Kid-Approved Smoothie Recipes

By TMoM Team Member Anna Keller

Smoothies are constantly in the rotation at our house. They can be a breakfast on their own, a quick midday snack, or even a secretly healthy but delicious treat. They’re easy to blend quickly and enjoy at home or take on the go. (During quarantine, my 3-year-old daughter and I have loved having front step smoothie days from time to time.)

Before we get into a few recipes, let’s talk equipment.

It definitely does make a difference if you have a good blender for smoothies. It will make the experience much faster, easier, and less frustrating for you. But not to worry – you don’t have to invest in a Vitamix just yet (although we have one and they DO live up to the hype). Another great alternative is the Ninja blender, at a much more affordable price point. We used a Ninja for years before upgrading to a Vitamix, and it worked so well for us and blended many a smoothie!

Another smoothie-accessory we’ve loved at our house are these adorable kids’ smoothie cups. They’re an affordable Amazon purchase and have held up SO well (I’ve been incredibly impressed).

One quick tip when it comes to smoothie making: You’ll see that all these recipes include at least one frozen fruit component. That’s because frozen fruit helps you get that perfect, creamy texture you’re going for in a smoothie. We buy some frozen fruit – like cherries – at Costco, but for frozen bananas we just peel them and pop them into a gallon bag and freeze them that way. (Peeling them before freezing them is key!) Then you can just throw a frozen banana into your smoothie and get to blending!

Okay, now that you’ve got everything you need equipment-wise, let’s move on to recipes! These are four that are always a hit at our house:

Protein Pick-Me-Up

Ingredients:

-the protein power of your choice (we love Ora Organic’s chocolate protein powder)
-the milk of your choice (we like dairy-free options like almond milk or coconut milk)
-1 frozen banana
-1-2 handfuls of organic spinach

Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender and mix for a delicious, protein-filled smoothie. (Note: Play with the milk amount a bit to find what’s best for you. I don’t measure it, but rather splash some into the blender, blend, and add a bit more if I need to. Start small and you can always incorporate more if needed to achieve the perfect consistency.)

 

Cherry Chocolate Treat

 Is there anything better than cherries and chocolate combined? This smoothie is so delicious and tastes like dessert, but it’s full of good-for-you stuff.

Ingredients:

-handful of frozen cherries
-1 Tablespoon or so of cacao nibs
-the milk of your choice (we like dairy-free options like almond milk or coconut milk)
-about half a cup of ice

Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender and mix for a delicious, protein-filled smoothie. (Note: Play with the milk amount a bit to find what’s best for you. I don’t measure it, but rather splash some into the blender, blend, and add a bit more if I need to. Start small and you can always incorporate more if needed to achieve the perfect consistency.)

 

It’s Green But Doesn’t Taste Like It

Yes, there’s spinach in this smoothie, but neither your kids nor you will notice. The hemp hearts help add a bit of protein to this smoothie, too!

Ingredients:
-1 frozen banana
-about a cup of frozen mango
-1-2 handfuls of organic spinach
-the milk of your choice (we like dairy-free options like almond milk or coconut milk)
-2 Tablespoons of hemp hearts

Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender and mix for a delicious, protein-filled smoothie. (Note: Play with the milk amount a bit to find what’s best for you. I don’t measure it, but rather splash some into the blender, blend, and add a bit more if I need to. Start small and you can always incorporate more if needed to achieve the perfect consistency.)

 

Creamy Delight

This recipe incorporates yogurt, making it extra creamy and amazing – and with a protein boost. Plus, the oatmeal will keep you feeling full.

Ingredients:
-about ¾ cup of the plain yogurt of your choice
-about 2 Tablespoons oats
-frozen berries (blueberries or strawberries, perhaps, or a mixed berry blend)
-a splash of filtered water
-a drizzle of honey

Add all ingredients to the blender and mix for a delicious, protein-filled smoothie. (Note: Play with the water amount a bit to find what’s best for you. I don’t measure it, but rather splash some into the blender, blend, and add a bit more if I need to. Start small and you can always incorporate more if needed to achieve the perfect consistency.)

 

For more recipes and fun food ideas, click here. 

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