Pineapple Green Smoothie

4.7

(35)

30 Reviews

Use ripe bananas for this creamy Greek yogurt, spinach and pineapple smoothie. Chia seeds add healthy omega-3 fats, fiber and a little protein for an extra nutritional boost.

Lisa Valente, M.S., RD

Updated on August 7, 2024

Reviewed by Dietitian

Christa Brown, M.S., RDN, LD

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Active Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

5 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 serving

Nutrition Profile:

High-Calcium Bone-Health Healthy Pregnancy Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Low-Sodium High-Blood Pressure High-Fiber Heart-Healthy Gluten-Free Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

How to Make Pineapple Green Smoothie

This is no ordinary pineapple smoothie. This tropical-flavored drink goes green with a handful of vitamin-rich baby spinach added to the mix. Spinach is an excellent source of folate as well as plant-based iron and vitamins A and C. Combined with chia seeds, which offer omega-3 fats and fiber, this pineapple smoothie will start your day off right. Here are a few tips for success:

Pineapple spinach smoothie getting poured out of blender into a glass — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Use Ripe (Frozen) Bananas

This smoothie relies primarily on the sweetness of the fruit to flavor it. That's why we recommend using ripe, frozen bananas. Under-ripe bananas are less sweet with a chalky texture and while over-ripe bananas are sweeter, their best use is banana bread. The flavor and color of an over-ripe banana can overpower the other ingredients in the smoothie.

Add Liquid to the Blender First

Ever made a smoothie that just won't blend? It's probably not your blender. It may be because you added the ingredients in the wrong order. Adding chunks of frozen fruit before the liquid creates air pockets around the blade making it more difficult to blend. With the liquid at the bottom, the blades can spin and pull the ingredients in from the top down. (Looking for a better blender? We can help! Check out the best blenders according to our test kitchen.)

Plant based milk getting poured into a blender — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Taste Before You Add Sweetener

You may (or may not) want your smoothie a little sweeter. Since both bananas and pineapple can vary in sweetness, we recommend keeping the added sugar optional and adding it only after you're sure your smoothie needs it. After all, it's easier to add sugar than it is to take it away! Start with a teaspoon, and add more to taste. We recommend adding liquid sweeteners like pure maple syrup or honey.

Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer

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Ingredients

½ cup unsweetened almond milk
⅓ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup baby spinach
1 cup frozen banana slices (about 1 medium banana)
½ cup frozen pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1-2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey (optional)

Directions

Add almond milk and yogurt to a blender, then add spinach, banana, pineapple, chia seeds and sweetener (if using); blend until smooth.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2014; updated November 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

297	Calories
6g	Fat
54g	Carbs
13g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Serving Size about 1 1/2 cups
Calories 297
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 54g	20%
Dietary Fiber 10g	35%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 13g	26%
Total Fat 6g	7%
Saturated Fat 1g	3%
Cholesterol 4mg	1%
Vitamin A 3216IU	64%
Vitamin C 61mg	68%
Folate 113mcg	28%
Sodium 145mg	6%
Calcium 297mg	23%
Iron 3mg	14%
Magnesium 126mg	30%
Potassium 1038mg	22%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.