Getting into the routine of back to school means you’ll be dealing with hungry kids at pick up time. Hold them off until supper with an afternoon smoothie packed full of vitamins and nutrients.
A simple smoothie can up your child’s fruit and vegetable intake as well. Yogurt is a known source of energy-giving B12 to get you through homework hour, so add in a dollop of that with a banana for potassium, spinach for iron, and milk for calcium and protein.
Or try one of these kid-tested and approved varieties.
Chocolate-Spinach Smoothie (original recipe at Mom to Mom Nutrition)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fat-free milk
- ½ cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder [I used Hershey’s—regular cocoa powder works just as well]
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- 1 medium banana, peeled
- 1 ½ cups fresh spinach
- Ice to taste
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Puree until smooth. Add a handful or two of ice if you’d like your smoothie extra thick and cold. Pulse until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately.
Simple Strawberry Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 6 frozen strawberries, hulled
- 6 ice cubes
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 banana, peeled and chopped, frozen
- ½ cup plain yogurt
Combine all ingredients in blender and pulse until smooth. Serve immediately.
Nut Butter Banana Smoothie (original recipe at Eating on a Dime)
Ingredients:
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup ice
- 2 cup milk or almond milk (sub in ½ cup yogurt for some of the milk if desired)
- ½ cup nut butter of choice (peanut, almond)
Combine in blender and pulse until smooth.
What do you put in your favorite smoothie?