4 Tips to Make Perfect Smoothies for Your Kids
Kids can get picky when it comes to eating meals. No matter how hard you try, they will sometimes turn their heads aside in protest. If you can find a food that they’ll enjoy that is also nutritious, you’ve hit the jackpot.
Smoothies are an ideal food for kids to consume. They’re tasty, easy for younger children to swallow, and in general are nutritious. Of course, some smoothies aren’t as nutritious, such as if you add a lot of processed sugars or candy pieces. But in general, smoothies are healthier options since they’re typically fruit, vegetable, or water-based rather than, say, macaroni and cheese.
Below are four easy tips for making smoothies for your kids that they’ll drink and enjoy:
1. Taste
Just like adults, children don’t enjoy drinking plain tasting smoothies. Children love sugar and sweet tastes. It’s human nature. Try using natural ingredients to add sweetness to smoothies. Carrots and beets can provide a good source of natural sweetness while providing the health benefits of vegetables. Fruits such as apples and bananas can add even more sweetness. You can find many recipes for smoothies online that are kid-friendly.
2. A Good Blender
Kids love getting involved when preparing smoothies. They tend to especially love turning on the blender and watching the blender shred the contents in it. A good smoothie should not have any chunks in it. Many smoothie recipes include ice cubes or frozen fruits which are very hard. Any chunks of fruit, ice, or vegetables left in smoothies can be a choking hazard for kids. Make sure to use a good blender that will perform this function quickly and with ease. Visit the HowtoHome website to view a variety of blenders to choose from.
3. Appearance
For adults, the color of their smoothies doesn’t usually matter as long as they taste good. But for kids, a brown smoothie can be a big turn off. Make sure you pick the right combination of fruits to give smoothies an appetizing color. Try using brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as strawberries and bananas. Blueberries make smoothies turn purple which is a fun color for many kids. The dark purple color can also hide the green color from vegetables like spinach or kale that you may have included in the smoothie. But sometimes when you’re making a smoothie, the color may appear brownish and there’s not much you can do about it. In these cases, try using a colored cup with a dark-colored straw so they can’t see the color of the smoothie.
4. The Right Portion Cup
For kids, the way the smoothie looks on the outside can either entice or turn away their desire to drink it. Serve the smoothie in a small-sized cup. It’ll be easier for them to hold and lighter in weight (therefore, less likely they’ll drop it on the floor). Make it fun by adding a colorful twisty straw. Use a bright, colorful drink container or their favorite sippy cup.
Use these four easy tips to make perfect smoothies for your kids that they’ll drink and enjoy. Do you have your own tips for making smoothies for kids? Share them in the comments!
Tips provided by Allan Brown