There's a reason our parents forced us to have vegetables when we were kids and it's the same reason you probably force them onto your kids' plates now, no matter how much they resist. It's because you can't deny their nutritional value. In other words, they're just plain good for you. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean their taste is always up to par.
If you haven't mastered how to make your vegetable servings as delicious as a plate of fries and still cringe at the thought of including them in your meals (behind your kids' backs of course), then maybe throwing them into a smoothie might work. Smoothies are a great way to sneak some vegetables into the palate of a picky eater. It's a useful trick for moms with kids who refuse to eat anything that doesn't look like it came from a fast food joint.
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Masking the taste of the vegetables depends on what else you throw into your smoothie. You won't even know they're in there. But, be careful to watch the sugar content of what you're throwing into the blender to keep your drink healthy and full of health benefits. From helping with your weight loss goals, to an increase in energy or a stronger immune system, you can turn your smoothie into a powerhouse of the nutrients your body most needs.
And don't fret, leafy greens aren't the only vegetables that make delicious smoothie ingredients. Though you can never go wrong with veggies like kale or spinach, don't be afraid to experiment with others like cauliflower or squash.
To get you started, here are 30 smoothie recipes so good, you won't even notice the vegetables.
If you don’t have time to make breakfast, whip up this Banana Peach Green Smoothie instead.
In this smoothie, you’ll get a healthy serving of spinach and avocado, while naturally sweetening up your drink with ingredients like maple syrup and vanilla. The smoothie also calls for green grapes, peaches, half a banana and Greek yogurt for added creaminess. You’ll throw all these ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth.
Get the recipe at Everyday Good Thinking.
The Very Berry Beet Smoothie is as pretty as it is good for you.
Beets give this smoothie the deep reddish tints that make it look super delicious. While you might not add beets to your dinner dish, you might not mind having them in a smoothie. Beets carry a host of impressive health benefits that include improving digestive health, fighting inflammation and possibly improving athletic performance.
Get the recipe at Emilie Eats.
Kabocha squash makes a surprisingly delicious smoothie ingredient.
Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin, is a great source of vitamin A, which contributes to eye health, is good for weight loss because it’s low in carbs, and may even help fight cancer. To make this smoothie, you’ll blend juiced carrot and ginger juice with the squash, coconut water, cashews, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Get the recipe at Spabettie.
This Pineapple Paradise Green Smoothie is exactly what your body needs.
This smoothie calls for 2 cups of spinach. Spinach is a great source of iron, which keeps your red blood cells working properly, and several other vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin A and vitamin K.
Get the recipe at Culinary Hill.
Romaine lettuce might not be your typical smoothie ingredient, but here it works.
The taste of lettuce is balanced with the sweetness of mango in this Mango Romaine Smoothie. Romaine lettuce is only 8 calories per cup, making it a great food for those on a weight loss journey. It’s also a great source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, which supports the immune system, phosphorus and calcium, which work together to provide strong bones and teeth.
Get the recipe at Jelly Toast.
If you’re looking for a midday boost, have this Bee Pollen, Berry and Broccoli Rabe Smoothie.
You’ll also get a good serving of vegetables, since this smoothie packs half a cup of broccoli rabe, also known as rapini. Broccoli rabe helps keep the digestive system running smoothly since it packs 2 grams of fiber per cup, it lowers the risk of heart disease and helps strengthen your bones.
Get the recipe at Andy Boy.
Have some veggies for breakfast with this Spicy Mango Tango Green Smoothie.
The spice in this smoothie comes from the ginger juice or ginger puree you’ll add to it. You’ll also add a serving of veggies by throwing in some spinach. The other ingredients you’ll add include a banana for creaminess, mango for a dose of tropical flavor, water and chia seeds. Blend until smooth.
Get the recipe at Healthy Slow Cooking.
Having chocolate for breakfast is very possible.
It can also be healthy when you have it in this Avocado Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie. To give this smoothie its chocolatey taste, you’ll add two tablespoons of cocoa powder. The avocado in this smoothie will also provide you with a plentiful serving of potassium and all the healthy fats your body needs.
Get the recipe at A Cookie Named Desire.
Try something out of the box with this Wild Blueberry Zucchini smoothie.
Take in all the benefits of zucchini by having a serving of this delicious smoothie. Zucchini can help improve heart health, lower cholesterol and since the vegetable is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, it's perfect for those trying to lose weight. Because zucchini’s a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, it can also help slow down aging.
Get the recipe at Life is But a Dish.
The cauliflower in this smoothie makes it both healthy and creamy.
This smoothie contains no fruits, meaning its filling and extra healthy, running you only 329 calories. You’ll sweeten it up with a teaspoon of molasses instead of sugar. The cauliflower will also add some health perks to the smoothie including antioxidants that protect the body’s cells from harmful free radicals and inflammation.
Get the recipe at Abra’s Kitchen.
If you’re looking to make your diet a little more green, look no further than this smoothie.
This smoothie is creamy, but not too filling, making it an ideal snack. It’s full of green foods like avocado, green grapes and chopped cucumber. Cucumbers, specifically, are low in calories and high in important nutrients like manganese, potassium and vitamin K. Since cucumbers are about 96% water, they also promote hydration.
Get the recipe at Top of the Apple.
This smoothie is packed with as much nutrition as a hearty soup.
To make this drink, you’ll throw in a bunch of unconventional smoothie ingredients, like tomato, red bell pepper and red onion. The end result tastes like a bowl of tomato gazpacho. Tomatoes are a good source of fiber, are full of plant compounds that may protect against sunburn and may be possibly linked to a lower risk of prostate, lung or stomach cancers.
Get the recipe at The Blender Girl.
This Pumpkin Spice Green Smoothie is delicious not just during October, but all year.
The main ingredient in this smoothie is spinach, but you’ll add pumpkin spice to switch up the flavors and avoid a plain old green smoothie. You’ll also add 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder to up the its nutrition. The addition of protein powder will keep you full for a while, so this smoothie makes a great breakfast replacement option.
Get the recipe at Bites of Wellness.
Detoxify your body with the cucumbers in this Pineapple Cucumber Smoothie.
To make this creamy smoothie, you’ll need sliced cucumber, cubed pineapple, a handful of your choice of greens, like kale or spinach and other secondary ingredients like coconut water and lime. Aside from hydration, cucumbers also support regular bowel movements due to their fiber content.
Get the recipe at Minimalist Baker.
This Plum and Persimmon Green Smoothie packs a ton of flavor.
This smoothie is filled with a ton of veggies and fruits including a plum, green apple, satsuma oranges, fresh spinach and kale. Kale, specifically, is known for its superfood properties. It’s loaded with antioxidants and is one among the most nutrient-dense foods on this planet. Ginger and half a persimmon are also added to this smoothie give it an extra kick of spice.
Get the recipe at Quinn’s Place.
You won’t mind a serving of carrots in this Tropical Carrot Smoothie.
Though this recipe calls for mango, strawberries, orange and pineapple, you can switch up and add your preferred fruits if you like. But if you want to reap the benefits of baby carrots, then make sure to keep them in your smoothie. The vitamins and minerals in carrots promote good vision, fat and protein metabolism and blood pressure control.
Get the recipe at The Chunky Chef.
Surprisingly, butternut squash makes a yummy smoothie ingredient.
In this smoothie, you’ll combine mashed butternut squash with pomegranate molasses and other ingredients like pumpkin pie spice, to create a delicious drink. Butternut squash supports a healthy immune system, due to its beta-carotene content and can help prevent infections since it’s a great source of vitamin A.
Get the recipe at Turnip the Oven.
A healthy smoothie doesn’t always have to be green.
Add some healthy tints of red to your diet by having this Beet Strawberry Smoothie. To prepare the beets for this smoothie, you’ll drizzle them with olive oil and bake for about an hour. Beets are useful at improving stamina and brain function and may even lower blood pressure.
Get the recipe at Salu Salo.
Have this Spinach Pear Celery Smoothie to make sure you get in your daily serving of veggies.
While there’s no doubt spinach packs a ton of benefits, celery does, too. Celery’s full of phytonutrients that are known to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, blood vessels, organs and cells. It’s also low in sodium, low on the glycemic index and high in water content, since it’s almost 95% water.
Get the recipe at Green Reset.
Get the best of both worlds with this Chocolate Covered Cherry Green Smoothie.
You’ll have both dessert and a nutritious snack in this chocolate-flavored smoothie made with spinach, almond milk, pitted cherries, cinnamon and chocolate protein powder. You can even make the smoothie your own by substituting out ingredients and adding others like chia seeds, bananas, coconut water or flavored syrup.
Get the recipe at Bijoux and Bits.
This tasty smoothie combines the bold and sweet flavors of pineapple, parsnip and blood orange.
While the pineapple will sweeten this smoothie up and add some nutrition, the parsnips added to this smoothie give it some serious health benefits. Parsnips provide support to the digestive system, can help you fight infections due to its vitamin C content and can help keep bones healthy, since it’s a great source of vitamin K.
Get the recipe at Serious Eats.
Red peppers in a smoothie might sound off at first, done the right way it works.
This smoothie combines a host of ingredients including red peppers, carrots, tomato juice, goji berries and other secondary ingredients like lemon juice to add taste. Red peppers are also packed with health benefits including support of healthy night vision, can possibly increase metabolism and are a rich source of vitamin C.
Get the recipe at Jagruti’s Cooking Odyssey.
This unconventional recipe might sound odd, but it works as a tasty drink you’ll want more of.
If you want to skip out on breakfast, have this Chocolate Zucchini Smoothie. It’ll taste like you’re having dessert instead. To make this smoothie, you’ll need cocoa powder, some raw zucchini, a banana for creaminess, peanut butter, vanilla and pure maple syrup. Since zucchinis are high in fiber, you’ll feel full longer despite having only a smoothie for breakfast.
Get the recipe at Homemade Nutrition.
This Collard Greens Smoothie works as an energy booster.
It makes the perfect pre-workout drink. The smoothie calls for fresh lime juice, collard greens, or spinach if you prefer, frozen mango and green grapes. Collard greens aid in flushing the body of harmful toxins, maintaining blood pressure levels, and slowing down aging by preventing cell damage and keeping the skin well-hydrated.
Get the recipe at The Daily Meal.
Drink this Zucchini Fig Smoothie to add the perfect mix of spice and sweetness to your day.
This smoothie calls for 2 fresh figs, zucchini, unsalted cashews, a banana and other ingredients for taste that include vanilla extract, fresh ginger and Himalayan sea salt. Zucchini will add extra creaminess to the smoothie, as well as minerals like vitamin C and manganese, which helps the body produce collagen and protects its tissues from harmful free radicals.
Get the recipe at Tasty Yummies.
If you’re short on time, make this quick, easy smoothie.
The Cherry Spinach Smoothie only calls for 1 banana, a cup of frozen cherries, or strawberries if you prefer, a handful of spinach and a cup of almond milk, or your preferred milk of choice. The health benefits of spinach, the green ingredient in this smoothie, include eye protection from the damage caused by sunlight, possible cancer prevention and a decrease in the risk of heart disease.
Get the recipe at Cooktoria.
You might not miss sweet potato fries after you have sweet potato in a smoothie.
To make this smoothie, you’ll combine roasted sweet potato with a banana and add maple syrup, unsweetened milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon to the blender for added taste. Sweet potatoes are high in nutritional value since they promote a healthy digestive system due to their high fiber content and possibly help improve blood sugar regulation in people with type 2 diabetes.
Get the recipe at Wholefully.
Beets are incredibly easy to add to your diet since they can be prepared in so many ways, including being blended into a smoothie.
Because of their impressive health benefits, beets make a great addition to any meal or snack, including a smoothie. They improve cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain and can prevent digestive conditions like constipation and inflammatory bowel disease. The avocado in this specific recipe also adds some creaminess and healthy fats to your drink.
Get the recipe at We Are Not Martha.
This green veggie smoothie is Dr. Oz-approved.
Dr. Oz recommends this smoothie to help rid your body of excess toxins. It packs a bunch of green foods including spinach, cucumber, celery stalks and a pear. After blending all the ingredients, you’ll squeeze some lemon juice into the mixture. Not only will you flush your body of toxins, but you’ll also refuel it with important nutrients.
Get the recipe at TODAY.
Calcium, zinc, and vitamin C are just some of the nutrients packed in this Carrot, Apple and Celery Smoothie.
This smoothie is ideal for someone trying to shed a few pounds because the apple and celery ingredients in this recipe are loaded with fiber. Fiber curbs appetite since it keeps you feeling full longer. Celery is also low in calories since it’s mostly made of water. To make this smoothie, blend carrots, a medium apple, one cup of celery and water.
Get the recipe at Best Natural Tips.
