Healthy Smoothies for Toddlers Who Won’t Eat
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Looking for smoothies for toddlers who won’t eat? Find great recipes here, plus how to encourage your kids to actually want to drink their smoothies!
If you have a picky eater at home, you know how frustrating it can be to get them to eat anything – let alone something that’s good for them. But there’s one food that even the pickiest of eaters can’t resist: smoothies!
Smoothies are a great way to sneak in some extra nutrients and calories into your child’s diet. And the best part is that they’re so easy to make. All you need is a blender or food processor, some basic ingredients, and you’re good to go!
Today we are going to look at some of the best foods to sneak into your todder’s smoothie, some easy smoothie recipes and how to encourage your toddler to drink all of the smoothie.
Benefits of Smoothies for Toddlers (and Other Picky Eaters)
There are plenty of benefits that smoothies offer both you and your toddler or older kiddo.
Smoothies are:
– Packed with nutrients: Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help boost your child’s immune system and overall health.
– A good source of calories: If your toddler is underweight or doesn’t eat enough, a smoothie can be an easy way to get extra calories and nutrients.
– Easy to make: With just a blender or food processor and some basic ingredients, you can whip up a healthy smoothie in minutes.
– Fun to drink: Smoothies are tasty and fun to drink, which makes it easier to get your toddler to drink them.
– Customizable: You can mix and match different fruits and vegetables to create a variety of flavors that your toddler will love.
The Best Foods to Sneak Into Your Toddler’s Smoothie
Now that we’ve looked at some of the benefits of smoothies, let’s take a look at some of the best foods to sneak into your toddler’s smoothie. These are great additions to smoothies for toddlers who won’t eat.
1. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great addition to any smoothie. It’s packed with calcium, protein and probiotics, which can help support your child’s immune system. Plus, it makes the smoothie nice and creamy.
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2. Milk
Milk is another great option for adding some extra calories and nutrients to your toddler’s diet. It’s a good source of protein, calcium and vitamin D. You can do traditional dairy here (use whole milk for a toddler), or you can go with non-dairy milks such as almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk or any other plant-based milk.
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3. Fruit
Fruit is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus, it’s sweet and delicious – perfect for picky eaters! You can use fresh or frozen fruit in your smoothies. And you can mix and match different types of fruit to create a variety of flavors that your toddler will love. Some great options include strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, bananas and peaches. You can use fresh fruit or frozen fruit, both are great for smoothies for young kids.
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4. Vegetables
Vegetables are another great way to sneak some extra nutrients into your toddler’s diet. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Plus, they add a nice boost of flavor to smoothies. Some great options include carrots, raw spinach, baby kale, beets and sweet potato. Leafy greens are amazing, but they take some getting used to for most people. Start with small amounts and work your way up to more vegetables as their taste buds get accustomed to them.
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5. Protein powder
If you want to give your toddler’s smoothie a little protein boost, you can add some protein powder. This is especially helpful if your toddler is a picky eater and doesn’t eat much meat or beans.
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6. Healthy fats
Healthy fats are an important part of a healthy diet. They help absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, as well as support brain development. Some great options include avocado, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nut butters, flaxseed oil and coconut oil.
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You can also add a drink for toddlers as a smoothie base, such as Pediasure drinks, which are already smooth and creamy and perfect for blending smoothies.
Whatever you choose for your smoothies, choose ingredients with very little or no added sugar, and stick with healthy foods.
How to Encourage Your Toddler to Drink All of the Smoothie
There are a few great ideas you can use to encourage your toddler to drink all of the smoothie. (Hint: These tips can work for older kids, too!)
1. Use a straw: Toddlers love straws, so using one will make it more fun for them to drink the smoothie. Plus, they’re more likely to drink it all if they’re sucking on a straw.
2. Make it fun: Adding some fun, colorful ingredients can make the smoothie more appealing to your toddler. Try adding a few slices of strawberries or a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra touch of sweetness and color. Drinking your own smoothies with your kids can help make it fun, too!
3. Give them choices: Letting your toddler choose which fruits and vegetables go into their smoothie can help keep it interesting. If they’re involved in the decision-making process, they’re more likely to be excited about drinking it. (This might not work for some picky eaters because if they see it going in they won’t drink it. Use your judgment.)
4. Make it Into a Smoothie Bowl: My kids won’t drink smoothies much, but make it a thicker texture and put in a bowl with a few mini chocolate chips sprinkled on top?? That will be gone in an instant.
One way you can get your toddler to eat all the smoothie is to make it into a smoothie bowl. All you need to do is thicken up your smoothie by adding less liquid, then top it off with some healthy toppings like granola, chopped nuts (very fine, no whole nuts for toddlers!), berries or even mini chocolate chips.
I also find that adding chia seeds and letting them set for a few minutes will help thicken up a smoothie that is too thin.
Your toddler will love the fun new way to enjoy their favorite smoothies!
5. Pour Smoothies into Popsicle Molds: While my kids do like green smoothie bowls, they go crazy for what we call “smoothie pops”. It’s so simple, too! Whenever we have a bit of smoothie left over, I just pour it into a popsicle mold and freeze.
My kids love to enjoy these as a special treat on hot summer days.
If you want to encourage your toddler to finish their smoothie, try making it into popsicles. Simply pour the smoothie into popsicle molds and freeze until solid. This is a fun, easy way for your toddler to enjoy their favorite smoothie – and it’s also a great way to make sure that every last drop is finished!
6. Make it a routine: If you can make smoothies part of your toddler’s daily or weekly routine, they’ll be much more willing and excited to drink them every time you offer one to them. You could even have a special “smoothie day” where you make a smoothie for breakfast, snack or dessert.
7. Be patient: It might take your toddler a few tries to get used to the taste and texture of smoothies. So don’t give up if they’re not interested at first. Just keep offering it to them and eventually they’ll come around.
So if you’re struggling to get your toddler to finish their smoothie, why not try one of these easy tips? With just a little bit of creativity and effort, you can help your toddler enjoy the nutritious smoothies they need for healthy growth and development.
Now let’s check out some of the best ingredients in smoothies for toddlers who won’t eat.
Healthy Smoothie Recipes that Toddlers Will Love
Now that we’ve gone over a few tips for getting your toddler to drink their smoothie, let’s take a look at some easy recipes for delicious smoothies for toddlers who won’t eat that they’re sure to love. These recipes are packed with nutrients and flavor, and they’re perfect for picky eaters.
1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie: This smoothie is sweet and satisfying, but it’s also full of healthy ingredients like yogurt, bananas and strawberries. To make this smoothie extra creamy, try substituting the milk for some coconut or almond milk.
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2. Peanut Butter Blueberry Smoothie: This sweet and fruity smoothie is a great way to get your toddler to drink more fruit. It’s made with blueberries so it’s purple! It’s fun! The addition of peanut butter or another nut butter gets in some healthy fats and protein. You can also sub sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter in this recipe.
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3. Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie: If your toddler is a fan of sweet fruity flavors like lemonade, they’ll love this refreshing smoothie. It’s made with strawberries, bananas and honey for sweetness, plus some lemon juice for a bright, tangy flavor.
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4. Watermelon Spinach Smoothie: This smoothie has wonderful summer flavor, but with the spinach it is a healthy green smoothie, and the green color might turn off some toddlers. Work your way up to green smoothies and give this one a try!
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5. Nutella Smoothie Bowl: If your toddler isn’t a fan of traditional smoothies, you could try making a smoothie bowl. This smoothie bowl is made with Nutella, frozen banana and avocado for a delicious chocolatey flavor. Top it off with some fresh banana slices and raspberries, and your toddler will love every last bite! (Please do NOT use hazelnuts as large as this picture if serving to a child under 4!!)
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Whether you’re whipping up a smoothie to serve as breakfast or a healthy snack, there are plenty of great recipes that your toddler is sure to love. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a delicious and nutritious smoothie that’s perfect for picky eaters. So next time your toddler refuses to eat their fruits and vegetables, try making them one of these tasty smoothies for toddlers who won’t eat instead.
Conclusion – Smoothies for Toddlers Who Won’t Eat
Making smoothies for your toddler doesn’t have to be a struggle. With these tips and recipes, you can help your toddler enjoy the taste and texture of smoothies – and get all the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. So what are you waiting for? Give these tips and recipes a try today, then go out and make your own creations together with your kids!
