While some toddlers eat anything, most tend to be stuck on the less-than-healthy options. As parents, we strive to pack our little ones full of healthy foods, but it’s a hard and exhausting job. One of the easiest ways to get the goods into our kids is to blend up a smoothie, and in the heat of the summer, it is always a welcomed treat.

Think about all the colorful fruits and veggies that you can pack into your blender. You can add protein or vitamins, too. By making a smoothie every day, you can stop fighting your toddler on most of the other food choices!

Toddlers love drinking from a straw, and the action supports proper development of the mouth muscles. You can order reusable straws of different colors, shapes, and sizes to keep your toddler smiling.

One thing to note about smoothies, though, is that they make cleaning toddler cups quite a challenge. Skip any type of cup that has ridges and grooves on it, and avoid any with built in straws. The last thing you want is a moldy cup that makes your toddler sick.

The Best Smoothies for Toddlers

Smoothies are always easy to personalize. The following are recipes we have tried and love, but you can swap or add in something to any of them. Bananas can be subbed out for mangos. Berries can be added for color. Don’t get carried away, though! Too much can create less of a smoothie and more of a sludge. The sky is the limit - well, actually, your blender capacity is your limit!

This Hello Bee recipe is packed full of antioxidants with dark, leafy greens! It combines greens with sweet fruits and an organic yogurt.

Ingredients: 

• ¾ cup frozen green beans
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 3 to 4 big leaves bunches of fresh kale, or two plus servings of frozen kale
• 6 to 8 baby carrots
• 1 YoBaby yogurt
• 1 ripe banana

Healthy Little Foodies provides an easy and delicious smoothie recipe that has become a quick favorite in our house. Enjoy this spinach and pear smoothie!

• 2 heaped handfuls of Spinach (around 60g)
• 2 small pears (255g)
• 4 small dates (26g)
• 1/2 tsp ginger puree.
• 1/2 cup water

Tiny Tummy Tales created a smoothie packed full of healthy fats and delicious flavors with this Chocolate Cherry smoothie! (Using dates, not chocolate)

• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
• 1 & 1/2 cups water
• 2–3 dates
• 1/2 avocado
• 1 – 2 T cocoa (to taste)
• 2 cups frozen cherries
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 T almond butter (optional)

My Fussy Eater blogged about this beautiful smoothie, and my kids can’t get enough of it! The Orange Sunshine is worth trying!

• orange
• banana
• orange juice
• plain yogurt
• vanilla extract
• ice

YummyToddlerFood created a cheat sheet of sorts that we have sampled! 

The basic recipe includes:

• 1 cup of milk (almond, cashew, soy, or your choice)
• 1 small banana or mango
• 1/2 cup fruit
• 1/2 cup veggies
• Add ins (optional, pick 1-2)

Flavor combinations:

1. Blueberry Cocoa: Milk / banana / blueberries / spinach / cocoa powder
2. Strawberry Banana: Milk / banana / strawberries / cauliflower / hemp seeds
3. Mango Coconut Sweet Potato: Coconut milk / avocado / mango / sweet potato
4. Honey Peach: Milk / banana / peaches / summer squash / flaxseed
5. Creamsicle: Yogurt / banana / orange / butternut squash
6. Tropical Greens: Milk / banana / kiwi / kale / chia seeds
7. Cocoa Banana: Milk / banana (1 whole) / spinach / cocoa powder / nut butter
8. Tangy Peach: Kefir (instead of milk) / banana / peach / honey / cauliflower
9. Cinnamon Apple: Milk / banana / apple / summer squash / dash cinnamon Strawberry Beet: Milk / avocado / strawberries / beets / maple syrup

Remember to turn any leftovers into popsicles for a healthy dessert or poolside treat!