Kiwi Banana Smoothie
This kiwi banana smoothie is a delicious green smoothie recipe! Made with spinach and almond milk it is both sweet and tart and packed with nutrients. Kids love this refreshing drink, too! Enjoy it for a breakfast on the go or as a healthy snack.
For kids who refuse to eat their fruits and veggies, smoothies are a good option to get them introduced to the flavors and get them the nutrients they are missing out on. Smoothies are, in general, a better option than juice because they include the fiber from the fruits.
If a green smoothie is more terrifying than fun for them, try starting with a mint chocolate smoothie (my pickiest eaters favorite) and then move on to other colors like this pink dragon fruit smoothie.
Table of contents
Ingredients
- kiwi
- banana, frozen or fresh
- spinach
- almond milk
Possible substitutions
You can use any milk you like- soy, almond, coconut, or dairy milk. I generally like to use one of the dairy free options for smoothies.
Pro tip: For a tropical twist, use pineapple juice instead of the milk!
Other add ins
Depending on my mood I like to add in other ingredients to my smoothies. Here are a few of my favorites:
- ¼-½ cup Greek yogurt, any flavor
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 Tablespoons oatmeal
The chia seeds and oatmeal can help the smoothie keep its thickness even as it warms. They are also a nice little nutritional boost.
Other hidden veggie recipes
- Lemon Pesto Spaghetti with Italian Meatballs
- Easy Homemade Baked Italian Meatballs
- Sweet Potato Honey Cornbread Muffins
FAQ
Kiwi can cause milk proteins to break down in dairy when cooked or baked but for smoothie purposes they are just fine.
Nope! Technically the peel is edible although many people dislike the texture of the peel. Leaving the peel on in the smoothie is just added nutrition.
My favorite way to get the skin off is to cut the kiwi in half and use a spoon to separate the fruit from the peel, similar to what you might do with a mango.
Top Tips
If your children dislike seeds in their smoothies, blend the kiwis first before adding the remaining ingredients. This will help the seeds to blend more thoroughly into the mix and be less noticeable.
Once kids become comfortable and excited about smoothies, ask them for their suggestions about fruits to put in the smoothies. You can swap or add ingredients to their favorite recipes for a lower stress situation for them.
Making small changes to their favorites is a classic technique for helping picky eaters adapt to new flavors and textures. Check out this podcast episode for more strategies to help kids try new foods.
Do you follow Jonesin’ For Taste on Facebook? Stop by, say hi, and let me know what kinds of recipes you want to see!
Recipe
Equipment
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups spinach
- 2 medium-sized bananas
- 2 kiwis
- ½ cup almond milk
Instructions
- Add spinach, bananas, kiwi, and milk to a blender and blend until smooth
- Serve immediately.