Could Reese have discovered a green smoothie that tastes... good?! I put her recipe to the test.
I Made the Green Smoothie Reese Witherspoon Drinks Every Day. Here’s What I Thought.
Updated on Jun. 12, 2023
Breakfast is easily my favorite meal of the day. Pancakes, omelets, hash brown casserolesāyou name it, I love it.
But while all of the above are delicious, they aren’t exactly the picture of healthy eating. In other words, there are rarely any vegetables to be found in my breakfasts. That’s why, when I saw Reese Witherspoon post about her go-to green smoothie on Instagram, I knew I had to give it a try in hopes of health-ifying my a.m. meal.
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Reese says she got the recipe from fellow actress Kerry Washington and has been drinking it every day for breakfast for the last nine (!!) years. Armed with produce galore and Reese’s “secret ingredient” (which happens to be dancing), I fired up my blender.
Here are my honest thoughts on the green smoothie and whether or not you should try it for yourself.
How to Make Reese Witherspoon’s Green Smoothie
Fair warning: You’re going to need a lot of veggies for this one! Here’s how to make your fresh produce last longer so it doesn’t go bad before you whip up your smoothie.
Ingredients
- 2 heads romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1 apple
- 1 pear
- 1 banana
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup coconut water
Prepping the ingredients
The most time-consuming part of this whole recipe is simply preparing all of the ingredients. You have to chop the lettuce, core the apple and pear, peel the banana, and cut the rind off the lemon (leave the seeds and all the pulp though!). Of course, I also thoroughly washed all my produce beforehand and made sure to choose fruit that was already very ripe so it would blend easily.
Making the smoothie
Once everything was washed, chopped and peeled, I piled it all into the blender, starting with the solid food and then pouring in the coconut water on top. I blended it up for about 3 minutes to make sure there were no unwelcome chunks. Reese also noted that sometimes you have to push the veggies on top down while you blend so they don’t get left behind (I only had to do this once).
Here’s what I thought
As someone who really doesn’t drink smoothies very often, I was skeptical that Reese’s drink would both taste good and keep me full. The former was surprisingly trueāyou don’t taste the spinach or lettuce at all and instead get the fresh, fruity flavor of the apple, pear, banana and lemon. I had no problem drinking the whole thing because it was very delicious.
However, while Reese said she doesn’t get hungry after the smoothie for hours, I found myself starving less than an hour later. Next time, I would add protein powder or nut butter (both of which Reese says she sometimes uses) for more staying power. You can also add these other ingredients for a high-protein smoothie.
The other great thing is that her recipe makes enough for two smoothies. You have two “breakfasts” in oneāpour the leftovers into a tumbler and store in the fridge.
The Best Easy Breakfasts for Busy Mornings
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Scrambled Eggs with Cream CheeseMy mother-in-law introduced me to this scrambled eggs with cream cheese recipe, and now it's my kids' favorite breakfast. They really love it. āJacque Hunt, Heyburn, Idaho
Sausage-Egg BurritosMy husband and I try to eat healthy, but finding new meals for breakfast is a challenge. By adding tomatoes, spinach and garlic to traditional eggs and egg whites, we can have a dish that is both light and satisfying.āWendy G. Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Peanut Butter OatmealMy son and I eat this peanut butter oatmeal recipe every day for breakfast. It's a hearty, healthy way to jump start our morning. ā Elisabeth Reitenbach, Terryville, Connecticut
Greek Veggie OmeletThis is a family favorite in my house. It's very quick and satisfying and not to mention, yummy! āSharon Mannix, Windsor, New York
Denver Scramble TostadaMy tostadas feature the ingredients of a classic Denver omelet: ham, cheddar and green pepper. I also make a zesty Mexican version with chorizo and pepper jack and a Reuben with corned beef and Swiss. āJoi Sinclair, Atchison, Kansas
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Biscuits and Sausage GravyTreat yourself to a classic southern breakfast with our easy recipe for biscuits and sausage gravy.
Calico Scrambled EggsWhen you're short on time and scrambling to get a meal on the table, this recipe is just what you need. There's a short ingredient list, cooking is kept to a minimum. and the green pepper and tomato makes it colorful. āTaste of Home Test Kitchen
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Hot Breakfast Ideas FAQs
What quick breakfast recipes are good for a hot weekday breakfast?
Scrambled eggs, oatmeal, breakfast burritos and sandwiches are excellent hot options for warm morning meals. Choose recipes that use pantry staples and focus on one-pan dishes (like breakfast-on-the-go recipes made in a muffin tin) for faster cleanup. A quick tip: To add flavor and texture to oatmeal or breakfast bowls without much extra effort, toast nuts or seeds in advance so theyāre ready to sprinkle onto breakfast when youāre ready to eat.
What are some healthy hot breakfasts?
Heart-healthy breakfasts include whole grains, high-fiber vegetables, legumes and lean protein while minimizing processed or sugary ingredients. Think veggie-loaded omelets, baked oatmeal without added sugars and savory breakfast quinoa bowls. These dishes are easy to customize and are packed with protein and fiber to help you feel full until lunch.
How can I make easy hot breakfast meals ahead of time?
You have options when it comes to make-ahead breakfast ideas, including freezer-friendly breakfast burritos, egg muffins and pancakes that can be reheated from frozen in a toaster or microwave. You can also prep ingredients ahead for busy mornings, storing chopped veggies, shredded cheese or cooked grains in airtight containers in the fridge.
