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Kid-Friendly Smoothies with Vegetables

January 31, 2019 by Lindsay 3 Comments

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These kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables are perfect for snack time. Packed with carrots, spinach or cauliflower, both kids and adults will love these simple, healthy smoothies or popsicles.

Kid-friendly smoothies with vegeteables, carrot smoothie popsicle

Hi friends!

Just popping in to share a few kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables what we’ve been loving around here lately. But before we get there, I want to give you a little back story.

I’ve never been a huge smoothie drinker. I’m not someone who makes a daily green smoothie to start my day. But, a few years ago, I realized that smoothies might be a good way to get some extra veggies into my kids. Since then we’ve tried MANY smoothie recipes and never really found a real winner. Some were complete fails. Some warranted a few sips or spoonfuls and that was it.

So this January, when Squish developed a bit of an obsession with popsicles (ideal timing right…in the dead of winter?) I went back to the drawing board, determined to find a combo that both kids liked so I could start whipping up smoothies and smoothie popsicles at snack time. And you know what I realized the key was? Simplicity.

When I was first making all those smoothies, I was trying to cram so many ingredients into each one…trying to make it the ultimate healthy snack. 3 kinds of vegetables, peanut butter or avocado, yogurt, chia seeds, kefir…basically, you name it, I was throwing it in. FAIL. But suddenly when I scaled back and just used 3 basic ingredients – vanilla yogurt, orange juice and a vegetable- BOOM! Instant success!

Kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables

So here’s your reminder that sometimes with kids, simple is just best. Here are a few simple combos that my kids have been loving lately. I’ve been alternating between serving them as a drink and freezing them into popsicles. Squish has been particularly fond of the carrot combo, which was a total shock to me, but I love that he loves it. You could also serve them as a smoothie bowl with some peanut butter and granola.

Carrot smoothie or carrot popsicle

If you’re serving these smoothies to your kids, let them watch you or help you make them. Show them the ingredients you’re putting in. This is not about hiding veggies. My kids are well aware that they’re eating a carrot popsicle or a spinach smoothie. It’s been a great way to show them that some veggies they think they don’t like…like spinach or cauliflower or roasted carrots…can actually be prepared in a way they enjoy!

Here’s how I make them. Keep in mind that smoothie measurements don’t have to be exact!

Print

Kid-Friendly Smoothies with Vegetables

Kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables

These kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables are perfect for snack time. Packed with carrots, spinach or cauliflower, both kids and adults will love these simple, healthy smoothies or popsicles.

  • Author: Lindsay
Scale

Ingredients

1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup vanilla yogurt
Veggie of choice: 1 cup roasted carrots OR 1 cup steamed cauliflower + 1/4 cup wild blueberries OR 3 handfuls fresh baby spinach
Ice

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a high powered blender until well mixed.
  2. Serve in a glass, freeze into popsicle molds or pour into a bowl and top with peanut butter and granola.

Notes

My kids usually split these. You can drink half and freeze extras in a mason jar, ice cube trays or popsicles.

Feel free to experiment with swapping plain yogurt + sweetener of your choice, half plain/half flavored yogurt or adding extra mix-ins like more veggies, nut butter, hemp or chia seeds, etc.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @theleangreenbean on Instagram

Like I mentioned in the notes, once you find a combo or two your kids loves, you can try moving to half plain/half flavored yogurt, plain yogurt with a little sweetener or adding extra veggies, nut butter, seeds, etc!

These kid-friendly smoothies with vegetables are perfect for snack time. Packed with carrots, spinach or cauliflower, both kids and adults will love these simple, healthy smoothies or popsicles.

Be sure to let me know if you try any of these combos and share any new favs you discover!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Lunch, Snack Tagged With: Carrot, Cauliflower, Spinach, Yogurt

About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

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Comments

  1. Kelli at Hungry Hobby says

    February 1, 2019 at 11:15 PM

    I was just talking to my SIL today about her little man not doing super great with veggies! I gave her some of my smoothie ideas but also sending this to her ASAP.

    Reply
  2. Kristina @ Love & Zest says

    February 2, 2019 at 1:08 AM

    Such a great idea to keep it simple1 My kiddos love smoothies and it’s about the only way to get veggies into the toddler.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top 10 Foods For Sunday Food Prep says:
    February 27, 2019 at 8:50 PM

    […] Some of my son’s favorites include Sweet Potato Bites, My Go-To Energy Balls and Apple Graham Cracker Nachos or a smoothie with veggies. […]

    Reply

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lindsay livingston, Registered Dietitian from Columbus, OH, owner of the lean green bean

Hi, I’m Lindsay! I’m a Registered Dietitian and mom of three from Columbus, Ohio. I use this blog to share simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, and an honest glimpse of motherhood!

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