Smoothie Recipes for Kids

Well, apparently here in Wisconsin, we’ve gone from winter to summer with only a couple days of spring in between.  Hot days like these just beg for delicious frozen desserts.  When my kids were little, I would cool them down with a delicious frozen smoothie.  (My college-age daughter still loves them!)

The cool thing about smoothies is that you can pretty much put anything in a blender and add ice, and it turns cold and delicious.  I’ve provided a few recipes to start you off, but feel free to add or substitute ingredients.  You can also sneak things like tofu, wheat germ or flax seed into your smoothies, and your kids will never know. 

 

(Shhhh…don’t tell your kids, but every one of these recipes is filled with nutritious ingredients!)

Dreamsicle Smoothie (This tastes like the classic orange/ vanilla ice cream pops we used to love as kids.  But these smoothies are much healthier.) 

·         1 cup coconut water (look for the kind with no sugar)

·         1 cup nonfat Greek vanilla yogurt

·         1 cup mango chunks (you can use canned peaches in a pinch)

·          3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

·         2 cups of ice cubes

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Makes 2 servings. 

Strawberry/ Banana Smoothie  (My daughter’s favorite)

·         1 banana, cut into chunks

·         ½ cup strawberries, hulled

·         2/3 cups milk (we like to use vanilla soy milk)

·         1 6 oz. container of yogurt (any flavor)

Put all ingredients into a blender.  Add ice cubes to fill the blender.  Blend until smooth.  Makes 2 servings.

Peanut Putter/ Banana Smoothie  (Use soy butter for children who have nut allergies.)

·         ½ cup milk

·         1 banana, cut into chunks

·         ¼ cup creamy peanut butter

·         2 tablespoons honey

·         1 cup ice cubes

Blend all ingredients.  Makes 2 servings.  

Green Smoothie (Fruits and veggies, all in one!  And don’t worry, your kids won’t even taste the spinach.) 

·         1 banana, cut into chunks

·         1 cup pineapple chunks (substitute apples, mangos, oranges for variety)

·         ½ cup milk

·         1 6 oz. container of vanilla yogurt

·         A big handful of fresh spinach leaves

·         1 cup ice cubes

Blend all ingredients.  Makes 2 servings.    *Tip:  Try naming this something kid-cool, like the “Green Monster” smoothie. 

Watermelon Smoothie  (The ultimate summer fruit, in a glass!) 

·         4 cups seeded watermelon

·         1 tablespoon lime juice

·         1 tablespoon honey

·         1 cup ice cubes

Blend until smooth.  Makes 2 servings.   (This is more like a slushie drink.  Add some milk or vanilla yogurt if you want to make it creamy.)

Tropical Smoothie  (A vacation for your mouth!) 

·         1/4 cup coconut water (sugar free)

·         ¼ cup pomegranate juice

·         ½ cup cubed mango

·         1 banana, sliced in chunks

·         1 6 oz. container vanilla or lemon yogurt

·         1 cup ice cubes

Blend until smooth.  Makes 2 servings.