This green smoothie with no banana has a secret fruit that makes it sweet and creamy! This nutrient-strong drink provides energy, clearer skin, better sleep, and only five easy ingredients. Friendly for all diets and is around only 150 calories.
This is the best green smoothie with no bananas, and full of vegetables and green grapes that make it taste thick and creamy, as well as sweet and frosty.
While many smoothie recipes depend on bananas for texture and sweetness, this banana free smoothie does not. Instead, grapes are used for a fruit sweet flavor, and chia seeds provide the thick creamy texture, as well as extra protein.
I love bananas, but they do have a distinctively strong flavor, and I don't want all my smoothies to taste like bananas. If variety in a smoothie also appeals to you, take a look at my how to make a smoothie post here and grab my free downloadable chart, a chart which will help you mix and match ingredients.
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Green Smoothie Benefits
This green smoothie is beneficial to drink daily in so many ways. The leafy greens and other ingredients in this smoothie can increase your energy, provides protein, disease protection and even beauty enhancements. This easy smoothie has similar nutrition to my other favorite smoothies, my Chocolate Avocado Smoothie, Chocolate Beet Smoothie, my Chocolate Smoothie, and my Strawberry Smoothie.
This healthy smoothie is refined sugar free because it is sweetened entirely by fruit, specifically an apple and frozen white grapes, also called green grapes, which contribute vitamin C, Vitamin K, B6 and potassium. All of these vitamins boost the immune system, skin healthy and heart health.
Although this smoothie is called 'green' and is green in color thanks to vegetables, it really doesn't have to be. A green smoothie can be any color, just swap out the spinach for vegetables that are not green, such as cauliflower. The descriptor "green" is merely a synonym for a smoothie made with mostly vegetables and other nutritious ingredients.
Ingredients
Spinach. Use the baby form for a less green flavor, and intense levels of potassium and other nutrition.
Green grapes. To replace bananas in texture and sweetness.
Apple - Not peeled. This fruit adds flavor and contributes fiber.
Lime juice. This citrus juice freshens the flavor and boosts vitamin c.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions
Instead of spinach. You can use the baby form of kale, or spring mix. Both types are easily found pre-washed and blend up as easily as spinach.
Instead of grapes. Add pears, not peeled, as another fruity yet neutral flavor. You can also mix in some kiwi although kiwi alone probably won't provide enough texture.
Instead of apple - Use pears instead of apple, again not peeled.
Instead of lime juice. Lemon juice also works to brighten the smoothie's flavor and add vitamins.
Optional. To thicken your smoothie, add chia seeds or flax seeds or both. Chia seeds also add protein, and flax seeds add fiber.
Steps to Make
For complete and detailed recipe steps, visit the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are general steps.
Step 1: Add spinach leaves and lime juice first and blend to ensure the leafy greens break up thoroughly.
Step 2: Add the rest of the ingredients except for the water and taste-test. If you need it sweeter, add more grapes.
Step 3: Add half the water, blend and judge the texture. If you would like it less thick, add the rest of the water. Drink right away. Or freeze in ice cube trays to be blended and enjoyed later.
Recipe Tips
Ratio for A Green Smoothie
The ratio I found to be best for a green smoothie is 1:1:1:1 with leafy greens, liquid and frozen fruits and veggies in equal amounts. As a bonus, add seeds and nuts to boost proteins. This structure can vary, however, for example you can add more fruits to increase sweetness. Just customize to fit your needs.
Best Blenders for Smoothies
High speed blenders will break down leafy greens more thoroughly, but regular blenders will do a decent job. If you are in the market for a blender, here are my recommendations.
Blendtec. My favorite. I love the easy-to-clean square jar - no nooks and crannies to clean as is the case with every other blender. Use discount code: GSgourmet20
Vitamix is another popular high speed blender, similar to Blendtec in pricing. And it's probably more popular than any other brand, but I still prefer Blendtec because of its square jar.
Ninja is a more affordable blender brand. This small blender is powerful yet far less expensive than the other two.
Variations
Make a Tropical Green Smoothie. Add ½-inch unpeeled fresh ginger, ¼ cup pineapple chunks and ¼ cup coconut water to turn your green smoothie into a tropical green smoothie.
Make an Avocado Green Smoothie. Add ½ peeled and pitted avocado to the recipe to make a thicker smoothie that will gain all the nutrition that avocados have to offer.
Make a Protein Green Smoothie. Add ½ cup of your favorite yogurt to boost the protein of this creamy smoothie.
FAQS
Bananas work well in a smoothie, adding sweetening, fiber and potassium and a creamy texture. But not everyone likes bananas or can eat them.
Yes! Green smoothies are perfect for weight loss because of two factors:
The leafy greens provide insoluble fiber that supports digestion, so you don't feel bloated. The added fruit and other fiber-rich foods help you lose weight by making you to feel full so you eat less.
Green smoothies are only as nutritious as the ingredients you add. To make a green smoothie that is good for you, try for a balance of 3 to 2 with 3 being leafy greens or raw vegetables, and 2 being fruits.
It's more than OK, it's great for you if this green smoothie is made in a nutritious way and provides you with a good portion of daily recommended fruits and veggies.
Sign Up for My 6-Day Smoothie Challenge
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More Delicious Smoothies
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
Best Green Smoothie (no banana)
Ingredients
- 1 cup spinach
- ½ apple
- ¾ cup white grapes (sometimes called green grapes; use frozen)
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 cup water
Optional Additions
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds for added protein
- 2 tablespoon flaxseeds for added fiber
Equipment
- Blendtec Blender Use code GSGourmet20 for discount.
Instructions
Prep
- Freeze the grapes the prior night to make the smoothie extra frosty. If you forget, just make the smoothie with unfrozen grapes and chill the drink 30 minutes.
Blend smoothie
- Add lime juice and spinach to the blender first, and blend until the leaves are broken down, about 30 seconds.¼ cup lime juice, 1 cup spinach
- Add grapes and apple, and half the water and blend. If you need more water, add the rest and blend again.½ apple, ¾ cup white grapes, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoon chia seeds, 2 tablespoon flaxseeds
Store
- Drink right away or refrigerate for 1 day, or freeze in ice cube trays for one month.
Tina
I was never able to find the smoothie chart????
Dee Dine
Hi Tina, it's under the "Want to Get Started With Green Smoothies?" section. Here it is as well: Green Smoothie Chart
Platt College
I am always looking for a healthy smoothie recipe, thanks!
Debbie
You are most welcome! Thanks for visiting!