listed to a blender and blend on high until smooth. I've listed some optional add-ins that you can use to switch up this recipe and change the flavour (choose one, not all!). These are some things I add to mix it up a little.
Notes
Turn this smoothie into an overnight oat smoothie bowl by making it in the evening and modifying the recipe; Reduce the liquid to ½ cup and mix it with 1/3 cup rolled oats and leave it in the fridge overnight. If you like it a little sweeter, use a full frozen banana.
Did you make this recipe?
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Jula
just stumbled across this smoothie and had to give you 5 stars out of bravely for your title!! LOVE “THE UGLY GREEN SMOOTHIE” name 🙂 Heads up! Im myself a smoothie maker (just changed my domain name.. should be live within a few days) and looove your recipe idea title!! 🙂
Whenever my smoothies turned out this colour I didn’t publish them, but you give me strength 😀 :* YESSSS!!!
I bet it taste amazing!
Lots of love!!!
Ashley Madden
I love this Julie! LOL!!! Yes, most of my smoothies look like mud…but are delish! Publish all your ugly smoothies!
Ash
Ashley Madden
Send me new web address!