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Get your daily dose of greens with this refreshing orange creamsicle smoothie! Made with fresh spinach, orange juice, and coconut, this smoothie tastes like an orange creamsicle but is packed with healthy vitamins and greens. It’s a great way to start your morning or have a mid-day pick-me-up!
And if you enjoy this orange green smoothie, be sure to try my peanut butter and jelly protein smoothie and these healthy ginger shots! You can also check out this list of detox drink recipes.
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Why this recipe works
The “I don’t like greens” statement is something I hear all the time– and not just from kids. It’s surprising to me that many adults will squish their faces up at the mere mention of anything resembling a green hue. As if the thought has transported them right back to their childhood dinner table when they were pushing peas around their plate.
Granted, eating bitter greens can be easier said than done, especially when I’m trying to get picky eaters to step out of their comfort zone. That’s why I love this healthy orange green smoothie: it packs the greens but tastes like an orange creamsicle.
As a child, I used to beg my parents to buy me Fred Flintstone push pops (do you remember those?), which was like an explosion of creamy orange sherbet. Mmmmmm sherbet.
Now, I can still enjoy all the childhood feelings of having that delicious push pop, only with added spinach and an E3AFA supplement to make this orange creamsicle smoothie healthy. And no, you DON’T taste the greens. Talk about a win win!
You can easily whip this green smoothie up for breakfast in the morning or a pick-me-up snack.
Wondering what E3AFA is? It’s a nutritional algae with over 65 vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids (in trace amounts). It’s also harvested in the United States, from the Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon. I enjoy adding it to smoothies for an extra vitamin boost, but it is totally optional here.
What blender do you use?
I’ve had many blenders over the years, but my all-time favorite has to be the Ninja blender. It’s powerful enough to blend smoothies and sauces, is easy to clean, and the price is just right.
Currently I’m using the Ninja Power Pitcher System which comes with a blender, single serving cup, and smoothie bowl maker. The blender has an additional soft “blade” that can be used to make cookie dough or blend cake batter.
Of course, if you’re just making single serving smoothies (say that 5 times fast), the Nutri Ninja would work well too and is a bit cheaper.
Ingredients
This is what you need to make this green orange creamsicle smoothie, plus substitutions if needed.
- Banana. This is the base of any good smoothie (in my opinion), and helps thicken it up.
- Orange juice. I recommend using high pulp orange juice for the most nutritional benefits. You can also use fresh oranges if you prefer, however, keep in mind that you may need to add some water to adjust the liquid ratio.
- Coconut milk. I use full-fat canned coconut milk, and scrape the cream off the top. You can also use light coconut milk OR coconut water if you prefer.
- Spinach. Fresh spinach is the way to go for this recipe (not frozen). I use a handful, which is roughly ½ cup. You can also use other fresh greens if you don’t like spinach, like watercress, chard, or kale.
- Vanilla. This helps this smoothie taste more like a “creamsicle,” but is totally optional.
- E3AFA (optional). This is a nutritional algae that I like to add in for nutritional benefits. It does not affect the taste in any way.
How to make it
Add banana, orange juice, coconut cream, vanilla, and E3AFA (if using) to a single serving blender cup. Pack in fresh spinach.
Blend on high until processed and smooth. Pour into one glass or split with a friend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Making your own green smoothies are absolutely a good way to incorporate healthy greens (such as spinach, chard, kale, etc.) and add vitamins/nutrients into your diet. That being said, homemade green smoothies are the best because you can control what goes into them. The important thing is to stay balanced when making your smoothie.
I like using fresh organic spinach, because it’s easy to find and typically can be bought pre-washed. It also has a mild flavor that goes undetected in this smoothie. However, any dark greens would do, such as watercress, kale, chard, arugula, etc. Just keep in mind that choosing more bitter greens can alter the flavor of this orange creamsicle smoothie.
Absolutely! If you don’t want to use orange juice, just swap it out for fresh orange slices. That being said, you may have to add a little water to balance out the liquid ratio.
More healthy drink recipes
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Green Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Get your daily dose of greens with this refreshing orange creamsicle smoothie! Made with fresh spinach, orange juice, and coconut, this smoothie tastes like an orange creamsicle but is packed with healthy vitamins and greens.
Ingredients
Notes
- I recommend using high pulp orange juice for the most nutritional benefits. You can also use fresh oranges if you prefer, however, keep in mind that you may need to add some water to adjust the liquid ratio.
- I use full-fat canned coconut milk, and scrape the cream off the top. You can also use light coconut milk OR coconut water if you prefer.
- Fresh spinach is the way to go for this recipe (not frozen). I use a handful, which is roughly ½ cup. You can also use other fresh greens if you don’t like spinach, like watercress, chard, or kale. Just keep in mind that choosing more bitter greens can alter the flavor of this orange creamsicle smoothie.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 1173mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 572IU | Vitamin C: 135mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 5mg
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
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