Kale Pineapple Green Smoothie without Banana

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Kale Pineapple Green Smoothie without Banana - Refreshing & tasty smoothie with kale, pineapple, grape, apple, orange juice, and flaxseeds.

close up shot of green smoothie with kale, pineapple, and grape in the background.

I love a good smoothie. It's easy, convenient, and a perfect way to have more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Although my husband and I both love my green smoothie, I wanted something that is refreshing and highlights summer flavors like pineapple and grape.

Don't give me wrong, my family loves to use bananas in our smoothie to create a creamy texture and rich sweetness. A perfect example is my recent Almond Butter Smoothie with Banana!

But I was craving something lighter as the temperature rises and that's how this smoothie was born!

Why you will love this green smoothie

It highlights the summer flavors like pineapple and grape
You won't be able to taste kale in the smoothie
It is packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants
You can prepare ahead of the time
It is SUPER delicious

Ingredients

Kale - Kale is what makes this smoothie vibrant green color
Pineapple - Sweet and unmistakable refreshing flavor
Grape - These little sweet gems scream summer
Apple - It adds additional sweetness as well as extra fiber
Orange juice and water - The liquid portion of the smoothie that gives a pleasant tang with sweetness
Ground Flaxseeds - The healthy fat component that ties everything together

apple, frozen kale, grape, and pineapple in the blender with orange juice on the side.

portioned out kale, grapes, and pineapple in freezer safe bags.

Substitutions and Variations

Kale - For the kale, you can use baby spinach
Orange juice - For the orange juice, you can use apple juice, pineapple juice, or water
Pineapple and grape - You can use frozen peach and/or mango
Apple - For the apple, you can use pear
Ground flaxseeds - You can easily substitute ground flaxseeds with chia seeds or hemp seeds.
- Ground flaxseeds - I find ground flaxseeds to interfere with the flavor of the rest of the ingredients least. When using ground flaxseeds, the smoothie gets a little darker green.
- Chia seeds - It is an excellent substitution but if you are not using a high-speed blender, it is difficult to mix in chia seeds with the rest of the ingredients smoothly.
- Hemp seeds - If you enjoy the nutty flavor without adding any nuts, hemp seeds are a perfect substitution. When adding hemp seeds to the smoothie, it will make your smoothie creamier and lighter in color.

Frequently asked questions about Green Smoothie

Why is my green smoothie foamy and separating?

If your smoothie contains ingredients that are high in insoluble fiber such as kale and apple, your smoothie tends to separate and becomes foamy. To make your smoothie less foamy and separate less, you can add healthy fat to emulsify the smoothie.

Can you freeze the prepared smoothie?

YES! You can freeze the prepared smoothie in the freezer for up to 3 to 5 days. You can thaw them in the fridge and give it a quick shake to mix everything before enjoying.

My smoothie is too thin. What should I do?

I recommend using frozen fruits to make my smoothie thicker without diluting the flavor. However, I sometimes use ice cubes to thicken the smoothie.

My smoothie is too thick. What should I do?

You can simply add more liquid such as juice, milk, or water.

My smoothie is too chunky. What should I do?

Using a high-speed blender (Vitamix or Blentec) helps. But if you don't have a high-speed blender, you can add the fibrous ingredient first, then add ingredients with harder texture next, and add softer ingredients.

Tips on making Kale Pineapple Green Smoothie without Banana

If you are not using a high-speed blender, be mindful of the order of ingredients added to the smoothie. You should add:

Fibrous ingredients first with the liquid (such as kale and apple)
Add harder ingredients next (frozen grapes and pineapple)
Add softer ingredients (ground flaxseeds)
You can add the ice cubes last. When adding ice cubes, add 2 to 3 pieces at a time.

Use frozen kale, pineapple, and grape. Not only does using frozen kale, pineapple, and grape help thicken the smoothie, it helps the smoothie foam up less.
Portion out the ingredient and place them into a freezer-safe bag for the make-ahead smoothie package. I like to prepare three to four packages at a time and freeze them. So all I have to do in the morning is dump this package in my blender and add a couple more ingredients to enjoy this delicious and healthy smoothie in a jiffy.