Tasty Tuesday: Kid-Friendly Summer Smoothies

Ahh, summer! Ours is spent with long lazy days at the pool, sitting in the shade of the back yard, or day tripping around town. The last thing I want to do is heat up the kitchen, and the kids don’t want to interrupt play time to sit down to a meal. So my compromise is that as long as everyone sits down to dinner together, I don’t really fuss about what they do at breakfast or lunch. 

So, we make a LOT of smoothies. It’s an easy, tasty way to get a few servings of fruits and veggies, that taste so cool and refreshing on hot days, and they’re grab-and-go. Even easier if you use the Frugal & Fruity Freeze-Ahead method-open up a baggie, toss it in the blender, add some liquid, pulse, and voila! 

The basic master recipe is simply 1 1/2 c. fruit/veggies of your choice, 1 c. greens (I recommend baby greens i.e. spinach or kale–they are tender so they blend very easily and have a mild taste), and 1 c. liquid. Add a few tablespoons of oats, chia, flax, or hemp seeds for an extra boost of protein, fiber, and good fats if desired.  Choose your favorite flavors in each category-there are infinite combinations! Here are a few of our family’s favorites:

Piña Colada

1 c. frozen pineapple chunks, 1/2 c. frozen mango chunks or 1/2 a banana, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. coconut milk

The Incredible Hulk

1/2 c. frozen peaches, 1/2 c. diced cucumber, 1/2 an avocado, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. orange juice

Strawberry Melon-ade

1 c. frozen strawberries, 1/2 c. diced melon (honeydew, canteloupe, or watermelon), 1 c. baby greens, 3 Tbsp. each raw honey and fresh lemon juice, 1 c. water

 Orange Pineapple Sunrise

1 c. frozen pineapple, 1/2 c. frozen strawberries, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. orange juice

Mango Mojito

1 c. frozen mango, 1/2 c. diced cucumber, juice of one lime, 1 c. baby greens, 1 c. strong brewed mint tea

Enjoy these as a quick breakfast or lunch, or a refreshing mid-day treat!

Photo Credit: Pamela Bates