If your toddler is anything like mine, they are constantly on the move, into everything, and are already rebelling against authority. Before I became a dad, I swore my kids would not be fussy about the food they ate; I would introduce them to foods early and then they would eat everything. Fast forward to today and I will admit to begging my oldest to just eat a little bit of a new food.
How is it they can be so cute and stubborn at the same time?
Getting creative with food for toddlers doesn’t have to break the bank. Sometimes it just needs to come in a different form, like a smoothie or shake. I read about making smoothies for children in a magazine a year or so ago. They are easy to prepare, tasty, and are good for your toddler on the go (when are they not “on the go”?). I’ve experimented with a number of options and thought I’d share my toddlers’ favorites.
Banana & Strawberry
Banana goes very well with strawberries. For this milkshake, you’ll need 250 grams of strawberries, 2 ripe bananas, and half a liter of whole milk. Crush and blend both fruits to form a puree, then add the milk. Add ice and the mix to a blender to bring it all together. For a special treat on a warm summer afternoon, you can substitute a scoop of ice cream for the ice.
Pineapple
This is one of the tastiest smoothies for kids of all ages. To make this smoothie you’ll need a cup of fresh pineapple (substitute canned if you can’t get fresh), ¼ cup of frozen pineapple and orange juice concentrate (or just orange juice if you can’t find the mix), ½ cup of vanilla yoghurt, ¼ cup of water, and a couple of ice cubes. Add to a blender and mix until frothy. I will sometimes add in a tablespoon or two of honey depending on the sweetness of the pineapple.
Raspberry & Orange
Another tasty combination my toddlers love and so simple to make. Take a cup or frozen raspberries, a cup of orange juice (freshly squeezed or with pulp), ½ a cup of plain greek yoghurt, and blend it all together. Once it’s blended taste and adjust the sweetness with some honey or agave syrup.
Banana and oat smoothie
I will admit, this is based on a recipe from Martha Stewart. But it is a great morning option when no one wants to sit still. For this you’ll need a ¼ cup of rolled oats, ½ cup of plain greek yoghurt, a ripe banana, ½ cup of whole milk, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and honey to taste. Combine it all in a blender and serve.
Apple
It’s like apple pie in a glass! To make this, you’ll need 1 large apple (peeled, cored, and chopped into chunks), ½ cup of milk, 1/3 cup of plain or vanilla yoghurt, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and honey or agave syrup to taste. Blend together with a bit of ice to make a delicious afternoon snack. Throw in a small handful of almonds or almond powder for a bit of added protein.
Berries & Spinach
Sounds horrible, right? This is an energy packed smoothie that my toddlers just love. I will warn you: dress them in something you don’t care about staining! You’re going to need 2 large handfuls of baby spinach, 2 cups of frozen mixed berries (look for something combining fruits like: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, and blueberries), 1 cup of plain greek yoghurt, 1 cup of almond or coconut milk, and honey to taste. Blend together and serve with wet wipes handy! It’s a great way to get your toddlers to eat spinach. I like to use this recipe when we’re heading out to the park for the day. It’s a great pick-me-up for my toddlers.
There are plenty of other combinations but these six are my “go to” smoothies. I’m going to be trying out some more vegetable dense smoothies in the coming months, so I’ll hopefully have an update to share later.
What are you favorite smoothies for your toddlers? If you have any tips, I’d be interested in trying them out!