This Creamy Almond Butter, Spinach and Banana Smoothie is a favorite at our house. It is full of easy-to-find, nutritious ingredients and is so delicious.

Almond Butter, Spinach and Banana Smoothie

Layers of colorful ingredients fill up the glass pitcher. Securing the lid, I place it on the stand and crank up the power.  The sounds of crushing and pureeing begin to echo throughout the house.

Then, without fail, the pitter-patter of four little feet on the hardwood floors as they approach the kitchen.

"What are you making?" my kids ask.

"A smoothie," I reply. "Do you want some?"

"Yes!"

My kids love smoothies almost as much as I do.

Growing up it was common to have a quick smoothie with my breakfast. The recipe was usually pretty simple, just banana and milk.

Nowadays, my morning smoothies have a few more ingredients, are a little more complex, and much more nutritious. I enjoy mixing things up and coming up with new concoctions for us to have for breakfast or even as an afternoon snack.

With all the different variations of smoothies we drink at our house, I thought it would be great to share those different recipes here on the blog.

Today I am sharing with you a Creamy Almond Butter, Spinach and Banana Smoothie. This is by far the smoothie I make the most often because it is full of nutritious ingredients that I almost always have on hand, it is also so creamy (just as the name says), and delicious.

The Ingredients

Similar to the smoothies of my youth, this recipe includes milk and banana. However, I now use dairy-free milk and add a lot more than just a banana. 

Following is a breakdown of the ingredients included and the health benefits associated with each one.

Almond Milk (or milk of choice) -

One of the major ingredients I changed in all my smoothies is the milk. It took me a long time to realize that the stomachaches I used to suffer from in the mornings were a result of having milk on an empty stomach.

In general, milk and I just don't get along so I opt for a non-dairy version. In this smoothie, I prefer to use unsweetened almond milk because it's low in sugar and has a mild flavor. Of course, you can certainly use whatever milk you prefer.

Click here for my recipe for Healthy Homemade Almond Milk.

Almond Butter

I love the taste of almond butter and I especially like the flavor and creaminess it adds to my smoothies. It also is a great source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and vitamin E, plus it adds protein.

Just be sure to look for an almond butter that doesn't have added sugar, the only ingredients should be almonds and perhaps a little salt.

Flax Meal

Flax seeds are considered a superfood because they are packed with so many nutrients, such as omega-3 fats, fiber, antioxidants and so much more.

Ground flax seeds make it easier for our bodies to absorb the nutrients, so flax meal is a great choice for smoothies.

Find out more about this superfood here.

Spinach

This leafy vegetable is another great source of many vitamins, minerals and fiber. It has been linked with many health benefits like bone health, digestive health, and low blood pressure.

Plus, a handful of spinach does not change the flavor of the smoothies, so picky eaters can drink easy.

Banana

Bananas add creaminess and a natural sweetness so there is no need to add any sweetener. Plus, bananas are rich in potassium and are great for digestive health.

Find out even more nutritional information about all these ingredients by doing a search on healthline.com.

How to Make Almond Butter, Spinach and Banana Smoothie

Gather all of your ingredients.

Add all of the ingredients. For the smoothest and fastest blend, starts with the milk first, then the flax meal, the banana and spinach, the almond butter, and finally the ice.

Blend for about one minute until everything is smooth and creamy.

Serve immediately.

You can find all the steps and measurements in the recipe card below.

Useful Smoothie Tips

• I like to buy the large spinach container from Sam's Club or Costco to use in my cooking and also in smoothies. For my smoothies, I put some of the spinach into freezer bags and stick them in my freezer. This way I always have spinach ready to use for smoothies.

• Similarly, if your bananas are ripening too quickly, peel them and slice them up. Then, place the slices in a freezer bag and in your freezer. Frozen bananas  blend up beautifully and add a great texture to smoothies.

• If you like your smoothies cold and frosty, and you don't have frozen bananas, add a few ice cubes to the blender.

• Store your flax meal in a tightly sealed container and in the refrigerator so it doesn't become rancid. If stored properly, flax meal can last in the refrigerator for up to six months.

• Add a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder for some added protein. Unflavored protein powder works best so you can enjoy the delicious flavors of the banana and almond butter that make you this smoothie so good.

• A couple of strawberries, frozen pineapple pieces, or frozen blueberries are a great addition.

• I do not add any sweetener to this smoothie since bananas are already so high in sugar. However, if your bananas are not that ripe you can always add a little of your favorite sweetener or a date if you prefer.

I hope you enjoy!

Please leave me a comment below if you make this or tag me on Instagram @everydaylatina.

Check out these other delicious and healthy banana treats:

• No Churn Banana-Almond Butter Ice Cream
• Ridiculously Easy One-Ingredient Ice Cream 
• Velvety Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie

Recipe

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