Starting the day with our green smoothie recipe is a delicious way to charge your system with nutrients. Dark leafy greens are extremely alkalizing, meaning they foster a more neutral body environment for better functioning enzymes, compared with acid-forming foods like meats and dairy. This nutrient-dense elixir is chock full of them. You’ll use a mix of romaine, kale, and parsley, plus a half cup each of mango and pineapple for balancing, fruity sweetness and a piece of fresh ginger for a spicy kick. You can swap in other fruit to use up what you have on hand, but don’t skimp on the greens for the best nutritional payoff.

Ingredients for Our Green Smoothie

The greens: A mixture of romaine lettuce and kale brings serious nutrient power to this recipe. Swap in spinach, collard greens, or even Swiss chard if you prefer.

The herbs: A quarter cup of parsley brings antioxidants and vitamins, including A, C, and K, to the table. Since it all gets blended up, you can toss in whole sprigs, stems, and all.

The fruit: Pineapple and mango bring a dose of tropical sweetness to this recipe and balance out the greens’ natural bitterness. For a thicker smoothie, use frozen fruit.

The ginger: For a spicy, zingy kick, this recipe calls for a 1-inch piece of ginger. Instead of a peeler, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin (you’ll lose less of the flesh that way).