Name: Mixed Berry Smoothie Without Banana
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: General
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsweetened nut milk; 1 cup packed fresh baby spinach; 3 pitted Medjool dates; 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries; Optional add-ins: chia seeds, hemp seeds, protein powder, ground flax, collagen, Greek yogurt, lots of other options

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Nothing beats fresh, juicy berries in the summer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them in the colder months as well—that’s where frozen berries come in! Frozen fruit is inexpensive and packed with just as many nutrients as fresh. Whether they’re strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries, these tiny fruits are bursting with flavor. Let’s make a smoothie!

Table of Contents

What do I need to make a mixed berry smoothie?

You only need a few ingredients, and for those of you who don’t like bananas, you’ll be happy to notice there isn’t a single one in this mixed berry smoothie. Before blending, make sure you have:

Frozen mixed berries. You can find packages of mixed berries in the store or you can make them using your own mixture of frozen strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries! Using frozen berries helps cut down on prep time while also chilling your drink.
Fresh baby spinach. Baby greens are a great way to add nutrients to your smoothie. And with all the sweetness of the berries and dates, you won’t even taste it!
Unsweetened nut milk. You can use almond milk, soy milk, hazelnut milk, or even coconut milk as the base for your mixed berry smoothie.
Medjool dates. Dates are the perfect way to add some natural sweetness to your smoothie—just make sure you remove the pits first!

Wholefully Protip

Since this berry smoothie is naturally sweet, you can add in green ingredients like spinach and kale to boost the nutrition content of your smoothie without affecting the flavor.

Don’t I need ice to make a berry smoothie without banana?

One of the great things about using frozen fruit is that you don’t need ice. You get all the benefits of ice—cooling and thickening your smoothie—without worrying about the ice watering down that delicious berry flavor.

How do I blend up a mixed berry smoothie without banana?

Smoothies are one of the easiest meals you can make. The blender does all the work for you. All you need to do is grab your ingredients and toss them in. It’s best to add ingredients to your blender in this order:

Nut milk
Fresh green baby spinach
Pitted medjool dates
Frozen berries

Wholefully Protip

If you’re using a less powerful blender, you might need to pulse it a few times to help break up the frozen berries and dates. With a powerful blender, you can go right to blending on high.

Is this mixed berry smoothie vegan or paleo-friendly?

Yes! This smoothie is both vegan and paleo-friendly, so it appeals to a wide variety of dietary needs. It’s dairy-free and there are no animal products because it uses nut milk in place of cow’s milk, and dates instead of a sweetener like honey. This mixed berry smoothie is paleo-friendly as well.

Wholefully Protip

If you want to add additional sweetness to your smoothie while keeping it vegan, try adding a bit of maple syrup.

Do you have a blender recommendation for this smoothie?

If you already have a blender at home, chances are it’ll do a good job of mixing up this smoothie. As long as it’s powerful enough to break down the dates and the frozen fruit, you should be good to go. If you’re thinking of investing in a blender, I’d recommend one of the following.

For smaller budgets: Cuisinart hand blender. This immersion blender won’t cost you an arm and a leg, but it has plenty of power despite its small size.
Best blender for most households: Ninja Professional. You can’t beat the Ninja if you’re looking for an all-around good blender. It has plenty of power and you can use it for a variety of blending tasks.
Splurge worthy blender: Vitamix 5200. This is the blender the Wholefully kitchen uses. It’s extremely powerful and well worth the investment. If you’re looking for the best of the best in blenders, nothing beats the Vitamix.

What can I add to make my smoothie more filling?

You’re getting a ton of vitamins and nutrients from this mixed berry smoothie without bananas. If you’re looking to make it more filling or nourishing, here are some add-ins that work great!

Rolled oats. Filled with fiber, this is a great way to bulk up your smoothie so it feels more like a meal and less like a snack.
Almond flour or meal. Vegan friendly, paleo, and gluten-free, almond products help increase the fullness-factor of your mixed berry smoothie with a large dose of plant-based protein and healthy fats.
Matcha powder. Packed with antioxidants, this mildly flavored, finely ground green tea works well with the sweetness of the berries and dates in this smoothie.
Chia seeds. These little seeds swell up to several times their original size when placed in your smoothie, thickening it nicely while also adding a dose of omega-3.
Nut butter. Cashew butter, almond butter, and peanut butter are all great additions to your smoothie if you’re looking for some healthy fats that will help you feel full for longer.

Wholefully Protip

The easiest way to add bonus ingredients to your smoothie recipes is by making smoothie booster packs. You can fill these with your favorite smoothie ingredients, freeze them, and toss them in your smoothie any time you need a quick boost.