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A Month’s Worth of Green Smoothies – Only One Day of Prep!

February 19, 2013 By Dusty Rogers 310 Comments

A Month's Worth of Green Smoothies - Only One Day of Prep! | www.allthingsgd.com

I started drinking green smoothies during my first Whole Living Challenge attempt, and ever since then they’ve been a staple in my a.m. intake.  What thrills me even more than the fact that I start most days drinking literally one of the healthiest things you can put in your body (kale) – and LIKING IT! – is that Kate likes green smoothies, too!

Ingredients
1 c. Kale (stems removed, coarsely chopped, firmly packed)
1/2 c. Parsley (loosely packed)
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Banana
2 1/4 c. water

(Recipe Credit: WholeLiving.com)

green smoothie

1 cup of kale, stems removed, coarsely chopped and firmly packed.

 

green smoothie

1/2 c. of parsley, loosely packed

 

green smoothie

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and chopped

 

green smoothie

Kate, my little helper, adding ingredients to the blender.

 

green smoothie

1 banana

 

green smoothies

Kate, 35 Months

 

I usually blend my green smoothie ingredients with 2 1/2 cups of water, and I blend it until it’s nice and smooth and I can hardly see any kale flecks.  We’re still loving our Black & Decker Blender that I first blogged about a year ago.  We’ve been using it daily (sometimes twice a day) for the past year, and it still works great!  The hardest part of drinking smoothies for me isn’t the taste (I don’t think these green smoothies really taste like much of anything) – it’s the texture.  For a fraction of the price of Ninjas and other high-end blenders, this little powerhouse blends my smoothies so well that I don’t have to worry about gagging on any chunks.  It does such a great job, in fact, that I can often get my green smoothies blended to an almost juice-like consistency!

green smoothie, blender

Our inexpensive Black & Decker Blender does such an incredible job that our smoothies often taste more like juice!

I got Kate hooked on green smoothies by adding orange juice to them. At first I started her on a 50% green smoothie, 50% orange juice combination, and then I gradually reduced the OJ and increased the green smoothie. Now she just gets a little splash of OJ in her cup and still drinks it up with no complaints!

With so many fresh ingredients, green smoothies require a fair amount of prep.  For one batch, which produces 2 smoothies (usually shared between Kate and I), I found that I was spending a lot of time in the kitchen washing and chopping kale, parsley and apples – something I rarely have time for in the mornings!

Another issue I was finding on my green smoothie brigade is that sometimes my kale or parsley goes bad before I can turn them into delicious, nutritious, morning delights.  I HATE seeing food go to waste, so chucking the last few leaves of kale or sprigs of parsley because I can’t chug my vitamins fast enough is NOT okay with me.

My solution has been to bulk prep, freeze, and blend as needed – and it’s been working beautifully!

green smoothies

Freezer bags are my friend. (Don’t worry – I wash and reuse them!)

 

I chop up an entire bunch of kale and an entire bunch of parsley all at one time and measure them out into freezer bags – one green smoothie batch per freezer bag.  Then I fill each bag with one peeled and chopped Granny Smith apple, and one peeled and chopped banana.  (I don’t add any liquid to the freezer bags; I wait until I’m ready to blend to add water.)

I typically get about 8-10 batches of green smoothies per 1 bunch of kale and 1 bunch of parsley.  (Don’t worry if you end up having more kale than parsley or vice versa – just divide your extras evenly amongst the batches.)

green smoothie

Kate, sneaking a bite of apple as she fills up a freezer bag.

 

green smoothies

Bulk prepping green smoothies – several batches in freezer bags, and one batch in jars that will go in the fridge and be enjoyed in the next day or two!

 

When you’re ready for your green smoothie fix, simply fill your blender with water, open up your freezer, and toss in a bag of already prepared smoothie ingredients!  The best part is – there’s no need to thaw your ingredients!  Toss them in frozen, blend, and a minute later you’ll have 2 nice cold smoothies ready to enjoy!  (Or one to enjoy now and one to refrigerate for later!)

Your green smoothie ingredients can keep in the freezer for easily a month and still taste great when you blend them.  I’ve even had green smoothie ingredients frozen for over two months that I’ve blended up and they still taste as great as a freshly chopped up smoothie!  (Don’t worry if your bananas brown up a little bit in the freezer – they’ll still taste great in your smoothie, I promise.)

green smoothies

A batch of smoothie ingredients in each freezer bag – ready to grab & blend on a hectic workday morning!

 

Have I convinced you to jump on the green smoothie bandwagon yet?  What are some of your tips for a quick, easy, and healthy weekday breakfast?

The recipe for the Cranberry Nut Bars you see in my freezer can be found here: Cranberry Nut Bars (Homemade Kind Bars).

The glass storage jars shown in the picture above can be found here:  small glass jars, large glass jars, and reusable jar lids.  Or you can check out my tips for reusing glass jars you already have!

My blender – which is awesome at blending smoothies so smooth they almost taste like juice – can be found HERE.

NOTE:  Some readers have mentioned that large quantities of parsley (like in this smoothie recipe) are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding moms.  Please check with your doctor and make substitutions accordingly.

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This post contains affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. 1
    Amy says:
    February 19, 2013 at 10:39 am

    Hey there – I am a greem smoothie lover but find that I often skip it in the morning b/c of the prep. i’m definitely going to try this. I also saw baby kale in the store this weekend and might try that b/c I too cannot do the texture sometimes. Have you tried this process with some of the other smoothies on your list? Do you know if it works with spinach (which I often use in place of Kale)? I also didn’t know that you could blend and use later/the next day. Do you just shake it up in the jar? Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • 2
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 20, 2013 at 10:50 pm

      I actually haven’t tried it with any of the other smoothies I drink because they’re not as prep-intensive as my green smoothies. I’m guessing it’d work with just about anything, though! I personally haven’t tried it with spinach but a commenter below mentions that you can. And yes, I will sometimes blend two batches at a time and drink them throughout the week, so they definitely keep in the fridge for a few days! I just shake them up, pour, and enjoy!

      Reply
      • 3
        Holly B says:
        April 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm

        I had some spinach that was going to go bad, so I stuck it in the freezer and it froze great. Sometimes I make a double batch and put half of it in a blender bottle in the fridge for the next day. The blender bottle works great to “remix” it.

        Reply
        • 4
          Avaril says:
          May 6, 2013 at 9:12 am

          I feel you are throwing away nutrients when you peel the apple. Have you tried carrots and/or celery?

          Reply
          • 5
            Dusty @All Things G&D says:
            May 13, 2013 at 8:41 pm

            I haven’t tried carrots or celery in my smoothies yet, although I have been leaving the peels on my apples lately after reading some of the feedback in this post. I’ve found the smoothies have slightly more texture than when I peel the apples, although I don’t mind it much and am glad to get the extra nutrition.

      • 6
        Jessica says:
        May 31, 2013 at 10:35 pm

        I have been doing smoothies at work for lunch, having to blend them there, excited to try this and then be able to save the other half for the next day, if you do this, it still tastes great within the next day or two? Will the great nutritional values all still be the same?

        Reply
    • 7
      Rhonda Palmer says:
      March 8, 2013 at 11:50 pm

      I’ve done smoothies in my blender with spinach and frozen tropical fruit – a dash of vanilla, water or almond milk and a dollop of stevia if necessary (banana added for a bit of a change) I think they pack better if I blend them up, fill the baggie and freeze them flat. I do like this idea of blending them “fresh” since I wouldn’t have to remember to thaw it, although flat thaws pretty quickly.

      Reply
      • 8
        Naomi Colbert says:
        March 22, 2013 at 7:02 pm

        I use the exact same ingreidents as you in my ” Berry/veggie Smoothie. When my bananas start to get too ripe, I cut them up and place them in the bag with the frozen tropical berries. When I get ready to make a smoothie, I just add the other ingredients along with the spinach or kale and blend. Bananas blends well frozen. (I use a Nutri-Bullet).

        Reply
      • 9
        Lacey says:
        August 26, 2013 at 8:25 pm

        I think you’ll find if you freeze your own fruit or use dress you won’t need vanilla or sweetener. Frozen fruit from the grocery is usually pretty flavorless.

        Reply
  2. 10
    Lateasa says:
    February 19, 2013 at 11:19 am

    LOVE IT!!! I have to do this, I’ve been doing the green smoothies for a while now, but the prep time is such a pain sometimes. Never tried it with the Kale. I use Spinach and I also add one Pear and half a avocado.

    Reply
    • 11
      Sarah says:
      March 26, 2013 at 6:47 am

      Be sure to alternate your greens – don’t use spinach every day – it has oxalates that can cause kidney stones if you eat it all the time. I alternate kale and spinach every other day. 😉

      Reply
      • 12
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 13, 2013 at 8:42 pm

        Great tip, Sarah!

        Reply
      • 13
        Tommy says:
        June 7, 2013 at 2:28 pm

        Sarah speaks truth…I blended through a large container of spinach in a week, wasn’t hydrating well, and ate a bag of salty chips before bed on the last night. The next day I took a ride in an ambulance, and after following up with a urologist later, I learned I’d executed a perfect recipe for a kidney stone.

        Reply
      • 14
        Twix says:
        June 14, 2013 at 10:13 pm

        I feel like this depends on each person’s physiology…my husband and I have been enjoying green smoothies made with 3-4 large handfuls of spinach, a banana, and a cup of 1% milk for breakfast (we split the finished product) for several months now and we’ve had no problems. I like the idea of switching up the greens for different nutrients but have never heard of one developing kidney stones just from having the same ingredients in a smoothie for days on end.

        Reply
        • 15
          Tommy says:
          June 15, 2013 at 5:02 pm

          @Twix: Do you mean that you’ve never heard of one developing kidney stones just from the same ingredients in a smoothie for days on end…aside from what I described in the comment above yours? :-) I agree that not all are equally susceptable to developing them, but for those who are, or who might not know, it’s a good heads up to know that spinach is off the chart in oxalate which is what (plus calcium) makes up most kidney stones. Had I known that, and knowing my family members get them, I’d have made sure I wasn’t slacking off on water intake, and/or not used spinach daily.

          Reply
          • 16
            Jenn says:
            June 12, 2014 at 12:01 pm

            Agreed, I developed a kidney stone from eating kale salads every day. It wasn’t a choice, I was trapped on a job where I wasn’t permitted to leave for lunch and the only vegetarian option provided was 2 kale salads per day. I complained after the 64th consecutive one to no avail. The kidney stone was what convinced me I could be living in a hotel and still find some way to bring my own lunches. The job ended and I moved on to the next one but I still have a fear of kale and probably go overboard on the spinach as a result. (Not to mention how sick of kale I am.)

        • 17
          DDG says:
          July 17, 2013 at 7:47 pm

          Spinach is high in oxalates, but so are many other greens…chard and kale in particular and also parsley. Kale is not quite as high as spinach, and there is ‘some’ differences between varieties of kale.. Oxalates not only CAN cause kidney stones, it also ‘binds’ the calcium in the plant…so don’t consider the calcium in your greens as adequate intake. Cooking lowers the oxalates, but also reduces some of the vitamins and the enzymes avail. in fresh produce. You can research any of this online.

          Reply
          • 18
            Mike H (@CheasyGZ) says:
            February 28, 2014 at 10:53 pm

            They have found that steaming Kale releases the nutrients better than raw.

  3. 19
    Mimi says:
    February 19, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    I love this idea for a months worth of smoothies. I will use it , but I think I will make several kinds for the sake of changing things up some mornings.

    Reply
    • 20
      Anita says:
      August 28, 2013 at 12:24 pm

      I do that. I prep the base of my daily smoothie (greens, 1 banana) in individual zip lock bags and freeze it. Then in the morning I add different fruit so I’m not always drinking the same thing. I buy the frozen organic mixed berries from Costco so if I want a berry smoothie I add 1 cup or so of those, or if I have peaches, pineapple, mangos or apple ill throw one of those for the fruity flavor. I also get the fat free fage yogurt and if I worked out that morning I put a 1 cup of that in for 23 grams of protein and 1/2 cup coconut water for electrolytes and minerals. If its not sweet enough then I put in a tablespoon of orange juice concentrate. I usually omit that though. So basically the base of greens and bananas is the same but depending on my workout (if it was intense) ill add more yogurt and more coconut water for more protein and electrolytes.

      I also just quickly rise the blender fill it 1/2 way with water add a couple drops of soap blend it up to clean it, rise again and I’m finished. It takes me about 10 mins start to finish (including clean up) not bad for a healthy nutrious breakfast.

      Reply
      • 21
        Simone says:
        December 8, 2013 at 10:12 am

        I love your cleaning technique. Stealing post haste. : p

        Reply
  4. 22
    Makana says:
    February 19, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    I usually make a big batch on the weekend and store it in a recycled orange juice jug. That way I only have to clean up the blender once and I have smoothie ready to go whenever I want!

    Reply
    • 23
      Hazel says:
      March 9, 2013 at 8:59 am

      That’s a clever idea! I need to try that – only having to use the blender once sounds pretty sweet :)

      Reply
    • 24
      penster47 says:
      May 5, 2013 at 11:34 pm

      Very easy way to clean blender, cup of water, drop of dish soap, blend for a few seconds, pour out and rinse!! Voila! clean blender.

      Reply
      • 25
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 6, 2013 at 4:13 am

        Great tip!

        Reply
      • 26
        Milly says:
        May 30, 2013 at 2:16 am

        thanks for thus tip!

        Reply
      • 27
        Twix says:
        June 14, 2013 at 10:15 pm

        YES! I saw this on a friend’s Pinterest months ago and have been doing it ever since. I do give the blender a thorough scrub on the weekend but this saves me so much time each morning!

        Reply
      • 28
        Steph says:
        July 26, 2013 at 9:31 pm

        Thanks for the tip! I sometimes have trouble with food sticking to the insides of the blender and it does not always rinse out with just water.

        Reply
    • 29
      Julie says:
      July 9, 2017 at 8:49 am

      Love this idea

      Reply
  5. 30
    Jodie says:
    February 19, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    I want to try this green smoothie!
    I have frozen plain yogurt in ice cube trays and placed them in bags with bananas and strawberries (or other berries)

    Reply
    • 31
      Mary says:
      December 9, 2013 at 11:00 pm

      I always put yogurt (usually Greek) in my smoothie, its not all green as I use a banana and coconut water, and mixed berries and greens either kale or spinach, why I am replying to you is I didn’t know you could freeze yogurt. does it have to be in ice cube trays? I usually use 1 cup in each smoothie Do you think I could put it in the bag as suggested with all the other stuff and freeze?

      Reply
  6. 32
    Megan says:
    February 19, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Wow, this definitely motivates me to start having a green smoothie every day. I’m not a morning person so anything I can do to save time makes my day even better! Thanks for your post Dusty!

    Reply
  7. 33
    nicole @nicky_olea says:
    February 19, 2013 at 8:52 pm

    What a great idea! I bet this would even make a good juice when placed in a juicer – though come to think of it, I’ve never juiced a banana. Not sure how that would go. Still I’ve got to try this as I juice kale up w/ other fruit quite frequently! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • 34
      Jocelyn says:
      February 21, 2013 at 10:32 pm

      You might want to check your juicers manual before trying to juice the Bananas. Mine says not to juice bananas at all.

      Reply
    • 35
      Rhonda Palmer says:
      March 8, 2013 at 11:52 pm

      Bananas only for the blender (I guess there’s not enough moisture to run through a juicer). It just gunks up to mush. 😉

      Reply
      • 36
        chris Schulze says:
        May 29, 2013 at 4:34 pm

        all depends on the juicer, mine says you can do bananas if they are frozen.

        Reply
    • 37
      Kim says:
      April 6, 2013 at 3:34 pm

      We juice a juice every morning and then add the juice to the blender and add the banana and blend. It’s the most refreshing way to have juice. Though we do a pineapple, orange , banana in the morning. But afternoons we do a green juice or smoothie. Didn’t know we could freez our greens.. Going to give this a try.

      Reply
  8. 38
    JM says:
    February 20, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Do you find that these smoothies keep you full? I need some protein or fat with my breakfast or I am starving within 2 hours. So I usually add an avocado or full-fat yogurt. Even though the fat adds some calories, I find it helps me in the long run because then I am not snacking in the middle of the morning.

    Reply
    • 39
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 20, 2013 at 10:53 pm

      I typically also have a muffin, fruit, granola bar and/or coffee or tea along with my smoothie in the mornings. Sometimes I just start the day with my smoothie and pack a morning snack (like a granola bar or fruit) to have later if I get hungry. I don’t care for creamy drinks, but adding yogurt or avocado is a great idea for those who do!

      Reply
      • 40
        Nicole says:
        February 21, 2013 at 5:47 pm

        I’ve added Protein powder to my smoothies before… keeps me full till lunch!

        Reply
    • 41
      shandidee says:
      March 21, 2013 at 10:22 pm

      Add a raw egg to get your protein. It slightly increases the thickness but doesn’t add any taste whatsoever

      Reply
    • 42
      DK says:
      April 15, 2013 at 6:41 pm

      I use a Protein powder called Unjury (Unjury.com) it offers 21 grams of protein per scoop (the highest on the market). I have been juicing and adding one scoop per 8 oz of unflavored. Its a great meal. Especially after my bariatric surgery.

      Reply
      • 43
        Laurie Woznicki says:
        June 15, 2013 at 10:52 pm

        Now foods makes a whey protein that has 25 gm protein per scoop, comes unflavored,chocolate, vanilla, and some other flavors too complicated for me. Available at health food stores and online.

        Reply
    • 44
      Tricia says:
      April 16, 2013 at 10:47 pm

      You can also add a tbsp of almond butter, gives you the protein, less saturated fat, and a great flavor

      Reply
      • 45
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 6, 2013 at 4:21 am

        Great idea, Tricia!

        Reply
    • 46
      Leanne says:
      April 22, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      I put chia seeds and oats in my smoothies and I stay full all morning. I haven’t tried it in the green smoothie yet but you could omit the oats and use only chia seeds because they have no flavor (but lots of health benefits!).

      Reply
      • 47
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 6, 2013 at 4:19 am

        I use chia seeds in salads, but I’ve never tried them in my smoothies. Thanks for the tip!

        Reply
        • 48
          Daphne says:
          May 27, 2013 at 12:30 am

          I use a Vita mix and grind flax seeds, Chia seeds and almonds into a powder before I add 2 veggies and 2 fruits, a little water and ice. I used to add cooked oatmeal and greek yogurt but I am trying to eat a little more alkaline and those two ingredients don’t “fill the bill”.

          Daphne

          Reply
  9. 49
    Elizabeth says:
    February 20, 2013 at 9:26 am

    I know you said it does not really taste like anything, BUT what does it taste like? LOL!
    I do not like vegetables, but I really want to try this smoothie.

    Reply
    • 50
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 20, 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Believe me – I was in your same boat when I first tried these, Elizabeth, hahaha! The taste is very neutral. I think the banana and apple cut the “greens” flavor of the kale and parsley. If anything it has a mild fruity flavor. You can add a little extra banana and it will taste more like banana, or you could add a little extra apple and it will taste more like apple. Or you could use the trick I used on my daughter to get her to start drinking them, and add some OJ to sweeten it up. It’s worth a try!!

      Reply
    • 51
      Sara says:
      March 3, 2013 at 6:06 pm

      I just made this, minus the parsley. The banana is the dominant flavor for certain. Then apple. You can’t really taste the kale.

      It’s delicious–and I like that I just got 3 servings of fruit/veggies. :-)

      Reply
    • 52
      Carrie says:
      June 24, 2013 at 10:11 am

      I always have berries in my green smoothie–I’m not sure I could do it otherwise! :) Pineapple is also really sweet and a great addition to green smoothies. Instead of the parsley also try cilantro–it is great with strawberries!

      Reply
  10. 53
    jbhat says:
    February 20, 2013 at 11:09 am

    Wow, I am so going to try this. It simply had not occurred to me that a) I could prep a bunch of ingredients at a time and then freeze, or b) that my blender might work just fine. I’ve made PINK smoothies in my blender of course, but not green ones. So duh on me!

    jbhat

    Reply
  11. 54
    Diane says:
    February 20, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    I buy baby spinach and blend the whole bag at once. I also add a little water. I put in ice cube trays and put in a bag when frozen. This way the spinach doesn’t go bad. I also due the same thing with pineapple from the can (no sugar added).

    Reply
    • 55
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 20, 2013 at 10:56 pm

      Great tip Diane!

      Reply
    • 56
      auntlenniesattic says:
      April 10, 2013 at 1:10 am

      This is a great idea if my garden is filling up too fast with greens but during the “off” season, I just buy bags of frozen organic spinach to toss in. A little less prep.

      Reply
    • 57
      meagan says:
      April 17, 2013 at 8:03 am

      Diane:

      how do you blend the spinach, and once frozen in cubes how many do u put in for a smoothie? I find that I tend to waste part of my spinach. also what recipe do you use?

      Reply
      • 58
        candy says:
        May 6, 2013 at 7:56 am

        megan, put spinach in a blender with some form of liquid (water, juice, yogurt etc) and blend till smooth.. if your following this recipe pour 1cup of spinach in blender and then pour in ice trays and see how many the 1 cup fills… Im loving these ideas for we love making smoothies but get pressed for time and this will save lots of time… I bought a smoothie blender at walmart for less than 20.00 and it comes with like 6 single serve cups that u just mix and take with you and blends great…

        Reply
  12. 59
    kat says:
    February 20, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    You can totally keep the kale stems and blend them as well! That’s my favorite part about green smoothies– I am not wasting that nutrient-rich kale stem. Also, in answer to someone’s question: You can definitely use spinach – in fact, I encourage you to use both.

    I’ve actually gotten away from the fresh greens and now use superfood greens from Whole Body (you can buy online or from most stores like that). There are lots of brands. Dr. Axe recommends Garden of Life. (If you don’t follow Dr. Axe, you should!)

    1. Superfood Grens
    2. Whole, unpasteurized milk from my farmer (Find a local guy who has this)
    3. Kefir water (again from my farmer. kefir grains fermented with fruit. Very good for you)
    4. Frozen berries and frozen beaches
    5. Half a banana
    6. Flax seeds
    7. Chia seeds

    Reply
    • 60
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 20, 2013 at 10:57 pm

      Great suggestions, Kat – thanks for sharing! I’ll have to check this Dr. Axe out.

      Reply
  13. 61
    Mrs. Wiggles says:
    February 20, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    Kimberly Snyder also does the smoothies. Check her out. she’s in California and just opened her own green shop. I have tried them and they are good. Still trying to tweek the diet. Thanks.

    Reply
  14. 62
    Jennifer Washbrook says:
    February 21, 2013 at 4:01 am

    I can’t even stomach the smell of banana let alone the taste, is there a good alternative?

    Reply
    • 63
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 26, 2013 at 10:38 pm

      Maybe pineapple? Or try doing two apples instead of just one. Good luck!

      Reply
    • 64
      Leanne says:
      March 7, 2013 at 3:19 pm

      I am also a hardcore banana hater. Recently, I tried cutting one into
      Chunks, freezing it and add it to smoothies. I think it gives a creamy texture and I put so much
      Other stuff I honestly can’t taste it

      Reply
    • 65
      Krista says:
      May 21, 2013 at 5:20 am

      Mango makes a great substitute for the banana. :)

      Reply
    • 66
      Kat says:
      May 23, 2013 at 2:40 pm

      Avocado is actually a really good replacement for banana in smoothies. It gives a thick, creamy texture, but you don’t get a strong flavor, depending on what other ingredients you add. (My current favorite is avocado, almond butter, hemp seeds, cocoa powder, and almond milk.)

      Reply
    • 67
      trailz says:
      May 24, 2013 at 11:03 pm

      Often I include a portion (about 1/4) of pre baked (or nuked) sweet potato. I suspect this could replace banana to add some smoothness

      Reply
  15. 68
    Nicole says:
    February 21, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    I love this idea of preparing ahead of time!!! My kids & I have been making a spinach/fruit smoothie, it varies sometimes on what fruit we use but usually it’s something like this…
    1-1.5 cups Coconut milk
    1 banana
    1 cup spinach
    1 cup blueberries
    1 cup strawberries
    Preparing these is usually not too time consuming, but like you said sometimes the spinach or bananas start to go bad before I can use them…. thanks for the great idea!

    Reply
  16. 69
    Jocelyn says:
    February 21, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    I have been looking for a fuss free morning recipe. I am so excited about this! I have frozen black berries, raspberries, blue berries, and strawberries I am looking to add with it in alternation….Thank you so much! Great time saving healthy idea!

    Reply
  17. 70
    Angie in the Thick of It says:
    February 22, 2013 at 9:00 am

    Dusty, what the flip??!!! Do you remember that we met at Haven last summer?? Love you. I just popped by Roo’s place this morning and saw that she referred to “Dusty” and thought -what? how does Roo (who’s been my blog buddy from the pre-existence) know Dusty? – and came over here. I skimmed through this post about green smoothies because i think i might hate green smoothies and am afraid of them- then I found your post about double flipping off the “healthy band wagon” and thought- OH MY GOSH, WE ARE THE SAME SABOTAGERS!! (i really wish “sabotagers” was a real word. using it anyway.) Then i scrolled back up to look at the green smoothie prep post again and am still afraid of green smoothies, but had a secondary thought- maybe i’m just afraid of learning about a new great healthy thing and then ignoring it like i do all the other great healthy things in my life. that would make me feel worse!

    these are my thoughts. they are un-profound. they need to be resolved.

    but i wanted to say hi!

    and that i’ll never forget your humping the lovely saxophone player while his wife sat nearby on a couch with her arms politely folded on her lap. :-)

    thanks for helping me feel normal today, Dusty.

    -ang

    Reply
    • 71
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 26, 2013 at 10:40 pm

      LOL! Best comment of the month goes to Angie! Of course I remember you, crazy girl! That was such a fun weekend! Are you going back this year? I’m ON it! (And also probably the sax player again.)

      Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hi!

      Reply
  18. 72
    Kristy @ Kristy's Health Revolution says:
    February 22, 2013 at 9:11 am

    Can I just say a big THANK YOU for blogging about this, and using a blender that costs $57 rather than $400? Who are these people who buy $400-$500 blenders!!??

    Reply
    • 73
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 26, 2013 at 10:45 pm

      I hear ya, girl! Our little cheapy works beautifully and doesn’t break the bank!

      Reply
    • 74
      Michele Prendergast says:
      March 26, 2014 at 3:11 pm

      Lol, I am one of the people who have a 400.00 blender. I love it!! It was a wonderful Christmas present from my husband who knew that I am interested in making smoothies a part of my healthy lifestyle. But, I am thinking of buying an inexpensive one for my travel trailer.

      Reply
      • 75
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        April 1, 2014 at 11:20 pm

        Ooh, you’re so lucky Michele! I’ve heard they’re amazing. Congrats on receiving one as a gift!

        Reply
  19. 76
    A says:
    February 24, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    I make my smoothies with kale, lemon juice(only a little), spinich, an apple (or an orange, sometimes both), cilantro (occasionally) and sometimes a banana as well. But the prep always sucks! so i am so glad i found this never would of thought to put them in the freezer beforehand

    Reply
  20. 77
    Amy says:
    February 25, 2013 at 10:41 am

    I’m baaaack! So I prepped a week of smoothies last night – so excited. This morning I made a smoothie and it was okay – need to dial down the parsley I think. The issue wasn’t the taste though, it was the texture at the end. In the beginning, it was nice and juicy and smooth. 3/4 of the way into it apparently the solids separated from the rest and I was left with a thick, not so cold mess. Maybe I need to drink it faster? I put it in a cup and took it to go so it was about 20 minutes later that I got to the end and it was not good…at.all. Will try again tomorrow but wondering if you had any tips to keeping it together?

    Reply
    • 78
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 26, 2013 at 10:49 pm

      Hmm…that sounds strange. The only time I’ve ever seen it separate is when it’s stored in the fridge (or left just sitting) for a while. You certainly shouldn’t have that problem after only 20 mins! Maybe try adding more water? I’m a huge texture person so I feel you there! Maybe try blending it longer, too? I wish I had a good solution, but I’ve honestly never had this problem. Let me know the fix when you discover it!

      Reply
      • 79
        amy says:
        February 27, 2013 at 7:24 am

        The next day was better. I hadn’t frozen the smoothie mix on the first day and must not have blended enough. Day two was frozen and blended for a nice long time and all is good…even with the leftovers today! Thanks.

        Reply
  21. 80
    Kelly says:
    February 25, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    Going to try this! I’ve been sick constantly and am hoping this will help!

    Reply
    • 81
      Mary says:
      December 9, 2013 at 11:10 pm

      it will help you get better big time. If you do a smoothie or two a day for 6 weeks you will be amazed at how well you feel, plus you will find other pleasant surprises as well, weight loss, better energy …lot of stuff. I have been smoothing it for about 6 months and even the pressure in my eyes( I have pre- glacoma) goes down and amazes my doc.

      Reply
  22. 82
    Sam says:
    February 26, 2013 at 12:11 am

    Hey Dusty, I love this idea. Seriously, it’s such a time-saver. How do you feel about the whole waste factor, though? Thinking about all of the once-used bags that will sit in some hole for a few centuries is the one thing that holds me back from doing much higher-volume, lower-quantity freezing than I currently do.

    Reply
    • 83
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      February 26, 2013 at 10:50 pm

      Excellent point, Sam! I re-use my freezer bags to cut down on waste. Honestly, they don’t even get very dirty! I just rinse and wipe them out and re-use. I know there are other environmentally freezer-friendly container options out there, but I haven’t invested in them yet.

      Reply
      • 84
        Mary says:
        December 9, 2013 at 11:12 pm

        use glass jars to store it in, then you can wash and re-use

        Reply
    • 85
      jammies says:
      March 19, 2013 at 11:34 pm

      You could try wrapping your smoothie ingredients in butcher/freezer paper instead of using plastic bags. I think it is lined with a thin layer of wax to keep the freezer flavor out. My parents used it to wrap all meat and fish when I was growing up.

      Reply
  23. 86
    bridget b. says:
    February 26, 2013 at 8:55 am

    I think I’m going to give this a try. I definitely don’t have a lot of time in the mornings, so bulk prep would work really well for me. I have oral allergy syndrome, so I can’t eat most fresh fruits and veggies without getting sick. But, I want make sure that my 3 year old daughter is eating healthy.

    Reply
    • 87
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 4, 2013 at 10:43 pm

      I’ve never heard of oral allergy syndrome – it sounds challenging! :( I hope you find this method to be helpful for your little one, though. My daughter Kate is a big fan!

      Reply
  24. 88
    jackie says:
    February 27, 2013 at 7:47 am

    How do you make the green smoothie with OJ? I’m new to green smoothies and while i love most greens I have never even tried kale. So i need to ween on, any suggestions?

    Reply
    • 89
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 4, 2013 at 10:45 pm

      Start with adding about 1/2 a cup of OJ to a batch, taste-test it and add more as necessary. When I was first starting my daughter Kate on green smoothies I filled up her cup 1/2 with OJ and 1/2 with green smoothie to get her used to the new taste and it worked like a charm! She now drinks green smoothies daily (oftentimes at each meal) and has maybe a splash of OJ in each cup. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  25. 90
    Catherine Christie says:
    February 27, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Was thinking of adding coconut water in place of regular water for added flavor

    Reply
    • 91
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 4, 2013 at 10:45 pm

      That’s a great idea, Catherine!

      Reply
    • 92
      Heide says:
      May 29, 2013 at 12:53 am

      I use coconut water in all of my smoothies because it not only enhances the flavor of the fruits better than water does (minimizing the “green” taste of the veggies,) but it has loads of potassium in it! It’s a great alternative source for potassium for the banana haters, although it doesn’t give the same texture as a banana (but avocados do!)

      Reply
  26. 93
    Arianna says:
    March 3, 2013 at 4:04 am

    Just what I was looking for! Thanks!
    Have you done a post about those cranberry nut bars? Would love to find out the recipe!

    Reply
    • 94
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 4, 2013 at 10:46 pm

      I just posted about them today, Arianna! Here’s the link: http://www.allthingsgd.com/2013/03/no-bake-healthy-freezer-friendly-cranberry-nut-bars/

      Reply
  27. 95
    Andrea says:
    March 3, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    We’ve been blending a green smoothie base, without liquid, pouring into ice cube trays and freezing, then popping 4 or 5 cubes in the blender with coconut water and yogurt . This would be even LESS work by not blending the green base ahead of time!

    Reply
  28. 96
    Shawna says:
    March 4, 2013 at 9:29 am

    I love this idea!!! I was wondering if it would be okay to freeze the ingredients. Thanks for the info. I will be freezing my batches from now on:)

    Reply
  29. 97
    Dusty @All Things G&D says:
    March 4, 2013 at 10:48 pm

    So happy to hear you’ll find this helpful, Andrea and Shawna!

    Reply
  30. 98
    Curls and Mo says:
    March 6, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    This is AMAZING! I’ve been drinking green smoothies for about a week now but I find every other morning I have to skip it because I don’t have time. This is going to make prep so much easier. Thank you!

    Reply
    • 99
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 6, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      My pleasure, Curls and Mo!

      Reply
  31. 100
    Laura says:
    March 7, 2013 at 7:36 am

    This is a great idea! Thank you!

    I would like to add that consuming lots of parsley while breastfeeding can dry up your milk. So breastfeeding mamas should skip that ingredient. But for the rest of us, parsley has so many benefits!

    Reply
    • 101
      Seneca says:
      March 12, 2013 at 12:21 am

      I’m really glad you mentioned this, was just going to post something about parsley and breastfeeding. :-) It’s true, breastfeeding mamas, avoid the parsley!

      Reply
    • 102
      Krys says:
      March 15, 2013 at 7:33 am

      Oh, thanks for mentioning this! I am breastfeeding my baby and love smoothies in the morning. I am going to try this recipe (minus the parsley) because I need variety so I am not always having the same couple of smoothies!

      Reply
    • 103
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:49 pm

      I didn’t realize that, Laura – thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
  32. 104
    Kathy says:
    March 8, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Love the green smoothie & especially the do ahead freezer prep! Thanks , Kathy

    Reply
    • 105
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      My pleasure, Kathy! So happy to hear you found this post helpful!

      Reply
      • 106
        cari says:
        August 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm

        Love the idea of freezing ahead blends ahead! Making smoothies in the morning is making me late for work!
        I wouldn’t freeze in plastic bags though, kind of takes away from being healthy and natural-maybe mason jars or some type of reusable cloth freezer bag.

        Reply
  33. 107
    Sara says:
    March 8, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Is there a substitute ingredient for the parsley for us nursing mamas? And do you know approximately how many calories one serving is?

    Reply
    • 108
      Laura says:
      March 13, 2013 at 8:35 am

      I would just replace it with baby spinach. Most other herbs have either too much flavor or are iffy on effects on milk supply.

      Reply
      • 109
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        March 19, 2013 at 7:50 pm

        Great suggestion, Laura – thank you!

        Reply
  34. 110
    Hazel says:
    March 9, 2013 at 9:01 am

    Super love this idea. I honestly never thought of freezing my smoothie mix – sometimes I pre-prep and keep everything cut up in the fridge, but freezing is so much better! I too have a problem with things going to waste so this is great. Thanks for this post and super love the cute picture of your daughters slippers 😛

    Reply
    • 111
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      Thank you Hazel!

      Reply
  35. 112
    Jeannie says:
    March 10, 2013 at 8:00 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this! i am extremely new to green smoothies and have only made two so far. I have been reading the book “Green Smoothie Revolution” though and here is one thing I learned from it. The author says that we need to be rotating our greens frequently. So my question is this…will the pre-made bags last longer than a month in the freezer? If not, I think I would need to make a weeks worth of smoothies with a different green x 4. Thanks so much!!

    Reply
    • 113
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:54 pm

      I’ve had pre-made green smoothie bags in my freezer for longer than a month and they’ve still blended up tasting great. One bunch of kale and one bunch of parsley should get you approximately 8 batches of green smoothies (with 2 smoothies/batch). If you only prep that much you’ll get 16 smoothies, with lots of other days left in your month for other smoothie recipes that use different greens. Have fun trying out new flavors!

      Reply
  36. 114
    Jocelyn says:
    March 11, 2013 at 2:35 am

    Ok, So I am back after a week of trying this….the first day I tasted it I would describe it as “Fresh”. It had a parsley taste to it more then anything else. To be honest it wasn’t my favorite and was wondering how I was going to get through the rest of the week….Well now it is the end of the week and I have to say I now love them and somewhere in the first couple of days the parsley taste went away and all I taste is the bananas and apples. I just finished putting my second batch in the freezer….I feel good and I have a ton of energy! Thank you so much for sharing I have been so excited about it I have been sharing with all my friends!!!!

    Reply
    • 115
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      I LOVE hearing this Jocelyn! Thank you so much for reporting back – I’m so happy you gave this a try and are experiencing the benefits!!

      Reply
  37. 116
    SmashinBeauty says:
    March 11, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    EXCELLENT idea for freezing the goodies 😀

    Reply
    • 117
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  38. 118
    Robin says:
    March 11, 2013 at 12:50 pm

    Hello all – I prepare my green smoothies the night before, and just grab them out of the fridge before work each day. I have been doing this prep for about 3 years and they still taste wonderful the next day. I add MUCH more greens than anyone I’ve ever heard (sometimes a whole bunch of kale or about 6cups spinach). Once I get to work, I merely stir them with a straw and enjoy. Also, I add chia seeds for protein and to help create the feeling of fullness and coconut oil for added health benefits and calories. I don’t typically follow any recipes, I usually just experiment with what ever fruit is ripest on my counter. But I am sure to use something like a banana or mango as a base to give it the right consistency. I fill my vitamix 3/4 full with fruit, 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter, water to cover the fruit, then add greens while blending until the blender gets approximately full. Just before finishing, I add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds and blend for another minute: yields approximately 2.5 quarts which I drink for breakfast and lunch. I never feel hungry or deprived during the day. If I added too many greens and the flavor isn’t the best (which has happened) I then add a few frozen strawberries and it wil immediately get sweeter. I LOVE GREEN SMOOTHIES!!! I honeslty couldn’t live without them!!!

    Reply
    • 119
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 7:56 pm

      Great tips, Robin! I have some chia seeds but haven’t tried them in smoothies yet. That may be my next adventure!

      Reply
  39. 120
    Laina says:
    March 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    I think this is a great idea! However, I am a bit concerned about deterioration of nutrients when freezing the ingredients. Do you know if that is an issue?

    My Favorite green smoothie recipe is: about 100grams of spinach or kale, blended until creamy, with about 1-2 cups of fresh carrot/orange/pineapple/ginger/apple juice. Tastes just like an orange creamsicle.

    Reply
    • 121
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 8:00 pm

      I’m really not sure, Laina. It makes sense that fresh is the best when there’s time to do it, but on a busy weekday morning grabbing a bag from the freezer and blending it up is still much better than many other grab-and-go breakfast options. :)

      Your smoothie recipe sounds delicious!

      Reply
  40. 122
    Jeremy says:
    March 11, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this. I used to look at the girls at work (I am a nurse) that were drinking green smoothies and just laugh at them and think “that” is disgusting! 6 weeks ago my wife and I started the Shred diet and guess what was in there….GREEN SMOOTHIES!! I bit the bullet and tried one and now am hooked. This will help so much with the prep work! The only part of making them I don’t like is how time intensive it is! I will probably use this for other smoothies as well so I can buy less frozen fruit and more fresh!

    Reply
    • 123
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 8:00 pm

      I used to think the same way Jeremy! I’m so happy you found this tip helpful and that we’ve both become green smoothie converts!

      Reply
  41. 124
    Linnea says:
    March 16, 2013 at 6:09 pm

    Just made an entire batch! my family tried it for dinner and we all loved it, we’re already talking about what each one of us is going to add individually! Thanks for this amazing recipe and freezing idea.
    PS. We added frozen mango and it added the perfect sweetness

    Reply
    • 125
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 8:01 pm

      That’s so wonderful to hear, Linnea! Thank you for sharing! I have some frozen mango in the freezer – I’ll have to give that a try.

      Reply
  42. 126
    Diane says:
    March 17, 2013 at 3:50 pm

    what do you have to do to the kale n other greens before freezeing them ??? or can you use frozen greens?

    Reply
    • 127
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 8:02 pm

      I just wash them up, chop them up and then freeze. When it comes time to blend up my smoothie I grab the pre-prepped bag from my freezer, toss it in my blender, add water, and blend. No thawing needed!

      Reply
  43. 128
    Samantha says:
    March 18, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Just wanted to note that “large” quantities like this of parsley are not safe for pregnant women. Which of course I had a hunch to look up AFTER spending hours on prep and drinking a large portion of my shake this morning. So much for trying to be healthy this pregnancy around! Panicked call to OB….check! 😉

    Reply
    • 129
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 19, 2013 at 8:03 pm

      I’m so glad you thought to look that up, Samantha! I didn’t know that about parsley until another commenter mentioned it above. You can easily substitute other greens that you’re allowed to eat (or just add more kale) for this recipe. I’ll be sure to add a note at the end of my post for other pregnant or breastfeeding moms out there!

      Reply
  44. 130
    Ellita says:
    March 19, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    will defianlty try doing this, i normally do juice/smothie bags for the week and place in the fridge but they take up so much room……this sounds brilliant

    Reply
  45. 131
    Eddy says:
    March 19, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    Love this idea. Will definitely try.

    Reply
  46. 132
    Kimbo says:
    March 22, 2013 at 1:14 am

    i am doing the WLC too ~ and am always looking for new smoothies ~ i have just been doing fruit and coconut milk, but it probably wouldn’t hurt me to throw some green in there. i just didn’t know if it would knock the taste off!

    Reply
    • 133
      Kimbo says:
      March 22, 2013 at 1:16 am

      sorry, I am doing a whole life challenge, not whole living challenge, but they are both healthy moves towards better eating habits, 😉 just didn’t want any confusion

      Reply
      • 134
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 6, 2013 at 4:37 am

        Agreed! I hope it’s going well for you, Kimbo!

        Reply
  47. 135
    jodi says:
    March 24, 2013 at 8:24 am

    I do this but i blend up everything and pour it into ice cube trays , when frozen i pop them into a lg freezer bag. I just grab 6-7 cubes add some green tea and blend it up

    Reply
  48. 136
    Mary says:
    March 24, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    Has anyone tried using oranges?

    Reply
  49. 137
    Kate says:
    March 26, 2013 at 11:40 pm

    I love the idea of pre prepping but using so many ziplock baggies is very wasteful And expensive. I would definitely reuse the bags of choose little tubs instead.

    Reply
    • 138
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:36 am

      I wash and reuse my bags to cut down on waste. Here’s a link to some other reusable freezer container options: reusable freezer containers

      Reply
  50. 139
    Jeffery says:
    April 2, 2013 at 10:25 am

    These are a great bunch of comments and experience with these green smoothies. I have been using my Vitamix for a year and a half and just love making smoothies. I am definitely going to look into the bulk preparation . I use chard and spinach from my garden.

    Reply
  51. 140
    Allison Bartels says:
    April 3, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    Can I ask, Why parsley? It seemed like a puzzling ingredient to me. Are there health benefits to parsley I don’t know about? I would think spinach or mustard greens or even arugula would be higher in vitamins?

    Reply
    • 141
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:30 am

      Parsley has many health benefits! Here’s a link to find out more:

      Reply
  52. 142
    Tina says:
    April 6, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    The Green Smoothie I make uses Spinach, Blueberries, Ground Flax Seed, and Water. Sometimes may need sweetener. I may try the raw egg for protein.

    Reply
  53. 143
    Lauren says:
    April 7, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    Awesome Idea!!! Since your freezing it I wonder if buying frozen kale would not make this a bit easier and cheaper. I love using frozen kale for smoothies. I get mine at Trader Joes.

    Reply
    • 144
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:25 am

      I’ve never purchased frozen kale, but I can’t imagine it’d be much different. Thanks for the tip, Lauren!

      Reply
  54. 145
    Michelle says:
    April 8, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    You can’t use the same green veggies all the time coz you’ll develop toxicity from it especially if you drink it everyday.

    Reply
    • 146
      Crystal says:
      May 12, 2013 at 11:33 pm

      I’m curious to know where you got that information from?

      Reply
      • 147
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 13, 2013 at 8:51 pm

        A couple of other people have mentioned the same concern above and referenced a book about the benefit of mixing up your daily greens. It sounds like something as simple as alternating kale and spinach every other day would do the trick.

        Reply
        • 148
          Mary says:
          December 9, 2013 at 11:19 pm

          you could try the mixed greens, that you can buy in the fresh veggies isle. I use all baby greens but like to do spinach and then for a change use spring greens mixed, be sure to check what mixed greens you yuse though, some are just different kinds of lettuce leaves

          Reply
  55. 149
    Hannah phillips says:
    April 12, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    I just made these this morning with kale and spinach in stead of parsley and it was very delicious!!!

    Reply
    • 150
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:23 am

      YAY! So happy to hear it Hannah – thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  56. 151
    Brenda says:
    April 14, 2013 at 7:04 am

    I LOVE green smoothies and alternate between kale and spinach (and sometimes use both)! Instead of water, I use green tea (steep a small pot overnight so it is ready in the morning). Also, as so many have commented, when your fresh fruit is getting ripe/about to go bad, put it in the freezer. I always have 1-2 2-gallon bags of fresh frozen fruit in my freezer; it will keep for a year this way. This allows us to have those lovely berries that are so good for you year round!! And for those of us who are on the go and need our protein/veggies/fruit all at once, add a scoop of vanilla or berry protein powder. I make a blender full each morning; drink one on my way to work and drink the other for my mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack (1/2 each). Thanks for all the wonderful tips above, time to go make my smoothie!!

    Reply
    • 152
      Brenda says:
      April 14, 2013 at 7:04 am

      Correction – one to two 1-gallon bags… 😉

      Reply
    • 153
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:22 am

      Great tips Brenda – thank you!

      Reply
  57. 154
    Susan says:
    April 18, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    I use green tea instead of water, great taste!

    Reply
    • 155
      naomi_colbert@yahoo.com says:
      April 25, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      I recently tried the green tea and it gave the smoothie a great taste. Love it!

      Reply
      • 156
        Dusty @All Things G&D says:
        May 6, 2013 at 4:18 am

        Ooh, I love green tea. I’ll have to give that a try!

        Reply
  58. 157
    Jessie says:
    April 21, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    If the texture bugs you, you can try buying a cheese cloth at the store to use as a strainer. It’s my cheap version of a juicer. And the cheese cloths can be reused. Just rinse them out and hang them to dry.

    Reply
    • 158
      Carrie says:
      June 24, 2013 at 10:22 am

      I do a two-step process since my blender has a chunkier texture. I got a nutribullet and it really makes the texture so much better!

      Reply
  59. 159
    Megan says:
    April 21, 2013 at 11:53 pm

    How do you peel your apples?

    Reply
    • 160
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:20 am

      I just use a vegetable peeler. My last batch of green smoothies that I prepared I decided not to peel the apples; I just cored and cut them. I noticed it made the smoothies slightly less smooth to have the peels included, but not too bad, so consider keeping your peels on if you’re interested in a time-saving tip and you don’t mind a little extra texture!

      Reply
  60. 161
    Dodi says:
    May 3, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    i buy 2 bunches each of kale, spinach, and swiss chard; i clean them all, and toss them all in 3 gallon ziploc bags; i squeeze all the air out and flatten them; then I freeze them overnight. In the morning I take the 3 bags out, and crunch all the frozen leaves down (still in the bag); then I mix the 3 bags of frozen crunched up leaves in a big bowl; toss them and quickly return them to the gallon bags. this makes a lightning quick green smooothie in the morning – i throw in greens, a couple spoons of milled flaxseed, a half cup of stonyfield and a splash of agave nectar – top it off with almond milk and whip it up in the NutriBullet. Cold and delish – in 20 seconds!!

    Reply
  61. 162
    Denise says:
    May 6, 2013 at 12:06 am

    Does anyone make their green smoothies with a stick hand blender, such as cuisinart? Does it do the job as well as a traditional blender? I use my stick blender for other types of smoothies as well as soups and anything else. Any opinions on cilantro instead of parsley? And does zucchini offer much nutritional value?

    Reply
    • 163
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:13 am

      I’ve never tried blending this recipe with a stick blender, but you certainly could. My assumption is you won’t be able to get it as smooth as a blender would, so you might feel some larger pieces of kale and parsley while you drink.

      Reply
  62. 164
    LuLu says:
    May 6, 2013 at 1:31 am

    It’s so wonderful that you are being aware of the types of food you and your family are consuming. I’m wondering though, freezing foods in essence kills what ever life/energy/nutrients that may still be in them by the time we get them from farm-market-home-table, right. So really, wouldn’t the best Bang for you Buck/Time/Energy/Health be to find the time to make it all fresh? A guide to what types of food to avoid: Frozen, Left Overs. Unnatural, Nuked, Canned (FLUNC.) These processes kill the food long before consumption.

    Reply
    • 165
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:11 am

      Making (and eating) everything fresh, when possible, is ideal – I agree! Unfortunately that’s not always possible for me, so as a busy working mom I need to find some shortcuts when I can. I’d much rather get some veggies into mine and my daughter’s belly this way versus not at all.

      Reply
  63. 166
    Myshelle says:
    May 6, 2013 at 2:51 am

    Ive been a freezer cooker for a long while not (mainly for the kids lunchboxes and school meals) and have recently started making smoothies, so this is right up both alleys! Went out and got some kale today, can’t wait until tomorrow to try it. This morning I had a mix of banana, yoghurt, milk, 2 ice cubes to keep it cold and a half a wheet bix. It tasted ok, but was missing something, a friend suggested cinnamon or vanilla. Will have to start keeping track of what Im blending up and share share share 😀 Well, the good tasting ones at least!

    As for the blender, I have a little $20 thing and it does just fine 😀 $400 for a blender? Nuh huh no thanks!

    Reply
    • 167
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 13, 2013 at 8:54 pm

      I would have never thought to add cinnamon or vanilla – thanks for the tip Myshelle! And :high5: for our cheapie blenders!

      Reply
  64. 168
    JJ Kunkle says:
    May 6, 2013 at 5:49 am

    This is the best idea ever! Simple, but brilliant!

    Reply
    • 169
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 13, 2013 at 8:55 pm

      Thanks JJ!

      Reply
  65. 170
    Dave Mitchell says:
    May 6, 2013 at 6:56 am

    Freezing food in plastic. BAD IDEA! Little bits of the plastic break off into the food when freezing.

    Reply
  66. 171
    shelley says:
    May 6, 2013 at 7:28 am

    I was always under the belief that freezing greens , depleted some of the nutrient value.. Is this wrong??

    Reply
  67. 172
    Donna says:
    May 6, 2013 at 9:13 am

    Nice idea except the waste of all that plastic. Not very green…… But this is our disposable generation.

    Reply
    • 173
      Denise says:
      May 13, 2013 at 7:43 pm

      I rinse and re use freezer bags if they’ve only had a few fruits and veggies in them. Dry they open over a water bottle or something similar, and put your next batch right in…

      Reply
    • 174
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 13, 2013 at 8:56 pm

      I wash and reuse my bags to cut down on waste. Here’s a link to some other reusable freezer container options: reusable freezer containers

      Reply
  68. 175
    Art Scott says:
    May 6, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    If you had a VitaMix or similar blender you would not need to throw awy the most important part of your apples or other fruits and veggies…I do almost as you do, but I do not peel 99% of my fruits and veggies…after washing them to remove the wax and crap I taste the peel, if it is tart it is ok if it is gag me sour then I peel….. I have even used whole poms in my smoothies and they are almost always VERY VERY tart……the peel is where most of teh nutrition is ….

    Reply
    • 176
      Art Scott says:
      May 6, 2013 at 4:35 pm

      I also for to mention that when I started on the smoothie routine I had went through (burned up) 6 blenders in one month… my VitaMix has been used for the last 8yrs with no problems aside from me not adding enough
      water at the beginning.

      Reply
    • 177
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 7, 2013 at 10:57 pm

      So far my trusty little ($30) Black and Decker blender (link in post) is doing the trick and still going strong! For my last batch of green smoothies I did not peel the apples, and I actually didn’t mind it too much. The drink had slightly more texture than I’m used to, but it’s a small trade-off for all that extra fiber and vitamins!

      Reply
  69. 178
    wendy says:
    May 6, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    I have noticed people using Chia seeds but will flax seeds work as well?

    Reply
    • 179
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 7, 2013 at 10:55 pm

      I haven’t personally tried flax seeds in my smoothies, but I imagine they’d work, too! Let us know what you think!

      Reply
  70. 180
    Rhino says:
    May 8, 2013 at 7:57 pm

    Doesn’t freezing drastically reduce the efficacy of the nutritients?

    Reply
  71. 181
    Crystal says:
    May 12, 2013 at 11:31 pm

    I read in the Jay Kordrich book for juiceing (The father of juiceing) that freezing dose reduce the efficacy of the nutrients and when juiceing to drink it rite a way or it looses its nutritional value.

    Reply
  72. 182
    Denise says:
    May 13, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    Well, just to report back, I have made my first few batches. I doubled the kale, (about 2.5 cups, 1 unpeeled apple, 1 banana, handful of parsley and 16 oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk. I used my stick blender and was fine with the texture, but if someone is averse to a few flecks and bits then maybe they wouldn’t like it. I LOVED the taste. Thought I would like it but I LOVED it. Also, because the fruit and veggies were frozen it was cool and refreshing. Next day I threw in some whole flax seeds. I totally didn’t mind the extra crunch. I made a weeks worth of this combo. To mix things up, and since strawberries were on sale I put together another batch and yesterday had one made with 2 cups spinach, a cup or so of strawberries, banana, almond milk and flax. Again, a winner. Some other combos I put together and froze but didn’t try yet are variations with kiwi, more or less apple and strawberries, and I’m going to get some greek yogurt to alternate with my almond milk.

    Reply
    • 183
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 13, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      So happy to hear your stick blender worked and you loved the taste, Denise! The crunch from the flax seeds sounds interesting to me. I’ll have to give that a try. I’ve heard that it’s beneficial to “chew” your smoothies to get your saliva and enzymes going as you drink them – flax seeds would certainly help with that!

      Reply
      • 184
        Denise says:
        May 16, 2013 at 11:32 pm

        Love ‘chewing’ the smoothies. Still trying lots of stuff. Made a months worth. Combined variations of Kale and spinach,bananas ( the mainstays) , carrots, strawberries, parsley, apples, pears, apricots, mango, kiwi. Make with variety of unsweetened almond or coconut almond milk, add flax sometimes. By the way, I do not peel most of my fruit – mango is the exception… Stomach probs seemed only temporary due to other causes. Ready to add some Greek yoghurt, and other things. Have Agave nectar on hand for sweetener but never needed it. Love, Love, Love it.

        By the way

        Reply
  73. 185
    Denise says:
    May 13, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Side note/additional question : The week before trying this, I was recovering from a 48 hr stomach bug. The last few days I have had stomach aches on and off. I am sometimes lactose intolerant which is why I use almond milk (and I simply do like the taste of it. ) I’m pretty sure the tummy aches are still after pangs of the virus, but am a little worried about the sudden change in the amount of greens perhaps upsetting my system. Any thoughts?

    Reply
    • 186
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 13, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      Oh gosh, I’m really not sure Denise. I’d try temporary eliminating whatever you think the offending food might be. After a few days or a week of being pang-free try adding it back in. If it’s the culprit your pangs will return and you’ll know. So sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Hopefully it’ll pass soon!

      Reply
      • 187
        vanessa says:
        May 16, 2013 at 3:57 pm

        I love to make green smoothie sherbet and my boys like the popsicles i make out of them tricks the mind i guess lol but great for summer days

        Reply
    • 188
      Crystal says:
      May 13, 2013 at 11:21 pm

      I read in a Jay kordrich book (the father of green juiceing), that when starting the green juiceing you should drink it slowly like sip on it because your digestive system isn’t use to it and could upset your stomach! Also maybe try organic because they don’t use pesticides and maybe that is it. Or its gas pains!

      Reply
  74. 189
    Jen says:
    May 14, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    I love this! I’ve been making these for 2 days now and it solves the problem of morning prep. Would you mind if I posted about this recipe on my blog?

    Reply
    • 190
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      May 14, 2013 at 7:19 pm

      Hi Jen – thank you so much for asking!! You’re welcome to post a brief summary of this post, with a link back to my post to find out more – just please do not duplicate this post in its entirety. Thank you so much, and I’m so happy to hear you’re finding this technique helpful!

      Reply
  75. 191
    galevee says:
    May 15, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    What are the nutritional values of this drink?

    Reply
    • 192
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:04 pm

      According to FitnessPal it’s 112 calories per serving (the recipe above makes two servings, fyi) if you don’t add any OJ.

      Reply
  76. 193
    vanessa says:
    May 16, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    I have my green smoothies every morning and my boys love when i make them green smoothie popsicles and green smoothie sherbet guess it helps for those i want ice cream days and when u are have a sweet tooth day i just add more fruit than greens when i make it that way

    Reply
    • 194
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:05 pm

      That’s a great idea, Vanessa! I’ll definitely be giving that a try with Kate – she eats pretty much anything if it’s blended up and frozen into popsicle form!

      Reply
  77. 195
    lisette says:
    May 17, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    what about buying frozen kale or spinach?

    Reply
    • 196
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      I’m not sure, Lisette. I haven’t purchased frozen kale or spinach, but I imagine it’d work as well. Let us know what you find if you try it!

      Reply
  78. 197
    Leslie says:
    May 27, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    Green smoothies are a big goal for me this summer. I am starting by trying your recipe (and your freeze-the-prep tip) this week! Very excited! :) Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • 198
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:07 pm

      I’m so happy to help, Leslie! I hope you liked the recipe and the bulk prep and freeze process!

      Reply
  79. 199
    sindi says:
    May 28, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    How about green smoothies without any fruit?

    Reply
    • 200
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      I’m not sure, sindi – I’ve never tried them that way. Let us know what you think if you give it a shot!

      Reply
  80. 201
    gigilindyLindy says:
    May 29, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Dusty, what happens to the enzymes when you freeze veggies w/out blanching them?

    Reply
    • 202
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:12 pm

      I’m not sure, gigi. I’m not a nutritionist, but my take on it is this: fresh is best when you have the time, but when you’re crunched for time and trying to make healthy choices, enjoying a green smoothie made from frozen ingredients is way better than hitting up a drive-thru or a grab-and-go processed food item.

      Reply
  81. 203
    Anna DeBernardis says:
    May 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    I am so glad I found this website and all the great ideas for smoothies. I too have the vitamix which all blends vegetables into hot soup. Freezing everything ahead of time is a great way to avoid wasting fresh produce. Thanks for all the helpful hints for keeping my family healthy.

    Reply
    • 204
      Daphne says:
      May 29, 2013 at 9:41 pm

      Hi Anna. I have a Viamix too which I use mostly for smoothies.
      Do u have a favorite hot soup recipe you would like to share?
      My fav smoothie is spinach, kale, 1/2banana, strawberries,
      grnd flax seeds, chia seeds, almonds and a few ice cubes
      and water. I feel better when I start my day this way.

      Reply
    • 205
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:12 pm

      My pleasure, Anna! Thank you so much for your comment!

      Reply
  82. 206
    Katherine says:
    May 29, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    For those not wanting to use plastic, use glass mason jars. If you get seven you can just prep once a week and could even pour your smoothie back in for transport, storage or a frosted glass to drink from. I also use an inch of fresh ginger when fighting a cold. And celery, basil, cucumber, bok choy, sprouts, chia and hemp seeds have varying health benefits too. You can add almost anything!!

    Reply
    • 207
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:13 pm

      Great tips, Katherine!

      Reply
  83. 208
    Jane says:
    May 30, 2013 at 12:53 am

    This is a great idea! I have fibromyalgia and have trouble moving in the morning. Ironically, that is when I need my smoothie the most, so I am looking forward to having my prep work done ahead of time! Thanks!

    Reply
    • 209
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      I’m so happy to hear this idea could help you when you’re struggling with your fibromyalgia, Jane – that’s wonderful news! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you are finding this bulk prep and freeze method helpful for you!

      Reply
  84. 210
    Stefani says:
    May 30, 2013 at 11:49 am

    Try a couple of cubes of raw beets, great nutrition and beautiful color:) Cinnamon, cocoa and vanilla are fun to mix it up. Also lemon juice works wonders to cut the veggie taste. You need a bit of fat to absorb certain nutrients, so add a few cashews or other nuts.

    Reply
    • 211
      Stefani says:
      May 30, 2013 at 11:54 am

      *I forgot cauliflower. It’s literally tasteless in a smoothie. A good way to get a cruciferous veggie in!

      Reply
    • 212
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:15 pm

      Great tips, Stefani! I’ve never tried nuts in my smoothie, but I love them so I’ll give that a shot! I also love cauliflower, although I’ve never heard of it being used in a smoothie. I’ll have to consider that as well. Do you cook it first or add it raw?

      Reply
  85. 213
    Tabby Powell says:
    May 30, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    This recipe is brillant! I am 25 weeks pregnant and just noticed (after making 6 bags) the parsley/pregnancy note.

    Reply
    • 214
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:17 pm

      I honestly have no clue if parsley is an issue for pregnant and breast-feeding women or not – please check with your doctor before making any major dietary change.

      Reply
  86. 215
    john coughlin says:
    May 30, 2013 at 7:26 pm

    I started with smoothies last summer, mostly fruit,berry, yogurt blends. Not only was I drinking a lot of calories but I also developed a sweet tooth that I never had. So I laid off until I came across this recipe, I just finished my first one (1/2 banana, more water) and I think this is going to work nicely….Thanks!

    Reply
    • 216
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      So happy to hear it, John!

      Reply
  87. 217
    Ronnie Thomas says:
    May 30, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    I’m allergic to bananas – one of the mainstays of most smoothies it seems – we use mango, peaches and berries instead – I will definitely try with the kale and parsley or kale and spinach – I also liked the recommendations of avocado to replace it also …

    Reply
  88. 218
    Bea says:
    May 30, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    Hi, thanks for the great idea. I drink my green juice every morning as well, but I add celery, romaine lettuce, a pear for sweetness so my daughters drink it,and lime or lemon to take the leafy flavor away! I am totally making my baggies tomorrow! Thank you. Btw I got the recipe for my smoothie from Kim Snyder Beauty Detox Book.

    Reply
  89. 219
    akria carmen (@AkriaC) says:
    June 7, 2013 at 7:56 am

    I done this since I hate going shopping every second or third day and as I was cleaning up the zip lock bags, I realised the opener bit on the bag was missing.

    Couldn’t find it anywhere so it must have fallen in the blender. Smoothie still tasted okay but just be careful of those bags!

    Reply
    • 220
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:19 pm

      Oh wow – great point, Akria!

      Reply
  90. 221
    Cathy says:
    June 9, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    I love this idea, ima start to measure my veggies i use to start making extra in zip lock baggies.. Atleast for a weeks worth it helps :) but i have a question, does anyone know about how many cups of veggie smoothie should we be drinking a day? I usually make a fu blender which is about 5 cups but i only drink 2 a day since i also give some to my daughter and brother. Please help :)

    Reply
    • 222
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      I’m not sure what’s recommended Cathy, but I usually try to get 2 cups/day in for myself.

      Reply
  91. 223
    Cathy says:
    June 9, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Is this still healthy? I mean are the veggies just as good as when you buy them? I dont know how to explain it. If anyone knows what im talking about please reply.

    Reply
    • 224
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:20 pm

      I’m not a nutritionist, but my take on it is this: fresh is best when you have the time, but when you’re crunched for time and trying to make healthy choices, enjoying a green smoothie made from frozen ingredients is way better than hitting up a drive-thru or a grab-and-go processed food item.

      Reply
  92. 225
    Deb says:
    June 18, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    You need to rotate your greens. Read the research out there. Nature puts toxins in greens to keep them from being eaten by animals. They build up in your body and will eventually make you (your daughter) sick. Switch it up to spinach, romaine, Bon Choy, etc. to remain healthy.

    Reply
    • 226
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      Excellent tip, Deb – thank you!

      Reply
  93. 227
    ann says:
    June 19, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    I made a batch today. Is it suppose to be smooth because mine was not? Not a whole li t of flavor either. Within 2 min mine seperated water on bottom small particals on top. Blended itfor a long time & still same outcome. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • 228
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      I’m not sure what to tell you regarding the smoothness or the separation, Ann. My blender (linked up in my post) does a great job of making them super smooth – almost like juice! I’ve also never had the problem of separation other than when I put a jar of it in the fridge to save for the next day. In that case I just shake it up before I drink it. Re: flavor – yes, this is a very mild flavored recipe which makes it a good starter recipe for people being introduced to green smoothies. I often say, “It doesn’t taste like anything!”

      Reply
  94. 229
    islandgirrl says:
    July 4, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    love the idea of doing this for those on the go mornings, but a friend of mine told me you should not blend it and store in the fridge because it loses its nutritional value..something to do with enzymes? I will have to research this and find out exactly what I find …..

    Reply
  95. 230
    deb says:
    July 11, 2013 at 8:08 am

    This is a great idea! Thanks!

    Reply
  96. 231
    Barb says:
    July 11, 2013 at 9:02 am

    I have heaps of sivler beet growing. would that be ok instead of kale or spinach.
    And does this green smoothie help loose weight?

    Reply
    • 232
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      I’ve never tried it with beet so I’m not sure – sorry Barb. If you do give it a try let us know what you think!

      Reply
  97. 233
    Kris says:
    July 11, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Sounds great. Going to give this a try.

    Reply
  98. 234
    Ziby says:
    July 11, 2013 at 10:17 am

    Does not freezing loose all the nutrients and enzymes value in vegetables and fruits?

    Reply
    • 235
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      I’m not a nutritionist, but my take on it is this: fresh is best when you have the time, but when you’re crunched for time and trying to make healthy choices, enjoying a green smoothie made from frozen ingredients is way better than hitting up a drive-thru or a grab-and-go processed food item.

      Reply
  99. 236
    Jody says:
    July 11, 2013 at 11:33 am

    This is great and, I’m certainly going to do this however, it is NOT a month’s supply! :-/

    Reply
    • 237
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:29 pm

      If you drink more green smoothies than this per month then you can simply adjust the recipe accordingly.

      Reply
  100. 238
    stacy anhorn says:
    July 11, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    I am going in for major surgery & I premade some green juices, I then froze them in mason jars, but I also like this idea of prepping the veggies & freezing, but I would freeze in mason jars as well. Another tip is instead of water add cooled green tea or matcha green tea powder, which is all of the green tea leaves ground to a fine fully consumable powder. I also do add chia seeds for fibre and protein. If I was going to add flax, I would grind first. I am now going to go make this prep for a month, as I was planning on doing a full month or two of juice/smoothies. Yes you will lose some nutritional values by freezing, but they would still be much more nutritious than buying store bought juice. And waaaaaay cheaper than buying freshly made smoothies from smoothie restaurants. I also rotate my greens & I heavily use cilanatro as it has such a refreshing taste. Another great thing to add is lemons and limes, they cut the green flavour if you find it strong & there is multiple health benefits to consuming them daily, one of them is they alkalize your system. I at times also do broccoli with the greens & I most days add cucumber too.
    Thank you for this fabulous idea!

    Reply
    • 239
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:35 pm

      All excellent tips and excellent points – thank you so much Stacy! Good luck to you on your surgery – I hope all goes well!

      Reply
  101. 240
    stacy anhorn says:
    July 11, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    one of my favourite recipes is:
    handful of kale or swiss chard, or spinach
    handful of parsley or cilantro
    one lemon or lime (I use a juicer, so I juice it whole)
    two oranges or apples
    three carrots
    an inch of ginger
    if I am feeling a cold coming on I also add a clove or two of garlic
    this usually juices enough for three servings, so if using whole for smoothies will make more
    then I usually add matcha green tea powder, or cold brewed green tea
    ENJOY!

    Reply
  102. 241
    stacy anhorn says:
    July 11, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    I also freeze the individual size unsweetened greek yoghurt & then add them to the blender with my juices for extra protein & thickness

    Reply
  103. 242
    Catherine says:
    July 11, 2013 at 6:00 pm

    kale, frozen berries, ground flax seeds, almond milk and yogurt… we’ve been having this for the past several month… it’s thick, creamy and filling esp if you add a scoop of whey protein.

    Reply
  104. 243
    Terri McKamey Harvey says:
    July 12, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Invest in a Nutri-Bullet. Blends smooth and breaks cell walls :)

    Reply
  105. 244
    Laurie says:
    July 12, 2013 at 9:57 am

    I use frozen kale with a rib of celery added. Do not use the banana as I make a fresh fruit drink later in the day.
    Lately I have been adding chia seeds, cinnamon, a drizzle of raw honey and a teeny tiny bit of turmeric. I do not use yougurt, water or milk in the smoothie. Use cocounut water instead. Much more healthy for you too.
    Good Luck all!

    Reply
  106. 245
    carie says:
    July 15, 2013 at 11:28 am

    this all sounds great! Just curious as too how much nutrients are lost from freezing? ive heard you have to drink smoothies or juice within hours of making it or you lose the nutrients? any feedback on this?

    Reply
    • 246
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 19, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      I’m not a nutritionist, but my take on it is this: fresh is best when you have the time, but when you’re crunched for time and trying to make healthy choices, enjoying a green smoothie made from frozen ingredients is way better than hitting up a drive-thru or a grab-and-go processed food item. Also – someone recently posted above that this process is healthier than buying a bottle of juice in the store, which I thought was interesting!

      Reply
  107. 247
    klgrant2 says:
    July 28, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    So funny story…I went to Target today to get ingredients to try making these–I even put real pants on in case I saw someone I knew. Anyway I was trying to find the kale and I heard an adorable little voice ask her mom if they could get flowers. I looked up, and it was you guys! I was all flustered (it was No Bra Sunday, after all, and I looked horrible) and couldn’t decide if I should introduce myself. I freaked, kind of smiled at you guys and then almost forgot what I was trying to get. I guess I’ll have to get over my shy-ness for the Wildtree party :)

    Anyway, I tried this tonight before freezing a batch for the morning and definitely didn’t blend it enough. I also didn’t get any parsley in my spaz out but added some spinach to the kale. Crossing my fingers that it’s a bit better in the morning as I think it’ll be a great way to start getting more vitamins!

    Reply
    • 248
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      August 8, 2013 at 6:53 am

      Oh my goodness Katie – that is TOO FUNNY!! If you heard Kate asking that then you also heard me telling her “no” at least a dozen times in response, haha! #meanmommy I’m trying to decide if I’m bummed or grateful that you didn’t say hi. You may have been braless, but I had just finished up a 5 mile run and certainly looked the part – yikes! Either way, we will be meeting soon (YAY!!) and then there will be no excuses not to say hello during our next braless, sweat-filled encounter. (<-That's not as exciting as it sounds, boys.) I hope you're enjoying the smoothies and I'll see you soon!

      Reply
  108. 249
    Shannon R says:
    July 31, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    I like to buy an extra box of organic baby kale or spinach or whatever (already washed) and pop it right into the freezer. It’s so easy to grab a handful for things like this (smoothies, eggs, pasta sauce) right from the freezer.

    Reply
    • 250
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      August 8, 2013 at 6:53 am

      Great tip, Shannon!

      Reply
  109. 251
    lindsaytredent says:
    August 2, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    This is brilliant! I found this on pinterest and think it’s the most genius idea ever. I drink green smoothies most mornings, but find that I do sometimes skip them due to the prep work. Can’t wait to try this out! Thank you!

    Reply
    • 252
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      August 8, 2013 at 6:54 am

      Thank you so much, Lindsay! I hope you enjoy the recipe and find this tip helpful!

      Reply
  110. 253
    Mar says:
    August 6, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Thank you, what a great idea. My family also drink a lot of green smoothies but it takes a lot of time to prepare them every day. I froze my bananas to drink my protein cocoa-banana shake that I drink the days that I run for 45 minutes. Never thought about freezing other things such kale which I use for all my green smoothies. Now I’m drinking my smoothie with Parsley, cilantro & pineapple w/ 6-8 oz of water is so good & it has a good flavor. I drink it at least 2-3 times a day. I definitely will try to freeze other ingredients for my other green smoothies. Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
    • 254
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      August 8, 2013 at 5:56 am

      My pleasure, Mar! Your concoction sounds delicious – thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  111. 255
    Dr.John Muciaccia says:
    August 8, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    It was very helpful to suggest that we prepare a month’s worth of ingredients for green smoothies and save them in the freezer. Thank you.

    Reply
  112. 256
    Tooti C says:
    August 8, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    It’s not a good idea to wash & reuse plastic freezer bags. They can break down & release toxins in your food.

    Reply
  113. 257
    Cc says:
    August 9, 2013 at 3:45 pm

    Awesome! How in the world do you keep everything so clean and organized in the fridge and freezer.
    ???

    Reply
  114. 258
    Traci says:
    August 29, 2013 at 9:47 am

    Please help I’m a newbie to green smoothies an decided to buy kale, spinach an other goodies to eat healthier. I saw a site where I can vita mix all my greens and freeze them in cupcakes pans to use when i need them (great thing) but I used the stem an all an it has such a strong almost metal/spicy taste so I need to know what I can mix it with to calm it down so i dont end up giving my outside plants some kale. Please any ideas will be so appreciated. Next time no stems for me lol oh the other trick beside the frozen green cupcakes :) was using a straw to suck the air out of my ziplock bags when i freeze my stuff, it works great.

    Reply
    • 259
      stacy anhorn says:
      August 29, 2013 at 11:39 am

      To cut the flavour I add 2 or 3 whole lemons or limes. Could also add apples or oranges for sweetness, just not orange peel. After afew days you will get used to& enjoy the flavour.

      Reply
  115. 260
    Eboni Christie says:
    September 5, 2013 at 6:16 am

    Also you can add oatmeal and chia seeds! Oh you can start batching large amounts of kale and spinach by making then into ice cube trays first!

    Reply
  116. 261
    Tammy Agdeppa says:
    September 15, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    Thank you SO MUCH for this!!! Everyone I know is on the green smoothie kick, but I haven’t been able to use any of the mixes because they ALL have spinach in them and I am allergic to spinach!!! I will DEFINITELY use this recipe!!!

    Reply
  117. 262
    Brad says:
    September 19, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    That is such a great idea. I always freeze my kale but haven’t considered freezing all of the ingredients. One concern I’ve always had with my frozen kale is that it would lose some nutritional value since it’s no longer fresh. However, I have nothing to support that theory. Do you know if the ingredients will have the same nutritional value after being frozen? Just curious. Thx

    Reply
  118. 263
    Kosia says:
    September 26, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    I love your blog – just stumbled on it today as i was searching for recipes for my new baby ….. Vitamix 5200S which i bought at costco. Nice Blog – beautiful kids, great recipes. Thanks

    Reply
  119. 264
    Tara Brooks says:
    October 21, 2013 at 2:58 pm

    I just came across green smoothies last week and tried your recipe. I made up my freezer bags and went ahead and blended one up for the next morning (that way hubby could take it to work and the blender wouldn’t wake the kids) I thought it tasted fine considering we have never had them. However when I used one of the bags from the freezer it tasted way different. I couldn’t even get it down. Has anyone else noticed this, or is is just me?

    Reply
  120. 265
    Brian says:
    November 13, 2013 at 7:23 am

    Just found your site and now I have a vitamiser I will try this one as well, am going to be busy when I get all the ingredients…love the site. Have already made banana, and other smoothies…

    Reply
  121. 266
    Simply Griz says:
    November 15, 2013 at 5:40 pm

    I enjoyed reading this thread. Gleaned lots of good info. But I have to share that I’m amazed at the lack of adventure out there. I’ve been blending for almost two years now. Two meals a day blened and one cooked food. I burnt out my old Osterizer (think it was my grandmothers). Moved to a Nutrabullet and wore it out. Now I’ve upgraded to a VitaMix and never looked back.

    I guess I mix things up a lot more than most. I mix half greens and half other veggies and fruit. Start with my base greens. A mix of kale, collards, mustard and either parsley or cilantro. Add spinach when it looks good. Then I add a variety of different stuff. Often a half/half mix, or depends on my mood. I add Carrots, beets, broccolli, celerly, garlic, green onion, leeks, peas, cucumber, brussel sprouts, and/or red cabbage for veggies. And banana, apple, pear, orange (peeled), grapes, blueberries, strawberry, mix berry mix, mellon, mango, pineapple, and peaches for fruit. Top it off with chia seed, flax seed, almond or black walnuts, and whey powder. Blend it with just enough whater to make it fluid. Then as I drink it, I add more water. Start thick and finish clean.

    Keep at it folks. You only get one body. Treat it good. Live well.

    Reply
  122. 267
    Meg says:
    November 30, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    The apples turned brown quickly any is that ok to use still

    Reply
  123. 268
    Mary says:
    December 9, 2013 at 11:24 pm

    I am wondering about the nutrient exposure , when making them up in jars. I had heard that the nutrient value goes down after about 6 hours after it is made. If I use air tight containers do you think this will keep it potent? I make up about 48 ounces at a time and drink half for breakfast and like o put the rest in the fridge, and have it at night, either for supper, or my evening snack. but I having been wondering about the potency of the second drink. any ideas???anybody???

    Reply
  124. 269
    Mel says:
    December 18, 2013 at 1:13 am

    For those that made the month supply, what was the estimate total cost for all of the ingredients?

    Reply
  125. 270
    Emelye says:
    December 18, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Genius! Thank you!!

    Reply
  126. 271
    Josie says:
    January 19, 2014 at 3:24 am

    Can I ask the benefit of parsley? Love love this idea. Thank you ?

    Reply
  127. 272
    Annie says:
    February 3, 2014 at 1:24 am

    Great idea, but I lost my appetite when seeing the child putting the food into the blender – kids have such dirty hands – why would you want your child’s fingers all over your food? Eewww.

    Reply
    • 273
      Vonetta says:
      February 18, 2014 at 7:56 pm

      How do you know her kid didn’t wash her hands first (which I’m sure her mother had her do before handling food). She’s adorable and is helping her momma stay healthy.

      Reply
      • 274
        beate gerhold says:
        March 1, 2014 at 2:47 am

        Children should be involved,there is a greater chance,they eat/drink the vegies.

        Reply
  128. 275
    Kathleen says:
    February 3, 2014 at 2:21 pm

    Do organic greens need to be washed first? I’m not sure how to do this without them becoming water logged, and then having to dry with a paper towel. Wish I could just throw them in the blender without this step. Any tips on the best way to ensure they are clean? Thanks!

    Reply
  129. 276
    Jillian says:
    February 23, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    It is a little unclear to me but the recipe above is that just for 1 (one) smoothie?

    Reply
    • 277
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 4, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      Hi Jillian – the recipe above makes 2 smoothies.

      Reply
  130. 278
    beate gerhold says:
    March 1, 2014 at 2:40 am

    Why not try differend vegies,I use cooked Beetroot,cucumber,apple,cellery,kale,spinat garlic,ginger,tumerc. I fill a big glass half full with blended vegies,and top up with sparkling Mineral or Soda water. yum.

    Reply
  131. 279
    Annie says:
    March 20, 2014 at 8:11 am

    Hi Dusty, would you consider this a diet smoothie or a cleansing/detox smoothie?

    Reply
    • 280
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 25, 2014 at 2:49 pm

      Hi Annie – it could be either. It’s good for cleansing/detox and it could also be a lower calorie snack or breakfast alternative.

      Reply
  132. 281
    nicky says:
    March 21, 2014 at 5:37 am

    is it safe for early pregnancy to prepare bags of kale like this and then use from frozen? I’m so worried and can’t find info on it, but it seems a few pregnant women have been commenting here :)

    Reply
    • 282
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 25, 2014 at 2:45 pm

      I’m sorry Nicky, but I really don’t know. I have to suggest you run it past your doctor first. Good luck!

      Reply
  133. 283
    Kaye says:
    March 21, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    I love this idea and can’t wait to try it this weekend! Do you know a way to add calories to the smoothies? My husband is battling cancer and losing weight. I want him to drink green smoothies but he also needs to put some weight back on

    Reply
    • 284
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      March 25, 2014 at 2:38 pm

      Hi Kaye, you could try adding yogurt (regular or Greek) for additional calories, or even a powder protein supplement. Best wishes to you and your husband!

      Reply
  134. 285
    Melissa says:
    July 6, 2014 at 4:44 pm

    Anyone have any suggestions for Banana replacement? It has too many carbs and sugar for my current medical condition diet. I usually do protein shakes but have been wanting to mix things up a cpl days a week with green smoothies.

    Reply
    • 286
      Dusty @All Things G&D says:
      July 9, 2014 at 6:27 am

      Have you tried avocado, Melissa? That would give you some of the creaminess you might be looking for.

      Reply
  135. 287
    kellyrwn says:
    November 10, 2014 at 8:15 am

    I don’t see this mentioned anywhere, but do see a LOT of people eating raw Kale…it can actually be pretty unhealthy unless you cook it, due to the high goitrogenic properties of cruciferous vegetables :( I was really sad when I found this out, since raw kale was a staple in our green smoothies, It adds a step, but you really have to cook it or can cause some pretty serious issues – “The goitrogenic properties of kale become dramatically lessened when kale — or any other cruciferous vegetable — is cooked. (Other veggies in this category include: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, turnips, bok choy and Chinese cabbage. Arugula, horseradish, radish, wasabi and watercress are also cruciferous vegetables.” – http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/01/the-dark-side-of-kale-and-how-to-eat-around-it

    Reply
  136. 288
    carolyn says:
    February 4, 2015 at 11:33 am

    1 teaspoon of Acai, Maca and Pomegranate, Goji and Cocoa powder.
    1 tablespoon of Hempstead and Dulse (wild Atlantic sea vegetable).
    2 tablespoons of cold mill flax.
    1 banana
    1 shot of wheat grass
    1 cup of frozen berries
    3 leafs of Kale
    1 cup of Spinach
    1cup of Parsley
    1 cup of Almond milk I make from raw almonds and add organic vanilla and blue agave.
    if you can make it a habit to start your day with one everyday…it will change your life..you will feel better, look better and live a longer and just your overall well being.
    I use a Ninja for years but thinking I need a Vitamix. I put in pinapples, lemon juice and whatever fruits I have to take the green taste away.

    Reply
  137. 289
    Brenda says:
    February 18, 2015 at 11:35 pm

    Fruits, vegetables, seafood are more nutritious then fresh because they are frozen immediately. I put trader Joe’s carrot balls in some of my smoothie packs also frozen mashed sweet potatoes. Smart and final has Dole brand mango, pineapple, and strawberry frozen (big) bags. Costco has fresh big bag spinach, kale and chard mix. So many smoothies to make. Also for those fellow kidney stone sufferers….3 pears a week helps and tastes good in smoothie.

    Reply
  138. 290
    jan says:
    June 11, 2015 at 3:48 am

    My understanding is fruits & veggies sold as “frozen” actually retain more nutrients than the ones bought “fresh” in the supermarket because they are frozen almost immediately after they are harvested.
    Flax seeds ~ the shell/outer covering is too hard for the digestive system to breakdown, so they basically leave the body in the same form they entered the body. While it does no harm, it also gives no benefit. Best to “mill” (grind up) before using to reap the most benefit.
    Orange juice ~ many juices on the market have sugar or other additives. I prefer to use a real orange. I peel and separate into sections and then freeze them.
    I freeze most everything ~ fresh pineapple (cored by me), beets (roots, stems & leaves), apples (skins intact, seeds removed), kale, chard, bananas, grapes, lemons, limes, oranges, avocados, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, coconut meat (from young Thai coconuts), and much more. I’ve had no problems with this. The only things I haven’t frozen (yet) is celery, carrots and tomatoes.

    I LOVE fresh coconut water. I buy the young Thai coconuts, break them open and get the delicious, nutritious water inside & remove the meat which I eat immediately or store in a glass jar in the fridge. I’ve even frozen some to use in smoothies. Yum.

    Chia seeds are a daily staple in my smoothies. They can even be soaked in water to form a ‘gel’ and used as a pudding, or even a thickener in gravies.

    Reply
  139. 291
    Barbara says:
    July 28, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    I find I don’t use up all my kale and spinach before it starts to go yellow or slimy so I came up with this method. I combine kale and spinach into my blender with a little water and blend for just enough seconds to reduce a bit. I then pour into ice cube trays. When they are frozen I pop them out and put them into a freezer bag. This way when I’m making my smoothie I just grab how many cubes I need. No more wasted kale and spinach.

    Reply
    • 292
      Dusty Rogers says:
      August 2, 2015 at 8:53 pm

      What a fantastic idea, Barbara – thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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