Parents know and understand the battle to get their children to eat their fruit and veggies. Smoothies offer a fast and easy solution to slip some hidden nutrients into your child’s diet.
Unlike juicing, blending fruits and vegetables into a smoothie retains the whole food, which leaves the fiber intact. Kids get the vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber they need all through a straw. Not to mention, being quick and portable is a plus for a busy family lifestyle.
Knowing what constitutes a healthy smoothie means you can get creative and experiment with flavor combinations without worrying about the nutritional benefit. Here’s what you should keep in mind when incorporating smoothies into your child’s diet:
Include protein, healthy fats and carbs
A common complaint with smoothies is they only fill you up for an hour or two. Adding in protein, healthy fats and carbs make smoothies filling and balanced. Try blending avocado, peanut butter or flax seeds into your smoothie to keep your child full and fueled.
Checking out our menu? Try The Boss, a balance of fruits, leafy greens and healthy fats including apple, banana, peanut butter, spinach, avocado and cucumber.
Sneak in Greens
Does your picky eater not touch anything green? Sneak in some leafy greens like spinach or kale with their favorite fruit to mask the taste. When adding vegetables, it’s important to start small and increase quantity over time. If you overdo it and your kids don’t like the taste, simply blend more fruit to sweeten.
If you’re looking to add some greens, try our green monster, The Dimmer, which sneaks in both kale and spinach masked with a fruity blend of pineapple, mango and banana.
Fresh and Frozen Fruits
Fruit is a great source of vitamins, minerals and heart-healthy antioxidants. Here’s a pro tip: freeze single-serving baggies of fruit to replace ice for extra nutritional value.
Fresh or frozen, fruit is equally as nutritious. Check out our menu for the full lineup of fruity options.
Remember, smoothies aren’t a replacement for whole fruits and vegetables, but they are a convenient way to supplement the gaps in your child’s nutrients.
