There is nothing worse than your greens powder having a bitter taste and you forcefully having to like it, just because ‘it’s healthy’.
While the reputation of super greens powder is known massively within the health and wellbeing community, I certainly cannot be the only one that can find it hard at times to stomach these alone.
So how do you make greens powder taste better? Well, there is light at the end of the tunnel however, and the good news is, we all no longer need to settle with chugging down our green powder with just water, thankfully.
Top 5 best tasting greens drinks
Within this blog post I will be giving you plenty of greens powder recipes that taste great, and you will not have to fight down any gag reflexes. Most of these are pretty quick for time, meaning it will not lead to hours of prep, but rather a quick 1,2,3, eat/drink kind of recipe-which is good news all-round if you ask me.
For those of you that are late to the party, powdered green supplements are packed with some of the best nutrients your body could ever want. It is worth mentioning that they have immense scientific benefits that have been noted to improve human health and overall quality of life for the long term. A few examples of the particular benefits include improved immunity, digestion and energy levels. The Best Greens Powder guide is a great source of information, if you are looking to explore more of the health benefits, as well as the best greens supplements to source for purchase. I would always advise you to start with the basics first, and then use this resource too for your own personal journey taking super green powders.
However, if you are a super greens pro, you can move swiftly on, with some of the best ways to make greens powder taste better; there are even quick recipes for the win too!
What is a super greens powder?
A super greens powder is a dietary supplement created to make sure you get your nutrients in, if you may not eat enough vegetables. They can massively aid you in sourcing vital antioxidants and other health benefits that come from your veggies, such as a better immune system. [1]
Do you eat them? No. You drink them instead, by adding them to water. While naturally they have a grass like after taste, there are alternative options which come readily sweetened with natural sugar substitutes. Perhaps you may be wondering what ingredients are actually incorporated within the supplements? Below is an outline of commonly found nutrients within a green superfood powder.
General ingredient lists found within super greens supplements
- Greens such as baby spinach, parsley, dill, barley grass and kale.
- Seaweed such as spirulina, chlorella and kelp.
- Alternative vegetables such as broccoli, beets, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms etc.
- Antioxidant-high fruits such as raspberries, acai berries, cranberries and blueberries.
- Antioxidant extracts such as green tea extract or ginkgo biloba.
- Probiotics sources.
- Digestive enzymes sourced from plants such as amylase, cellulase, lipase etc.
- Natural sugar alternatives such as stevia leaf extract.
- Fibre dense sources such as rice bran or apple fibre.
8 Great ways to make greens powder taste better
Here’s my favourite ways to make your green powders taste better than the gritty, grassy texture we know and hate!
1. Capsules are convenient
First things first, while super greens powder supplements are often nearly always associated by their powdered form, did you know that you could actually get them as a capsule too? Yes! The biggest benefit from taking super greens in capsule form, is the fact you won’t need to taste what is in them for a start. You can get the full dosage in a matter of seconds, and will not need to suffer with the super greens taste that lingers for a while afterwards…
Swallow-able capsules provide huge benefits, the biggest of which is undeniably the convenience. Health conscious individuals will probably revolve their daily dietary intake with a couple of capsule supplements on the side, such as Omega fatty acids, multi-vitamins etc. So, rather than working your way through super greens powders in your favourite smoothie recipe/shake, you can cut the schedule even further and just down it in one. As long as you are getting your essential nutritional content from your food and meal shakes, capsule supplementing your super greens powder will definitely not hurt at all.
2. Mix your greens powder in the blender to make a smoothie
Smoothie recipes are loved by all, and the best thing about them is, there is no specific way to create them. It all depends on you, your preferences, your favourite fresh fruits, and perhaps some alternative non-dairy milks such as almond milk or coconut milk, to make it low calorie and appropriate for your calorie maintenance/deficit?
Smoothies are hugely convenient, and believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to alternate tastes, to suit the occasion. If you are looking to add your super greens powder as a pudding, adding some peanut butter, milk, protein and chocolate would certainly be a decadent but macronutrient worthy indulgence. You can maximise your nutritional content within your smoothies in whichever way you wish. Any extra nutrition that you are looking for is just one blended mix away!
3. Mix green powders in with your favourite juice
The simplest way to make your super greens powder taste better, is by just mixing it with some juice. Orange juice, apple juice, fresh fruit juices-you name it and it will work. You just need to dissolve it, and mix it in as you would with water. However, make sure you avoid the artificially sweetened/added sugar juices, because they would totally contradict your active strive towards good health, really wouldn’t it? Anything other than naturally sourced fresh juices have zero nutritional benefits, and their nutritional properties equate to nada. Period.
Note: Just for your assurance, it is completely safe, and you do not need to worry about any chemical reactions between the mixture of super greens and juice.
4. Add super greens powder into your soups
Soups can easily emulsify the strong taste of the super greens powders, especially when you are selecting a heart-warming thick stew, which is rich enough to hide the taste. However, you do not always need to stick to the same repetitious soups. You could always go for a soup that kicks with spices and flavour too-with an Asian inspired twist perhaps? Oriental soups involve mixtures of chilli and ginger, meaning you can wave goodbye to any mulling and lingering greens powder bitterness on your palette, no questions asked. You just need to be adventurous enough to get into the kitchen.
5. Bake or cook with your greens powder
With the amount of experimental suggestions I have listed up above, it should come as no surprise that cooking with your green powders is very much a possibility. While many people assume that super green powders need to be drunk in some shape or another, you could totally be the proficient chef that adds a few servings within your homemade guacamole, or hummus dips that you snack on to, during the day.
Hey, if you are more hands-on in the kitchen, a pesto sauce could totally work too, where multiple bulbs of garlic will for sure overpower the strong flavour that is so profound within healthy super greens.
Most people limit themselves when it comes to super greens powder supplements. All you need to do is be willing to think outside the box and adapt as you go along, so that you and even kids can enjoy drinking or eating this healthy essential nutrient source.
6. Energy balls are ‘in’
Energy balls or energy bites as the cool kids call them these days, are another health craze that you could explore and munch on throughout the day. Reasons why many like them come down to the fact that you can hit all your essential macronutrients most of the time, and also, they are dense and super satisfying too, meaning you can make it to lunch or dinner no problem. If you are curious as to how to make these with your super greens, check the recipe listed down below.
7. Add it to your tea break
Tea has always been a delicious and a healthy companion that we slurp away at, throughout the day. And that is why it can become your holy grail and solution right there. If you are struggling to add your super greens powder to your daily routine, adding it to your daily green tea, chamomile, black tea, or any other flavours would work.
Tea also has a window where you can add milk too, meaning you have a huge spectrum of different tastes to explore when it comes to teas. Tea is naturally fragrant and can over power any of the super greens powder which you dissolve inside. If you also happen to be on a calorie restricted diet, tea could certainly supplement your greens powder, without that extra nutrition that comes with smoothies for example.
8. Add it to your Greek yogurt
If you like having a dense and satiating snack, to hold you through the day, some yogurt is always a good idea and a source of some healthy fats. While there are many alternative flavours that you can try, if you choose to go with a plain yogurt, you can add your greens powders with some vanilla extract or honey, to take away the loud earthy natural flavour that the supplement brings. Don’t shy away from sprinkling some chia seeds or some nut butter spreads too-that could certainly jazz the nutrient profile up a little too!
Quick recipes you make on the go
Because who ever said no to more greens powder recipes ideas?
Green Energy Balls
This is an entirely vegan and gluten-free recipe that you can indulge in and get your super greens fix in there, for your on-the-go lifestyle.
Ingredients
Serves: 16 balls
- 200g of Medjool dates
- 200g of raw cashews
- 50g of gluten free oats
- 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil
- 2 Teaspoons of fine Matcha powder
- 1 Teaspoon of super greens supplement
- 2 Teaspoons of ground ginger
- 3 Tablespoons of chocolate chips
Instructions
- Firstly, soak the dates for approximately 5 minutes within warm water.
- Blend the oats and cashew nuts in a blender until they are a fine ‘sandy texture’.
- Put the dates, Matcha, coconut oil, super greens and ginger within the blender too and mix all the mixture together until you get a dough consistency.
- Roll out your mixture into balls that are equal sizes and place them on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle melted chocolate on the balls and then place in the fridge for an hour to set.
Juicy Heaven
This recipe will make regular green juices seem boring and outdated. You will not find something as fresh or as crisp as this, nor so easily prepped.
Ingredients
Serves: 1
- ½ an avocado pitted
- Handful of torn lettuce leaves
- Diced and chopped apple
- 1 Teaspoon of spirulina
- 250 ml of Orange juice to suit your preferences
- One scoop of green powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in a blender and mix until you have a smooth consistency.
Dark Chocolate Heaven
Chocolate can very much still be healthy if you take it in balanced quantities, of course. Using a higher percentage of dark chocolate will give you all the healthy fats- with less of a higher sugar content, and best of all? This recipe is screaming with antioxidants which will give your immune system a nice little boost!
Ingredients
Serves: 1
- 1 Small banana
- Two teaspoons of powdered cacao
- Handful of baby spinach
- 250 ml milk of your own choice
- A scoop of green powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in a blender and mix until you have a smooth consistency.
References
- McCulloch, M., 2018. Super Greens: Are Greens Powders Healthy? [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/super-greens#greens-powders [Accessed 23 August 2021].
