Smoothies are a great way to include plenty of nutrients in our kids’ diets. Smoothies are especially great for picky eaters who have a limited number of preferred foods. Adding sweet fruits to their smoothies masks the taste of vegetables. The perfect smoothie for a picky eater!

When I make smoothies for my family, I load them with as much nutrition as possible because the perfect smoothie is not only yummy, but also loaded with nutrients.

Here’s what I do: I always use a liquid, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and some extra ingredients. Let’s go through each of them so I give you a few examples of each. Once you have the theory down, you’ll be able to make a delicious and nutritious smoothie each time.

How to make the perfect smoothie for your kid

1. Liquid

Every respectable smoothie needs a base. No matter how powerful your blender is, it won’t be able to blend the solid ingredients without some added liquid to help the process.

Since this past December, when I was gifted a Vitamix (which I have been wanting for years) by my hero (my husband I mean), I used various inexpensive blenders that did the job well. The last inexpensive blender we had was a Black and Decker and we had no issues with it for many years.

Here are some examples of liquid you can use in your smoothies:

  • Coconut water – this is my favourite liquid when making smoothies as unlike simple water, it has electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, etc. I use coconut water around 90% of the time. A good example is Coconut grape chocolate smoothie.
  • Coconut milk – this is my second favourite liquid I use that has the added benefit of healthy fats. A smoothie with coconut milk is Kiwi banana avocado smoothie.
  • Coconut cream – this is the third option that I use maybe 1% of the time (Mango coconut smoothie), which is also rich in healthy fats
  • Almond milk – I make this by blending water and a few tablespoons of almond butter (my ratio is 1 cup water to 2-3 tablespoons of almond butter).
  • Water – I don’t use water as I prefer to use coconut water instead for its powerhouse of nutrients.
  • Fruit juice – I rarely use fruit juice in my smoothies as I don’t have juice on hand in the house. You can use a store-bought fruit juice or if you have a juicer, you can make one on the spot. Here’s a smoothie made with homemade apple juice: Delicious smoothie that helps your child poop 😉 .
  • Tea – rooibos, green, mint, etc.
  • Yogurt or kefir – my son can’t have dairy so I avoid using yogurt and kefir. If this isn’t a problem in your house, these are great options as a liquid base for smoothies.
  • Other milk options:
    • Dairy milk (cow, goat, etc.)
    • Rice milk
    • Other nut butter milk (hazelnut, macademia, etc.)
    • Hemp milk

2. Vegetables

All the smoothies I make have at least one vegetable. The 2 vegetables I use most often are green leafy vegetables: kale and spinach, fresh or frozen. A yummy example is Kale kiwi avocado smoothie.

Other great options are:

  • Raw or steamed grated carrots
  • Raw or cooked beets
  • If you are feeling really adventurous, add beet greens or dandelion greens.

How to make the perfect smoothie for your kid. Easy steps for making a healthy and delicious smoothie. It’s easier than you think! Find out how.

3. Fruits

Adding fruits make a smoothie palatable to picky eaters. Fruits mask the taste of vegetables and sometimes the color too. For example, yesterday I made a smoothie with mixed berries and spinach. No one could tell it had spinach. The purple-red color of berries masked the green color.

Some fruits I like to use:

Of course, you can use any fruits you like. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

4. Healthy fats

  • Avocado – although it’s technically a fruit, I added it to the healthy fats category as it’s rich in monounsaturated fats. It’s also rich in fiber and folate.
  • Coconut flakes
  • Nut butters – my favourite is almond butter, but you can use your favourite nut butter
  • Nut-free butters such as pumpkin seed butter and coconut butter are great choices for those allergic to nuts
  • Chia seeds
  • Hemp seeds
  • Ground flax seeds
  • Walnuts – I don’t blend them, I add them to the each glass before we eat the smoothie. You can use any nuts you like. They add not only flavour, but also nutrition.

5. Other delicious and nutritious toppings

  • Raw cacao – it not only gives smoothies a decadent taste, but it’s rich in antioxidants and minerals
  • Oats
  • Vanilla
  • Cinnamon
  • Maple syrup or honey
  • Protein powder
  • Bee pollen
  • Green powder
  • Probiotics
  • Ice cubes – if you prefer your smoothie cold, add a few ice cubes. Alternatively, you can use cold liquid or frozen fruit for the same effect.

So there you have it, my comprehensive list of awesome ingredients for making a perfect smoothie that is delicious and full of nutrition.

Choose at least one ingredient from each category, blend until smooth, and enjoy your smoothie! My family and I like to top ours with walnuts for a delicious crunch.

The best thing about smoothies is that you can choose your favourite ingredients and include as much nutrition as possible in each smoothie you make for you and your family. Delicious and nutritious – the best combination!

I would LOVE to know what are YOUR ingredients to make a perfect smoothie. Please share with all of us!

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