Green smoothies have long been marketed as a kind of wellness cure-all. While we’re not exactly calling any blended beverage a miracle drink, starting the day with fruit and vegetables is not a bad idea.
Reese Witherspoon went viral online after sharing the green smoothie recipe she said she has been drinking nearly every morning for 10 years. But according to Witherspoon, she can thank Kerry Washington for introducing her to the now-famous blend in the first place.
“The first person who told me about this recipe was Kerry Washington,” Witherspoon explained on Instagram. “I sat next to her at an awards show and didn’t know her very well at the time, but I was like, ‘Your skin is so beautiful; what do you do?’” Washington’s answer was surprisingly simple: she drinks a green smoothie every single day.
That endorsement alone was enough to convince Witherspoon to give it a try, and years later, it has apparently remained a staple in her morning routine. The smoothie itself comes from wellness expert and renowned nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, whose celebrity clientele also includes names like Channing Tatum and Drew Barrymore.
What exactly is in this celebrity-approved green drink?
The recipe is packed with leafy greens and fiber-rich fruits, think ingredients like spinach, romaine lettuce, celery, apple, pear, banana, lemon juice, and coconut water. While it may sound very vegetable-heavy at first glance, the fruit helps balance everything out, creating a smoothie that tastes far fresher and sweeter than its bright green color might suggest.
What’s the deal with fiber?
Fiber has become one of the biggest nutrition buzzwords of the past few years, and for good reason. Most people aren’t getting enough of it, despite the fact that it plays an important role in digestion, satiety, blood sugar balance, and overall gut health. This smoothie happens to deliver a substantial amount thanks to its mix of whole fruits and vegetables, making it a more satisfying option than many sugary breakfast smoothies or juices. Unlike juices, which strip away much of the fiber content during processing, blended smoothies retain the pulp that helps keep you fuller longer. It’s one reason green smoothies have remained popular for decades.
Another reason this recipe has stuck around? It’s surprisingly approachable. There are no expensive powders, hard-to-find supplements, or complicated wellness ingredients involved. The smoothie relies mostly on produce you can find at any grocery store, which makes it feel less like an unattainable celebrity drink and more like something you could realistically make before work.
Of course, no smoothie is going to magically transform your life overnight. But if drinking a cold, refreshing blend of fruit and greens helps you eat more plants throughout the day, that’s a win in our book. And based on the sheer number of celebrities who swear by this particular recipe, it’s clearly doing something right.
Whether you’re trying to add more fiber to your routine, sneak in extra greens, or simply feel a little more put together in the mornings, this might be one wellness trend actually worth blending up.
Kimberly Snyder’s Glowing Green Smoothie
What You Need:
2 cups filtered water
1 head Romaine lettuce
1 cup spinach
3 celery stalks
1 apple, cored
1 pear, cored
1 banana
Juice of ½ lemon
1 cup ice
What You Do:
- Into a high-speed blender, add all ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy.
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Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahmclaughlin) is the New Products Editor at VegNews and is always on the search for the newest innovations in plant-based food.
