The Tastiest Pineapple Spinach Smoothie

If you've been longing for the tastiest pineapple spinach smoothie with a little bite from ginger - you're in the right place! This smoothie is legit.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy this easy green smoothie recipe is at breakfast time. It's not a wimpy smoothie, it's full of nutrition, plus the fat and protein you need to feel satisfied for hours.

To Make this Smoothie...

This pineapple spinach smoothie (like all smoothies) is simple, and chuck full of nutrition. Plus, this smoothie does NOT require a frozen banana. Which I use often, so that means I sometimes run out...

I swear by my FAVORITE GLASS, COOKING BLENDER. It purees even the toughest veggies (like carrots), grinds oats for finely ground oat flour and makes great nut butters.

Ginger

I simply LOVE ginger. If you don't love it as much as me, feel free to decrease the amount to your liking.

Alternatively, if you don't have fresh on-hand, use the 3:1 ratio. Typically you can use about three times the amount of fresh herbs/spices to dried. In this case I use about a thumb nail of ginger which is about 1 teaspoon fresh, so, shy of a ¼ teaspoon dried.

Ginger is commonly used in Traditional Chinese medicine to aid in digestion and provide relief from nausea.

Green Juice

I use this green juice to help with the color, and add a tinge of nutrition. But you can also use water, pineapple juice or apple juice for a bit of cost savings.

Pineapple

Pineapple is in season spring time, March - July. In-season produce is best because it's cheaper, always tastier and generally higher in nutrients because these are picked at the peak of ripeness (rather than pre-ripe with travel time).

Buying tips:

• find one that is heavy for its size (this means it's juicy)
• It should smell sweet (like a pineapple) on the stem side
• You should be able to easily pluck out a leaf
• The “eyes” on the skin should be flat, shiny and bright (these are the diamond-shaped patches behind the leafs)

Spinach

Since spinach mixes so nicely with most flavors (being relatively mild), its a great way to add more nutrition to any smoothie. Baby spinach in particular has a very mild flavor and blends smoother than some other greens (if you don't have a great blender, see my suggestion above).

Ask a Dietitian

What are the benefits of spinach and pineapple smoothie?

The benefits of a spinach and pineapple smoothie is that it's an excellent source of vitamin A, magnesium and is fiber rich. Spinach also contains phytonutrients, or plant compounds, that can improve your health and help fight disease.

These include:

• Nitrates, which can lower blood pressure and provide a pre-workout energy boost
• Lutein & zeaxanthin have well established benefits to our eye health
• Quercetin, has anti-inflammatory benefits and blood sugar lowering properties

Is Spinach still Healthy in a Smoothie?

Yes, spinach is healthy in a smoothie! Spinach is high in fiber, containing about 4 grams per cooked cup. Due to its' fiber content, spinach is sometimes hard to digest. This makes consuming it as a smoothie helpful for those who experience indigestion.

A few other Nutrition Tips

• It's important to note that you shouldn't rely on greens for your calcium supply. Despite that spinach is a good source of calcium, the calcium is bound to oxalic acid which makes it unavailable for absorption.
• Pineapple contains Bromelain, which is a mixture of enzymes that help to breakdown proteins for better digestion. Although this is not a therapeutic dose, as with all food-first approaches; the little bits add up.