How to Make Greens Powders Taste Better, According to a Dietitian
Tips and tricks for *actually* enjoying nutrient-rich greens powders.
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Greens powders are all the rage, but their flavor profile leaves something to be desired. No one should ever compromise taste, even if the nutritional profile is excellent. Health and taste are equally important.
The good news is, the earthy or even slightly bitter flavor can be mixed with other foods to enhance the eating experience. Learn how to choose the right green powder, as well as various techniques to help improve the flavor, along with numerous recipe ideas.
Flavor Profile of Greens Powders
Many greens powders are made up of dried and/or ground vegetables. They also may contain fruits, grasses, and additional nutrients like fiber or pre-and probiotics.
"However, due to the ingredients, these powders tend to be earthy, grassy-like, and bitter, which is not a flavor profile we tend to enjoy," explains Kelly Springer, MS, RD, CDN, founder & CEO of Kelly's Choice Nutrition LLC. Understanding the flavor profile can allow you to utilize various flavors to help balance out the taste.
Springer says that bitter foods can be balanced by sweet and fatty flavors. Even saltiness or spice can reduce the taste of bitterness. However, keep in mind when you mix multiple bitter flavors, like greens with chocolate or citrus, you can create an unfavorable taste or smell combination.
Choosing a Greens Powder
Jim White, RDN, ACSM, EX-P, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studiossuggests reading product reviews online to determine if a green powder has a pleasant taste profile and how these customers prefer to consume it. If you're not sure about the flavor, try purchasing a small sample size or the smallest available portion for purchase before committing to a larger purchase. "Taste is subjective and can vary from person to person," he says.
In order to select a high-quality powder, White suggests taking measures to ensure there are no harmful substances in the products and to verify that what is in the bottle is what is on the label. This is why it is important to check for third-party testing. Testing helps to ensure that the ingredient list is honest and free of undesired ingredients or even contaminants.
"Third-party testing means the supplement was tested, scrutinized, and certified by an independent company with no direct involvement in producing the product being tested," he explains.
Several credible third-party organizations that test supplements for safety, quality, and purity include:
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP): USP is an independent, scientific nonprofit organization focused on building trust in the supply of safe, quality medicines and offers verification programs for supplements.
National Sanitation Foundation (NSF): The NSF mark is your assurance that the product has been tested by one of the most respected independent certification organizations in existence today. It is valued by consumers, manufacturers, retailers, and regulatory agencies worldwide.
The Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG): BSCG specializes in banned substance testing, label claim, environmental contaminant testing, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliance.
ConsumerLab.com: Provides independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals identify the best quality health and nutrition products.
In addition to third-party testing, White also recommends looking for these additional criteria to ensure high-quality ingredients like organic ingredients, fiber content, no artificial ingredients like sweeteners, colors, and flavors, and ample amounts of vitamins and minerals.
It should also be noted that some green powders contain adaptogens and other ingredients that can interact with medications and health conditions. If you plan on taking them regularly, speak with a healthcare provider such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD) before doing so.
Related: The 9 Best Greens Powders of 2023, Tested & Reviewed
Mixing Techniques and Enhancements
There are various ways that you can mix your greens powder. If you prefer the earthy taste, Springer suggests simply adding the greens to water and giving it a hearty shake. Other folks may need to add more to their greens to get a more palatable beverage.
In this case, Springer recommends making a smoothie by blending a scoop of the greens powder with various ingredients that can help cut the bitterness and even add antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For example, blending a scoop of greens powder with yogurt, ice, and bananas, or mixing it with orange juice or papaya juice can cut the bitterness. Acidic ingredients such as lemon help minimize that bitter taste, too.
An additional technique Springer suggests is blending the greens powder with strong flavors and taste sensations, like in soups and sauces, as that earthy taste can be masked while still providing key nutrients.
Flavorful Additions and Mix-Ins
There are many ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen that you can use to help boost the flavor of greens powders. Some of these mix-ins include:
Cow's milk or plant-based beverages
Greek yogurt, traditional yogurt, or kefir
Orange, apple, pineapple, cranberry, tart cherry, or pomegranate juice
Honey or maple syrup
Dates
Tropical fruits like papaya, mango, and pineapple
Berries
Nut butter like peanut butter, almond butter, and walnut butter
Cacao powder
You can also use fresh herbs and spices to add a fresh flavor. Mint, cilantro, basil, or parsley can add freshness and be used together with an acidic ingredient like lemon, orange, or lime juice. Spices like cinnamon pair well with cacao powder and maple syrup while cayenne adds a nice kick.
Related: Add These Green Super Powders to Your Meals for a Healthy Boost
Creative Ways to Use Greens Powder
Sylvia Fountaine, chef and author of Feasting at Home provides several combinations of ingredients to make a sweet or savory green powder drink. For a sweet combination, she recommends making a fruit smoothie with honey, maple syrup, dates, banana, berries, and a splash of acid such as orange juice.
You can also make a savory green juice blend using celery, cucumber, and spinach juice and blending with cilantro and lime. Fountaine also recommends mixing greens powders into salad dressings, swirling it into dips like hummus, or making popsicles.
Meanwhile, White recommends mixing your greens powder into hot cereal like oats or quinoa, adding it to your pancake batter, or incorporating it into your scrambled egg mixture for green eggs. It also can be added to overnight oats, chia pudding, sauces, salsa, and spreads like pesto sauce. You can even add a scoop to juice and seltzer to make a mocktail (muddled fruit, optional).
If you prefer a specific recipe, try these delicious green energy bites.
Green Machine Energy Bites
Makes 16 pieces
Ingredients
15 large Medjool dates, pitted
1-1/3 cups raw cashews
1/2 cup oats
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted, or neutral oil such as grapeseed or sunflower oil
3 tsp green powder of your choice
2 tsp ground ginger
Honey, for additional sweetness if preferred
3 tbsp chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
Soak the pitted dates in warm water for about 5 minutes. Drain and peel the dates.
Pulse the oats and cashews in a food processor until they turn into a grainy texture. Add the dates, coconut (or other) oil, green powder, and ginger. Blend until everything is mixed and form a nice sticky dough.
Roll the dough into 16 equal-sized balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, then drizzle over the energy balls.
Place in the fridge for an hour to set, then store in an airtight container in the fridge
Courtesy of Kelly Springer, MS, RD, CDN, founder & CEO of Kelly's Choice Nutrition LLC.
Balancing Flavor and Nutrition
The purpose of greens powders is to add extra veggies or nutrients into your diet. However, if you're trying to add flavor by drowning your greens powder in added sugar and loads of high-calorie ingredients (think green milkshake)—that defeats the entire purpose. The ideas above all can be made using healthy culinary techniques to ensure a balance of flavor and nutrition.
It should also be noted that greens powders are a supplement—and should "supplement" or complement your healthy eating plan. Consuming a greens powder doesn't mean you should skip veggies or fruit for the rest of the day. Using a greens powder should be done together with a varied, balanced diet to ensure your overall health and well-being.
Personalizing Your Greens Powder Experience
As White mentioned, taste is subjective from person to person. Try the ideas and flavors above that appeal to you. Use various flavor combinations until you find the ones that you like best. Consuming greens powder should not be an unpleasant experience—so make sure you enjoy your greens powder with the flavors and in the food that best suits you.
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