Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Kale

This strawberry banana smoothie with kale and almond milk is high in fiber and protein - a perfect snack or meal to start your day. With other whole food ingredients including almonds, flax seeds, kale, and optional beets, you will be ready to hike a mountain! For a smoothie without all the extra add-ins, try this thick strawberry banana smoothie.

Making a smoothie almost every morning has been my routine for over 7 years, and is, I think, one of the very best ways to increase the nutrition we consume in a day. This smoothie is nutrient-dense and sweetened with dates just like my turmeric banana smoothie.

Ingredients with nutrition insight and alternatives

Being Certified in Holistic Nutrition, I like to share my knowledge about the ingredients I choose for my recipes. Read about why these smoothie ingredients are nutrient-dense and how they support the body below. I've also included what you can swap an ingredient out for if needed.

• Kale is high in calcium, iron, and magnesium. Alternatively, other leafy greens like spinach can be used in this recipe. Kale is a great source of fiber which will help your body with natural detox processes. If you are nervous about adding greens to your smoothie I recommend starting with the smaller baby kale as it tastes less strong, however, mixing it with the sweet strawberry and banana in this smoothie doesn't make it too strong tasting! Try these kale muffins next!
• Bananas are a good source of potassium, folate, vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, and iron. I always put bananas in all my smoothie recipes to make them creamy.
• Frozen strawberries are the star of this smoothie, making it thick and flavorful. Key nutrients in strawberries include vitamin C, folate, potassium, iron, and fiber. Love strawberries? Try this blackberry smoothie with strawberries, and this strawberry smoothie that's thick like a milkshake!
• Almond milk creates the right texture for this strawberry banana smoothie, it makes this smoothie dairy free, however, any milk can be substituted for almond milk if needed.
• Unroasted almonds are used in this recipe to increase protein and other nutrition. They are a good source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. If you do not have a high-power blender (I use a vitamix), you can grind these nuts in a coffee grinder first until there are no chunks before adding them to your smoothie. Or swap the almonds and use nut butter like peanut butter or almond butter.
• Flax is rich in omega-3, an essential fatty acid, which is something many people are deficient in when eating a standard diet. These seeds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, and more. Like the almonds, I recommend grinding flax before adding them to your smoothie if you don't have a high power blender - this improves the texture and the nutrition your body absorbs.
• Dates make this smoothie sweet and increase the fiber. Dates are specifically high in potassium and vitamin C. If you are pregnant and trying to eat more dates to support labour, having them in a smoothie like this is perfect (it's what I did in my pregnancies!). I like to use medjool dates.
• Optional: Beets make this smoothie the bright pink color. I buy beets for smoothies that are pre-cooked and sliced found with the frozen vegetables at the grocery store. Frozen or fresh-cooked beets can be used in this smoothie. Cooked beets are high in minerals. There is only a subtle taste of beets in this smoothie as ⅓ cup is all that is used. I would recommend a high power blender if you use uncooked beets.

Tips for adding dates to smoothies:

• Remember to remove the pit if your dates are not pitted! I've learned this lesson the hard way. I preach the amazingness of high power blenders, but even they cannot cut through a date pit. Look for black (that's mold!), when you remove the pit, I've found older dates can go moldly from time to time.
• If your dates have white crystals on them, this is the date's sugar crystalizing and they are still fine to eat or use!
• Dates are an awesome alternative sweetener that supports blood sugar levels.
• Next try this delicious high protein banana smoothie with dates in it.

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Step by step photos from my kitchen

Firstly, remove the pits from the dates (if your dates still contain the pit).

Place the soft unfrozen ingredients in the bottom of the blender, bananas, dates, flax seeds, and almonds (or nut butter).

I like to add the kale or leafy greens next. Then pour in the almond milk.

Place the beets (if using), and frozen strawberries on top. Then blend well.

Layering a smoothie with everything soft on the bottom and everything frozen on top creates the best texture and is good practice to give the blender blades a longer life.

Blend the smoothie until there are no more chunks of frozen strawberry or almonds. For me, that's about 45-60 seconds. Pour into cups; this makes 1 large smoothie or 4 small smoothies. Enjoy!

Recommended for smoothies

For a thick smoothie, a good blender is key! I use my Vitamix blender daily and think it is the number one purchase for making healthy food in the kitchen!

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For another smoothie with dates, kale, and banana, try this chocolate berry luteal phase smoothie.

Strawberry Banana Almond Milk Smoothie

Danika Vanderpyl

A strawberry banana smoothie made with almond milk! Nutrient packed with flax seeds, almonds, greens (kale), and beets (optional) to fuel your next adventure. This smoothie is loaded with goodness and quite the treat! I recommend using a high power blender if possible.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 2 medium smoothies

Calories 487 kcal

Equipment

• blender

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x4x

• 2 fresh bananas
• 3 large dates (I use medjool dates)
• ¼ cup almonds (or nut butter if you don't have a high power blender)
• ½ tablespoon flaxseeds
• 1 large leaf kale (or 1 cup leafy greens)
• 2 cups almond milk
• 3 cups frozen strawberries
• ⅓ cup beets cooked optional* I buy frozen cooked sliced beets

Instructions

 

• If there are pits in your dates, remove them. Place the bananas, dates, almonds, and flaxseeds into the blender. Add the kale and almond milk on top.
• Then place the beets (if using) and frozen strawberries in the blender container. Secure lid and blend until everything is smooth and there are no frozen chunks of strawberries.
• Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Notes

To read more about how I choose the ingredients for this smoothie, or for step by step photos scroll up into the blog post. 

*Beets are optional but make the smoothie a bright pink color and increase the nutrition of this smoothie. For this smoothie I use pre-cooked and sliced beets in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store (Presidents Choice brand). 

If you do not have a high power blender, there are a few things I would do to improve the texture of your smoothie. First soak the dates for 5-10 minutes in hot water before adding them to the blender. You can use ground flaxseeds instead of whole flax. Lastly, use nut butter instead of almonds. 

For another nutrient smoothie, make this beet kale blend!

 

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcalCarbohydrates: 83gProtein: 13gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 73mgPotassium: 1457mgFiber: 15gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 3200IUVitamin C: 164mgCalcium: 350mgIron: 3mg

Keyword Blender, Energy, Smoothie

Did you love this recipe?Make sure to leave a comment below!

Danika Vanderpyl, C.H.N

I create snack recipes with healthy ingredients that are mostly already in your kitchen. I'm certified in Holistic Nutrition and I care about giving my kids real food. Let me share my nutrient-dense easy snacks with you.

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