Everybody knows that spinach smoothies are super healthy. And everybody also knows that kale smoothies are equally as good for you. So why not combine the two healthy greens into one energy-packed kale and spinach green smoothie that offers a literal mega dose of nutrition? That’s exactly what this fantastic recipe does and then it even throws a few other great ingredients in for good measure. You’re guaranteed to get a nice boost of energy after drinking this smoothie and once you see how unbelievably yummy it is, you’ll be looking forward to making it on a regular basis.

The Greener, The Better

Lately I’ve been on quite a spinach smoothie kick, experimenting with all kinds of different ingredient combinations. I’ve had some truly excellent results doing this, and this recipe is one of them. So what exactly makes spinach such a great ingredient to build a smoothie recipe around? It’s all because of how nutrient-dense spinach is. It’s an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C, and D. Spinach is also a great source of calcium, especially for anyone who may be sensitive to dairy products. And it’s of course packed full of potent antioxidant properties, with more than one study finding that spinach consumption has been linked with increased disease-fighting antioxidant activity. (1)

Considering that kale is easily another one of the most popular green smoothie ingredients, it only makes sense to add it in with spinach to provide a one-two punch of nutritional goodness. Kale isn’t just popular with smoothie lovers — it’s probably the most popular cruciferous veggie in general as well. There are many studies that have been done that prove that all types of cruciferous vegetable options (not just kale!) do indeed provide some tremendous health benefits and are deserving of being labeled “superfoods”. (2) Combining kale with spinach ensures that this smoothie provides an immense amount of nutrients. However, you’re going to need to add a few extra ingredient to help balance out all of that “green” flavor.

Two of my favorite ingredients to add into smoothies for adding flavor along with some additional great benefits are peanut butter and bananas. Both of these ingredients help to mask the taste of the leafy greens a bit while also providing a good amount of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and a solid mix of healthy fats. The recipe also calls for a single cup of almond milk to use as a liquid base, and I usually like to go with an unsweetened vanilla almond milk to add just a bit of extra taste to the recipe.

The final ingredient added into this recipe helps to round out the nutritional value and help to provide even more energy for you — a single tablespoon of chia seeds. They’re a phenomenal source of heart healthy fats as they’re high in omega-3 fatty acids. Chia seeds are also rich in fiber, protein, and other great micronutrients. They also have some pretty remarkable health promoting properties, especially in regards to helping with conditions like obesity, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. (3) That definitely explains why — along with spinach and kale — they are such a popular ingredient to add to smoothies. That’s precisely what makes this recipe so great for your health — the fantastic combination of three of the most popular ‘superfood’ ingredients.