I love green smoothies. Love them. I blend up a smoothie just about every day...except for the days when I failed to plan. There's a saying, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." I totally believe that's true. I'm kind of a procrastinator, something I'm constantly trying to combat. Sometimes that procrastination creeps over into my diet as well. That's why freezer smoothie packs are an essential part of my meal planning each week - make-ahead smoothies at my fingertips.
I stock up on fresh greens, veggies, and fruit and combine them in easy freezer packs that I can pull out to use each day. Easiest breakfast ever!
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- How to Prep Make-Ahead Smoothie Packs Like a Champ
- 1. Have a plan so your smoothies taste good
- 2. Always label the bags clearly
- 3. Buy big tubs of spinach or other leafy greens
- 4. Pack those greens into the measuring cup
- 5. Don't add the greens to the packs until last
- 6. Use a combination of fresh and frozen fruits if you need to
- 7. Frozen cauliflower makes smoothies super creamy
- 8. Shredded raw carrots or diced steamed carrots are the most blender-friendly
- 9. Use BPA-free bags or freezer-safe glass jars
- 10. Thaw the bags for about 10–15 minutes
- 11. Use plenty of liquid when blending
- 12. Add extras when blending
- 13. What if you'd rather blend your smoothie and then freeze it?
- 14. Last, but not least, have fun!
- FAQ
- 📖 Recipe
How to Prep Make-Ahead Smoothie Packs Like a Champ
Like most moms, I'm always trying to get my kids to eat more veggies. Who am I kidding? I'm also trying to eat more veggies!
I'm normally not a fan of hiding veggies in food—I want my kids to learn to like the taste of the veggies. However, when they can easily be hidden in a yummy, fruity smoothie, I'm all for it.
I find the easiest veggies to add are leafy greens, frozen cauliflower florets, and shredded carrots. Freezing the greens makes them easier to blend and they also lose volume, so you can use more than you would if you were using fresh. Bam! Each quart-size freezer smoothie pack will serve 2 adults or 3 to 4 kids.
Smoothie packs are pretty no-stress to prep. I've been doing them for so long that I've learned a few tricks and tips along the way.
Here are my best tips:
1. Have a plan so your smoothies taste good
You'll notice that I've used a formula to help with this. The right proportions of ingredients makes all the difference! Use this basic recipe and swap in your favorite fruits.
Each make-ahead smoothie bag gets:
- 1-½ cups spinach
- ½ cup veggies (cauliflower and/or shredded carrots)
- 1 whole fruit or 1-½ cups fruit (peach, mango, pineapple, apple, pear, berries, or a combination)
- For blending: 10–12 ounces milk or juice
2. Always label the bags clearly
Add the date if you aren't going to be using them within a few weeks. I like to include how much liquid is needed, which makes it easier if older kids are blending on their own.
3. Buy big tubs of spinach or other leafy greens
They're usually very budget friendly, and by freezing them right after you buy them, you'll never have to waste the last half of the tub again!
4. Pack those greens into the measuring cup
The freezing process breaks down plant cell walls, and the greens lose volume and are easier to blend. Totally sub frozen greens if you need to.
5. Don't add the greens to the packs until last
For easier blending, ingredients should be layered in the blender in this way: liquid, leafy greens, frozen fruits, and veggies. Layering them in the bag in the opposite order means when you add the bag to the blender, they'll be right-side up.
6. Use a combination of fresh and frozen fruits if you need to
Frozen fruit tends to be high quality because it's frozen at the peak of the fruit's season. Contrary to popular belief, foods don't actually lose their nutrients when frozen; using some frozen fruit helps the freezer packs to freeze more quickly. Plus, depending on the type of fruit and the season, frozen fruit may be more affordable than fresh and vice versa.
7. Frozen cauliflower makes smoothies super creamy
And you can't even taste it! But it has to be frozen. Fresh cauliflower just doesn't work the same. Trust me!
8. Shredded raw carrots or diced steamed carrots are the most blender-friendly
Other root veggies like parsnips and beets can also be used in this same way.
9. Use BPA-free bags or freezer-safe glass jars
Either is fine, so use whatever you prefer or have on hand.
10. Thaw the bags for about 10–15 minutes
Let the bags thaw on the counter for a few minutes; it makes the blending easier than when you take them straight out of the freezer.
11. Use plenty of liquid when blending
Don't burn out your blender's motor; add extra liquid as needed.
12. Add extras when blending
If you want to add dry ingredients like chia seeds, protein powder, dried spices, etc. to your smoothies, I find it works best to add them when blending. Unless you like digging stubborn chia seeds out of plastic bags. I don't.
But flavor enhancers like fresh herbs and spices can definitely go into the bag before freezing. My favorites: fresh basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, ginger, and turmeric.
13. What if you'd rather blend your smoothie and then freeze it?
Cool. Add a little lemon juice to help preserve the flavors, and leave room for the frozen liquid to expand. Then, when you plan to drink it, just let the bag or jar with the smoothie sit in the fridge to thaw for a few hours or overnight beforehand.
14. Last, but not least, have fun!
Turn your smoothie prep into a Sunday night activity, and get the family involved by setting everything up assembly-line fashion. Everyone will have fun putting together their own customized smoothie packs.
FAQ
If you're prepping and freezing smoothie packs ahead of time, they can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. This is why it's ideal to prep smoothies—you'll have an easy breakfast or post-workout snack at the ready for weeks or months at a time.Â
The idea that foods lose their ingredients when frozen is a myth. I use both fresh and frozen fruit in my smoothies, depending on what is in season and which option is more affordable at the time.
I also love that using frozen fruits and veggies in my smoothie prep cuts down on rinsing and chopping time, which helps the freezer packs come together more quickly.Â
Spinach and leafy greens are an inexpensive addition that packs lots of nutrients. We like frozen cauliflower or shredded or steamed carrots, but here are 7 smoothie recipes to sneak more veggies in and 9 smoothie recipes with no fruit.
📖 Recipe
A Week of Make-Ahead Smoothies in Under an Hour
Ingredients
Cherry Zinger
- 1-½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup frozen or fresh cherries, pitted
- 1 large banana, peeled and sliced
- 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, roughly chopped (about ½" piece)
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Vitamin C Powerhouse
- 1-½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 mandarin orange, peeled and seeded
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Blue Mango
- 1-½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- ½ cup fresh or frozen mango, cubed
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Orchard Blend
- 1–½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup fresh or frozen peaches, sliced
- ½ cup fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Pineapple Banana
- 1-½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple, cubed
- 1 large banana, peeled and sliced
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Tropical Fruit Cocktail
- 1-½ cup fresh spinach
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- 1-½ cups mixed fruit, frozen (peaches, strawberries, pineapple, mango)
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Mixed Berry
- 1-½ cups fresh spinach
- ½ cup frozen cauliflower florets
- 1-½ cups mixed berries (raspberry, blueberry, blackberry)
- 10–12 ounces milk or juice
Instructions
- Measure ingredients into quart-sized resealable plastic bags, freezer-safe glass jars, or other freezing containers.
- Try to remove as much excess air from the bags as possible. Lay flat in freezer until fruits are firm. Store for up to 3 months in a normal freezer, or up to 6 months in a deep freezer.
- To use, allow packs to thaw for 10–15 minutes for easier blending. Add the juice to the blender jar, followed by the slightly-thawed freezer bag contents. Blend until smooth, adding a little extra juice if needed. Serve immediately or transfer to refrigerator.
