The Ultimate Whole 30 Smoothie

I created this smoothie tonight out of desperation because my roasted squash and zucchini dinner majorly flopped. Going into Whole 30, I anticipated that I would make a smoothie almost daily, but you know what? I’m well into Week 2, and this was my first one. Now, I know that smoothies are discouraged in the Whole 30 program. Their reasons don’t really apply to everyone, however. I’ve often used smoothies as a whole meal. I don’t equate “smoothie” with “milkshake,” and I make them filling enough so that although I’m drinking my calories, I’m not tricked into thinking that I’m still hungry.

All of that to say this: I had a smoothie for dinner tonight. Now, I know that it’s a tall order to say it’s “The Ultimate Whole 30 Smoothie,” but if I do say so myself, it was pretty darn good. Of course, smoothies are so customizable. You can take this recipe and add or subtract ingredients to make it YOUR ultimate smoothie.

A couple of caveats: 1. I almost always put bananas in my smoothies. But we were out of bananas! That was a happy accident, because this smoothie came out very creamy with no banana taste. Not that banana taste is bad. It’s just nice to have another set of flavors for a change. 2. The juice I used as a base has ginger in it, so the smoothie has a decidedly ginger undertone. I liked the zing, but if you hate ginger, use another liquid in your smoothie. Okay, here we go!

(All ingredient quantities are approximated; see printable recipe below.)

1 cup packed frozen spinach (I buy it fresh in bulk, then freeze most of it in individual sandwich bags, ready to pop into the blender.)
2 cups Suja Organic Mighty Dozen Juice. I buy this at Costco, but you can also check it out here at the manufacturer’s website and order directly from them. It’s packed full of greens and good stuff.
1/2 cup almond milk (check your labels if you are doing Whole 30!)
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 avocado
2 T almond butter
1/4 cup crushed pineapple (again, check labels! Make sure it is only packed in juice with no added sweetener.)
Optional: feel free to bump up the protein factor by adding in some chia seeds or flax seed.

Blend well and serve with a smile!

As I’m listing these ingredients, they are looking like a strange combination. Maybe it’s the sugar detox talking, but I thought it was pretty amazing. You decide!

(Another plus to smoothies– they are a great way to get hidden veggies into the small ones, although this one was a little too “exotic” for the 3-year-old. The baby devoured it.)

Ingredient Notes and Easy Swaps

The whole point of a smoothie is that you can make it your own, so here is how to play with this one.

• The liquid: any juice or milk you like will work in place of the green juice. Just remember that the ginger zing goes with it. Doing Whole 30? Read every label for added sugar.
• The almond milk: coconut milk makes it even richer. Check labels here too, since many cartons contain added sweeteners and thickeners that the program does not allow.
• The greens: frozen spinach blends smoother and keeps the drink cold. Fresh spinach or baby kale work too, and you may want a few ice cubes if you go that way.
• The creamy part: avocado is what gives this smoothie its body with no banana taste. Half a banana is a fine swap if that is what you have, as is a little more almond butter.
• The nuts: for a nut free version, use sunflower seed butter and swap the almond milk for coconut milk.

How to Prep and Store It

This is best the minute it comes out of the blender. If you have extra, pour it into a jar filled to the very top, seal it, and keep it in the fridge for up to a day. It may separate and darken a little because of the avocado, so give it a good shake. You can also freeze extra in ice cube trays and blend the cubes into your next batch.

To make mornings easier, measure the spinach, strawberries and pineapple into freezer bags. Then all you do is dump a bag into the blender and add the liquid, the avocado and the almond butter.

Smoothie Questions

Is this filling enough to be a meal?

With the avocado and almond butter, it has plenty of fat to keep you going. Add the optional chia or flax seeds if you want a little more staying power.

Why is my smoothie too thick?

Add more of your liquid a splash at a time and blend again. Too thin? Toss in more frozen strawberries.

More Whole 30 Dinners

Need real dinners to go with your smoothie habit? Start with Whole 30 Dinners Week One, then see Week Three, where this smoothie makes a return appearance.

When you hit the home stretch, Week Four will carry you over the finish line.