Kid-Approved Smoothie Recipes BY TMOM TEAM MEMBER ANNA KELLER
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moothies 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. Theyâre 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, letâs 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 worryâyou donât 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! One quick tip when it comes to smoothie making: Youâll see that all these recipes include at least one frozen fruit component. Thatâs because frozen fruit helps you get that perfect, creamy texture youâre going for in a smoothie. We buy some frozen fruitâlike cherriesâat 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 youâve got everything you need equipment-wise, letâs 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 Organicâs 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
⢠About a cup of frozen mango
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 whatâs best for you. I donât 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.)
⢠2 Tablespoons of hemp hearts
CHERRY CHOCOLATE TREAT Is there anything better than cherries and chocolate combined? This smoothie is so delicious and tastes like dessert, but itâs 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 whatâs best for you. I donât 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.) ITâS GREEN, BUT DOESNâT TASTE LIKE IT Yes, thereâs 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
⢠1-2 Handfuls of organic spinach
⢠The milk of your choice (we like dairy-free options like almond milk or coconut milk) 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 whatâs best for you. I donât 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 amazingâand with a protein boost. Plus, the oatmeal will keep you feeling full. INGREDIENTS:
⢠About ž cup of the plain yogurt of your choice ⢠About 2 Tablespoons oats
⢠Frozen berries (blueberries or strawberries, perhaps, or a mixedberry blend) ⢠A splash of filtered water ⢠A drizzle of honey DIRECTIONS:
Add all ingredients to the blender and mix for a delicious, protein-filled smoothie. (Note: Play with the water amount a bit to find whatâs best for you. I donât 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 for families visit TriadMomsonMain.com!
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