Healthy Snacks for Kids: Smoothies
By:
Vanessa Greaves
Send a few simple ingredients for a wild ride in your blender and you'll have delicious, nutritious, kid-pleasing smoothies in mere seconds.
Smoothies pull double duty by quenching thirst and satisfying hunger at the same time. Quick and easy to prepare, smoothies can be an ideal between-meal snack.
What We Love About Smoothies
- They taste as bright and pretty as they look.
- They're a great way to sneak more fiber and antioxidants into your kids. (But all they’ll care about is the taste.)
- They don't require a lot of fussy ingredients.
- They give new life to overripe fruit.
- They can be easily tailored to suit individual needs.
- Even kids with dairy allergies can enjoy fabulous fruit or vegetable smoothies.
- They're a great DIY snack for older kids; younger operators will require adult supervision.
Tips for Smoothie Success
- Some smoothie recipes call for ice cubes; try frozen fruit instead.
- Peel and cut up bananas into 1-inch pieces prior to freezing.
- To freeze fresh berries, spread a single layer on a jellyroll pan, freeze the fruit, and store in resealable freezer bags.
- Add yogurt, milk, flax seeds, silken tofu, wheat germ, or protein powder to the blender for an extra hit of nutrition.
- If a smoothie recipe calls for sugar, try it first without the added sweetener. You really might not need it, depending upon the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Take a second to rinse out the blender right after you use it, even if you're planning to wash it later; dried-on fruit makes for slow clean-up.
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