Banana, Spinach, Honey & Almond Milk Green Smoothie

Smoothies are a delicious and healthy way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Whether you're looking to boost your energy, improve your digestion, switch-up your breakfast habits or simply enjoy a refreshing drink, a classic green smoothie can be perfect for satisfying your taste buds whilst nourishing your body.

This one might sound a little strange, but it's one of our faves and if you're new to the world of smoothies, then the classic green smoothie is a great place to start! If you're not a banana fan, you can always replace it with something else (we love kiwi, strawberry or mango as alternatives!) and if you're counting the calories or you want something vegan, you can always leave the honey out of it too (although we do think it gives it an especially yummy taste!) 

Spinach, Banana, Honey & Almond Milk Recipe

This simple smoothie recipe contains just four ingredients: spinach, banana, almond milk, and honey.

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, while bananas are a great source of potassium. Almond milk is a non-dairy alternative to cow's milk, and honey adds a touch of sweetness without adding refined sugar. How much you use of each ingredient is really is up to your own personal taste but to start try;

425 grams spinach 

260 grams almond milk

1 banana (try freezing it first to make the smoothie cold without adding ice)

2 teaspoons honey 

Simply blend all the ingredients together until smooth, and voila! You have a delicious and nutritious green smoothie.

Customisation Ideas 

As we've mentioned above, you can use this smoothie recipe as a base and add or alternate the ingredients. Here are our suggestions...

Vegetables - Add to the spinach with broccoli, watercress, cucumber or avocado. 

Fruit - Instead of banana, try other berries such as strawberry, or keep it tropical with mango or pineapple. Kiwi fruit is also delicious and so is apple! 

Almond Milk - You can try a smoothie with coconut milk instead. It still keeps it dairy-free and tasting divine. 

Additions - Add seeds such as chia seeds or ground flax. You could even add your favourite protein powder for added power! 

Why this Green Smoothie is so healthy! 

Spinach 

Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse. It provides an excellent source of vitamin K1, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health. It is also rich in vitamin C to boost immunity and promote skin health, vitamin A for healthy eyes and skin, and folic acid for cell and DNA health. Spinach smoothies deliver calcium, iron, and antioxidants that reduce inflammation and combat free radical damage. 

Banana

Bananas contain carbs that serve as your body's main energy source. They also provide B vitamins like B3, B6, and B12, which help your body's enzymes convert the carbs into usable energy. Bananas eaten as part of a balanced meal can help keep you satisfied longer between meals... this reduces the likelihood of cravings and exceeding your daily calorie needs, which over time can contribute to weight gain. Bananas are especially beneficial for heart health due to their high potassium content. Potassium helps manage blood pressure by increasing sodium excretion and easing tension in blood vessel walls. This is significant because excess sodium can increase blood volume and pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is dairy-free and has no lactose (a type of sugar found in dairy milk) so is great for people with lactose intolerances. With its high nutrient content and low calorie count, almond milk has become a go-to plant-based milk alternative and is suitable for vegans. Almond milk contains more vitamins, antioxidants and minerals than dairy milk. It is especially rich in magnesium, which plays a vital role in muscle function, blood sugar regulation, maintaining healthy blood pressure, and the formation of bone, protein, and DNA. It's also a great source of Vitamin E which is an antioxidant which protects your cells from the effects of dangerous molecules called free radicals. 

Honey 

Honey is composed of amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and sugar in its raw form. With a high fructose content, honey is sweeter than sugar but has a moderate glycemic index. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent.

This simple smoothie recipe really does act as a great multivitamin and tastes delightful - why not give it a try?