This is the brown smoothie I’m always making on Instagram! A blend of spinach and berries, it’s the perfect balance of antioxidants and fiber, and despite the color, it actually tastes delicious!
Why This Brown Smoothie Works
- It’s packed with ingredients I prioritize daily. I love getting a dose of leafy greens first thing in the morning with a berry antioxidant boost. It just makes my body happy.
- It tastes better than it looks. I fully understand that something brown doesn’t look incredibly appealing, but I promise you that it’s actually sweet from the berries. So don’t judge a book by its cover.
- You can really wing it. While I do list measurements below, the honest to goodness truth is that I don’t measure anything. I just add a few handfuls of baby spinach, shake in some frozen mixed berries, and add half a banana.
- It easy to adapt. Most mornings I keep it simple, but after a workout I’ll often blend in ground flaxseeds, protein powder or almond butter for a little extra staying power.
Over the years, I’ve created numerous smoothie recipes for you to enjoy. And while a green smoothie is what people most often think of in terms of a “healthy smoothie,” the one I make most often is hands-down my brown smoothie. I couldn’t imagine my mornings without it!
I’ve been showing this brown smoothie recipe on Instagram for years, but until now, there was no written recipe for it on the website. And that’s because I never actually measure anything—I just toss a bunch of ingredients in!
But today, I’ve measured it out for you so that you can easily make it at home. Enjoy it as a post workout smoothie, a morning energizing smoothie, or afternoon snack between meals. It’s such an easy way to enjoy a simple blend of greens and berries!
Why is it brown?
Remember the color wheel from elementary school? When you mix green and red, you get…brown. I often joke that it’s my “50 shades of brown” smoothie, as it’s never quite the same (again, because I don’t measure). So it often changes from khaki to taupe, to greige, to hazel, and chocolate-colored, depending on your specific berry blend and how much spinach you add.
Brown Smoothie Ingredients
- Water: I use water because it keeps the smoothie light. But if you want it slightly creamier, swap in your favorite dairy or dairy-free milk.
- Baby spinach: Baby spinach is my go-to leafy green because it blends seamlessly into smoothies and has a much milder flavor than kale.
- Frozen mixed berries: My frozen berry blend usually includes strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Every blend is a little different, which is one reason the color changes so much from batch to batch.
- Banana: I prefer using a ripe banana because it’s naturally sweet and balances the tartness from the berries. If it’s super hot in the middle of summer, I often toss in half a frozen banana for an extra-chilled smoothie.
- Ground flaxseeds: This is the bonus fiber-boost of the drink, and why I love it so much! These little seeds are one of my favorite sources of fiber to include in smoothies and also my morning muesli.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below
How I Make This Downshiftology Brown Smoothie
First, blend the base. Add the water, spinach, berries, banana, and protein powder (if using) to a high-powered blender, and blend until smooth. You shouldn’t see any leafy bits remaining.
Don’t be surprised when the smoothie shifts from bright green to brown as everything blends together—that’s exactly what you’re looking for!
Then, stir in the flaxseeds. Pour the smoothie into a large glass or Mason jar, then stir or shake in the ground flaxseeds. Pop in a straw (I love these glass straws) and enjoy!
Lisa’s tip: I always add the flaxseeds after blending because they often stick to the inside of the blender, and it’s harder to clean the blender than the jar. It takes just a few seconds to stir or shake them in afterward!
My Favorite Variations
- Add protein powder after workouts. I do this often!
- Add chia seeds for even more fiber. Just remember to let them sit and gel a bit.
- Use almond milk, cashew milk, hemp milk or your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk for a creamier version.
- Swap frozen mixed berries for fresh berries if you have them on hand.
- Add a spoonful of almond butter for extra protein and staying power.
More Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- Blueberry Smoothie: A great antioxidant smoothie.
- Pineapple Turmeric Smoothie: Easy boost of turmeric.
- Cilantro Smoothie: Perfect for a detox.
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie: Simple and classic!
- Or give these other smoothe recipes a try!
If you try my Downshiftology famous brown smoothie, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re looking for more healthy food inspiration, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups (packed) baby spinach
- 1 ½ cups frozen mixed berries
- ½ banana
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
- optional: protein powder
Instructions
- Blend it up. Add the water, baby spinach, berries, banana, and protein powder (if using) to a high-powered blender. Blend until smooth and the color has turned brown.
- Add flaxseeds. Pour your smoothie into a large glass or Mason jar. Add the ground flaxseeds and stir or shake them in the jar, until well combined. Add a straw, then enjoy!
Lisa’s Tips
- This Spectrum Essentials ground flaxseed is my favorite brand!
Nutrition
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The Smoothie Recipe That Needs No Measuring
Once you make this recipe a few times you’ll get the hang of it and realize you really don’t need to measure anything. In the photo above, I added some frozen cherries to my frozen mixed berry blend (as I had very little left of it) and as you can see, the color darkened a bit. Still brown, though maybe more of an umber or espresso color, and still delicious!
