We all want to pack our growing kids full of vitamins and nutrients. Often, we have the best of intentions when whipping up healthy snacks, only for it to fall short when our kids refuse to even try it. That’s why our green smoothie recipe is kid-friendly in taste but nutritionally dense — so you can feel good about what’s going into the cup, and your kids will actually drink it.
If your family prefers a thicker consistency, swap the fresh bananas for frozen ones. Just make sure the frozen bananas are sliced before freezing so you don’t break or damage your blender. This smoothie works well all year round — great first thing in the morning, or alongside lunch on busy days to help keep energy levels up through the afternoon.
The hemp seeds in this recipe are a great source of plant protein, and the dates bring fibre and vitamins such as iron, potassium and B vitamins. Add in the spinach and fruit, and your kids will be well on their way to their five-a-day with just one smoothie.
Green Smoothie for Growing Kids
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 2 pitted dates
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup of frozen raspberries
- 1/3 cup of frozen pineapple
- 2 cups of spinach
- A pinch of spirulina powder
- 2 tsp of hemp seeds
Method
- Pop the bananas, dates, water and frozen fruit in a blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Toss in your spinach and a pinch of spirulina powder.
- Blend and watch your smoothie turn green!
- Serve it up, topped with hemp seeds, and get ready to embrace some green smoothie moustaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different fruit in this smoothie?
Yes — the recipe is flexible. Frozen mango, mixed berries or even frozen banana chunks all work well if raspberries or pineapple aren’t to hand. Just keep a similar amount of frozen fruit so the texture stays smooth and thick.
Is this smoothie dairy-free?
As written, yes — it’s made with water rather than milk or yoghurt. If you’d like it creamier, a splash of milk or a dairy-free alternative works fine.
Can I make it ahead and freeze it?
It’s best served fresh, as smoothies can separate once frozen and thawed. If you want to prep ahead, freeze the fruit, spinach and dates together in a bag so you can blend on demand with just water added.
My child doesn’t like the taste of spinach — will they notice?
The banana, dates and frozen fruit are there to do the heavy lifting on flavour, so the spinach mostly adds colour and nutrients rather than a strong taste. Starting with a smaller amount of spinach and building up gradually can help if you’re introducing it for the first time.
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- 6 Super Quick NutriBullet Smoothie Recipes to Whip Up
- 10 Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas That Aren’t Porridge
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Have your say! How do you get vitamins into your kids’ diets? Will you try this green smoothie? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
