Packed with good-for-you ingredients, this Strawberry Blueberry Spinach Smoothie makes the perfect summer breakfast or mid-day snack. A true powerhouse of healthy things, it’s also crazy delicious!
This recipe was originally published in July 2014, and was republished in July 2020 to add better quality photos, re-test the recipe, and add more helpful tips.
I feel like smoothies are the perfect summer breakfast or mid-day snack. You get a hit of energy, and some sweetness to satisfy your urge to nibble on sugary snacks, plus all the nutrients to keep you going. And they are fast to make and refreshingly cold on hot days.
I like loading mine with fresh fruit and vegetables, plus some extra protein. I added yogurt (and milk) as my protein for this smoothie. This makes it wonderfully creamy and, well, smooth.
I tend to add a bit of honey to my smoothies for some extra sweetness. I have a major sweet tooth to satisfy. And it balances out the raw spinach, which some people can find bitter or dry. The addition of just a bit of honey bring everything together in harmony for a perfect summer drink.
Fresh fruit versus frozen
I mostly prefer fresh fruits and vegetables for my smoothies, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. And other times frozen really works. Frozen fruit can keep your smoothie nice and cold and refreshing without watering it down.
You can certainly use fresh strawberries in this smoothie. If you do so, I would suggest adding 3-4 ice cubes as well to keep it cold. And maybe reduce the milk a little bit. When you add ice to a smoothie you need to be careful that you don’t water in down too much.
On the other hand, if you use frozen blueberries as well as frozen strawberries, you are going to need to add more liquid or it will be too thick and have too many ice crystals. In this case add a couple tablespoons more milk. But I do recommend fresh blueberries. They are that much more amazing.
Superfoods
This strawberry, blueberry, and spinach smoothie is a powerhouse of healthy things. Almost everything in it is known to have some really good health benefits for you. Let’s start from the top:
Strawberries and blueberries have lots of vitamin C and fiber which are so important for your immune system and gut. Fiber helps you feel full and satisfied by your smoothie snack. Blueberries also have antioxidants, which are known for reducing cancer risks and anti-inflammatory properties.
Banana of course has lots of potassium to help with muscle recovery. The proper balance of sodium and potassium is critical for all kinds of bodily functions, and it’s so much easier to find sodium in modern diets.
If you get a yogurt that has live cultures in it, you are helping your gut stay healthy. Yogurt is a probiotic, something that adds more of the right kind of bacteria to your gut. This is very important for digestion. If you have to take antibiotics, it’s important to get some probiotics too, to keep your digestion on track.
And spinach has everything! Well not everything, but so much that it is definitely classified as a superfood. Spinach is a great source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and vitamins A and K. Vitamin A is very important for vision, calcium and magnesium go to building strong bones, and iron and vitamin K are very important in preventing and treating anaemia. Of course, what this all actually means is that spinach is really good for you!
Adding chia for extra health
While totally optional for this smoothie, chia seeds make a great addition to further boost the health benefits of this drink. While rich in calcium like spinach, they also have a lot of protein and omega-3 fatty acids – the good fats like are in avocado or walnuts. Omega-3’s are a really important part of your diet, helping with a healthy heart and circulatory system.
Having some healthy fats in a smoothie is a really good way to feel satisfied. Like all the fiber in this drink, the fats contribute to a full feeling that lasts longer than simple sugars or carbohydrates. This can prevent you from snacking on unhealthy things.
So let’s review: We have all kinds of ingredients that are healthy for your gut, bones, blood, immune system, and muscles, plus fiber and protein to keep you full. Sounds like a perfect reason to have a smoothie every day. And why not do so this summer?
Strawberry Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon honey , or to taste
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (except chia seeds) to a blender and blend until desired consistency is reached. Pour into glasses and sprinkle chia seeds on top.
4 Comments
Savita
September 21, 2022 at 12:09 pmThis is a perfect smoothie to start my day, refreshing and delicious.
Katherine
September 21, 2022 at 12:42 pmSuch a tasty, healthy smoothie recipe! Thank you!
Rosemary
September 21, 2022 at 1:01 pmNice and simple flavor packed smoothie. Can’t beat these delicious flavors.
Dannii
September 21, 2022 at 1:22 pmThis was a delicious way to start the day. Lots of flavour and very nutritious.