Enjoy fresh seasonal produce with this Spinach and Cherry Smoothie. Containing 1 serving of leafy greens and 2 servings of fruit, it’s a perfect start to your day!

Let’s get one thing out of the way: this smoothie is ugly.

What starts out as layers of bright green spinach and juicy red cherries turns into a reddish brown beverage.

But beauty is more than skin deep, and this smoothie is beautiful: creamy, naturally sweet and PACKED with nutrition.

Benefits of green smoothies

As a dietitian, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I don’t eat a lot of leafy greens. Yes, I know how important they are, but there’s something about the texture that I just don’t like.

So instead of eating salads and adding greens to sandwiches, I have to get a little more creative.

Green smoothies are the perfect vessel for getting a serving or two of leafy greens in each day. No prepping or cooking required. Just add raw baby spinach to your blender, add about a cup of fruit and half cup of milk and blend away.

This smoothie in particular has some heavy hitters for nutrition:

• Spinach: high in fiber, vitamins A, C, K and B9, iron, and antioxidants important for eye and heart health.
• Cherries: also high in fiber and vitamin C, cherries also contribute potassium, phytochemicals (protect against inflammation), and are rich in powerful antioxidants.
• Banana slices: a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins B6 and C, and antioxidants. Plus they add a great natural sweetness and creaminess to smoothies.
• Greek Yogurt: a good source of calcium, probiotics, and lean protein. Be sure to go with plain yogurt to avoid excess added sugars.

What You’ll Need

• Raw baby spinach
• Fresh cherries, pitted (or frozen)
• Frozen banana (half)
• Plain Greek yogurt (2% or whole)
• Unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or milk of choice)
• Almond extract
• Optional add-ins:
  • Protein powder
  • Almond butter

How to add more protein

While one serving of this smoothie has 8 grams of protein thanks to the Greek yogurt, if you’re looking to make this more of a meal than snack, there are a few ways to bulk up the protein:

• 1-2 tablespoons natural almond butter
• 1 scoop protein powder
• 1-2 tablespoons hemp seeds
• Use soy milk instead of a nut-based one  

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Measure out your ingredients and layer them in a blender. The key to layering to make sure the spinach is close to the blade – no one wants a smoothie with spinach bits in it.

Step 2: Blend on high, taste and adjust as needed.

Step 3: Pour into glass and enjoy!

Are you a fan of veggies in your smoothies? Share your favorite combos in the comments below and be sure to pin this recipe for later!

Print Recipe

Healthy Spinach and Cherry Smoothie

Enjoy fresh seasonal produce with this Spinach and Cherry Smoothie. Containing 1 serving of leafy greens and 2 servings of fruit, it’s a perfect start to your day!

Prep Time10 mins

Course: Breakfast, Smoothie, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Green Smoothie, Healthy Smoothie

Servings: 1 smoothie

Calories: 156kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup baby spinach
• ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or milk of choice
• ¼ cup 2% or whole milk plain Greek yogurt
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract
• ½ frozen banana
• ½ cup pitted cherries
• Optional: 1 scoop protein powder 1 tablespoon almond butter, or 1-2 tablespoons hemp seeds

Instructions

• Place smoothie ingredients in blender in the order they’re listed above, with spinach closest to the blade.
• Blend on high until smooth and no spinach pieces remain.
• Pour into a glass and enjoy!

Notes

Nutrition for 1 smoothie (without optional add-ins): 156 calories, 3 g fat (1 g saturated), 442 mg potassium, 27 g carb, 4 g fiber, 17 g natural sugar, 8 g protein