Smoothie recipes for kids

[AntiSocialDistancer]

I have 2 young kids, one with autism who could do with improving their nutrition (and me as well) so I've bought a smoothie machine. They like the Innocent Smoothies.

Does anyone have a good recipe? Would like to get them hooked on a really nice one so we can agree smoothies are fun and then I can try alternatives and make them together. My child with ASD does not like bananas although I know they're often in smoothies just cannot be a dominant flavour.

Bump

Innocent smoothies are not actually healthy as they are packed with sugar. If you are making them at home then I would suggest combinations which are not too sugary. So don’t base them on fruit juice but something like yoghurt or milk/milk substitute. My favourite is just a banana blended with oat milk (a frozen banana is even better). But not great for someone who does not like bananas, although adding some frozen berries can mask the banana flavour. You can add things like oats to make them more nutritious. They are great for kids who need some extra calories - e.g. if they do lots of sport - probably not so great for kids who are already having too many sugary treats.

Thanks, I'm aware Innocent smoothies arent great, just trying to explain the sort of thing they find tolerable. They dont have many sugary snacks, at least - not as much as me Just at the minute are having a lot of beige dinners etc.

We get the bags of frozen berries, DDs favourites are the berries & cherries mix and the summer berries mix from Tesco.

We don't do measurements so just a handful of berries still frozen and a glug of milk, sometimes with some Greek yoghurt if we have it.

Blitz and add more milk if it's too thick.

Innocent smoothies aren’t ‘not healthy’. Yes, there’s more fruit sugar in them, because the sugar breaks down more when it’s blended, but you’re still getting a portion of fruit in your children!

OP given that you say your children don’t have any other sugary stuff, then I’m sure they’re fine on fruit smoothies. Innocent list their ingredients on their packaging, and on their website. So you could always try copy your dcs’ favourite flavour first, then gradually adjust the ingredients?

I recently started having home made smoothies myself having just got a new blender.

Milk or yogurt as the base rather than juice though juice ok on occasion

Frozen or fresh or even tinned fruit - I'm currently on frozen strawberries and tinned pineapple or peaches

Uber Healthy additions - nuts, seeds, kale, spinach...

What do they like fruit etc wise when it's not in a smoothie but which can go in a smoothie?

Loads of recipes online too

Innocent smoothies are not unhealthy as part of a balanced diet.
Smoothies are generally based on fruit, which is a healthy food, yes it has natural sugars, but that's what makes is delicious.
OP, try your favourite fruit with a blob of plain yoghurt, and then apple juice to make it a good consistency to drink.
Its daft to go straight in with something very different as they'll quite possibly be rejected straight away.
You can always work on reducing the natural sugars once they are used to the new homemade version.

My favourite is frozen yoghurt, frozen cherries, banana & coconut water.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-smoothie-recipes BBC good food has a few recipes.

@IHaveBrilloHair

Innocent smoothies are not unhealthy as part of a balanced diet. Smoothies are generally based on fruit, which is a healthy food, yes it has natural sugars, but that's what makes is delicious. OP, try your favourite fruit with a blob of plain yoghurt, and then apple juice to make it a good consistency to drink. Its daft to go straight in with something very different as they'll quite possibly be rejected straight away. You can always work on reducing the natural sugars once they are used to the new homemade version.

Thank you, this is my hope. Find the lure to get them to enjoy a homemade smoothie and then try and weed out the juice and throw in a a bit of avocado etc.

Also you've answered my question about whether its ok to add yoghurt and juice at the same time! It seems morally wrong somehow (Used to have a teacher with a phobia of curdled breakfast!!!)

It won't curdle, I have a horror of that too!
The riper the fruit, the better for smoothies too, as its softer so easier to blend and no bits.

Brilliant thanks so much!

I also hate bananas and have been loving smoothies lately but yesterday morning waiting for the shopping delivery all I had in fruit wise was a banana and some frozen blueberries so did that with some almond milk and it was delicious didn’t taste of banana but sweetened up the blueberries beautifully

@Hm2020

I also hate bananas and have been loving smoothies lately but yesterday morning waiting for the shopping delivery all I had in fruit wise was a banana and some frozen blueberries so did that with some almond milk and it was delicious didn’t taste of banana but sweetened up the blueberries beautifully

Whats your favourite banana free smoothie?