These days, I’m focused on meals and snacks that are easy, delicious and budget friendly. This Strawberry Smoothie trio accomplishes that and more… it’s also fun for the kids and takes very little time to make. I’ll take a win wherever I can these days.

This recipe relies on frozen strawberries, making it budget and season-friendly. Don’t like strawberries? You can use any frozen fruit here. Use it to make 3 different snacks for your family:

1. Use some for mini smoothies

2. Use some as a dip for fruit

3. Use the rest as a coating for frozen bananas.

Three snack ideas all from one smoothie! All you need are 5 ingredients, a blender and some fruit.

We found some freeze dried strawberries in the pantry and the kids sprinkled them on with great delight. Crushed graham crackers, shredded coconut, sprinkles, cinnamon - those all work here too. The possibilities are endless, and that’s part of the charm of this snack idea. If you make these, tag me!

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE SNACK
15 frozen strawberries
1 cup Greek yogurt or Skyr
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
Fresh mint (optional)

For frozen banana bites, you’ll need 1-2 bananas, peeled and cut into rounds + 1/4 cup toppings. Dip banana rounds into smoothie, add toppings, place on parchment and freeze.

For fruit dip, you’ll need any fruit (we used 2 sliced apples)

Blend all smoothie ingredients until creamy. Pour half into small cups for mini smoothies. Use 1/4 for dipping bananas and the rest as a dip for fruit.

Note: I’ve seen people do something similar and adding nut butter or seed butter. I’ve tried that with my crew, but they didn’t like the taste.

Once upon a time, I thought that smoothies were too much work for our busy weekday mornings. I’m wiser now. 😎

These days, I make a smoothie almost every morning for my kids and truth be told, often it’s all they want (and need) for breakfast.

My general rule of thumb for smoothies is this: they contain whole fruits, usually a combination of fresh and frozen, they use plain, unsweetened kefir or yogurt (whole milk), they typically have an added kick of vanilla extract and cinnamon, which reduces the need for sweeteners, and they're sweetened with either dates or occasionally honey. For all smoothies, I pop everything into the blender and that's it. Easy peasy. Exactly what busy weekday mornings need!

This Pink Smoothie is an instant smile maker — and really, how can you look at this gorgeous color and not smile? The Pink is courtesy of pink pitaya, or dragon fruit. I buy it in frozen packets so I always have some on hand.

Pink Smoothie:
1 packet of frozen pink pitaya
2 bananas
3 dates
2 cups plain kefir
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon hemp hearts

My Green Smoothie is also a family favorite. My kids are not loving spinach these days, except if I use it in smoothies or muffins. So this smoothie adds that nutritional powerhouse, which makes me happy. I don't sneak veggies with my kids, so while they may complain about spinach in other dishes, they're fully aware that it's included in our Green Smoothie. My hope is that because they enjoy it there, they'll be more open minded to trying it elsewhere. At some point. Parenting requires patience, right?

Green Smoothie:
1 avocado
2 bananas
5 oz chopped frozen spinach
1/2 mango
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups yogurt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey

The third smoothie in constant rotation here is a Cocoa Banana Smoothie. I discovered this combo on a trip to Chicago last year, and when I recreated it at home, it was an instant hit. It tastes luxurious and sweet, but the sweetness comes from dates and banana, with no added sweeteners. My kids realize that it's not hot cocoa, but to them it feels like a breakfast treat!

Cocoa Banana Smoothie:
2 bananas
4 dates, soaked in water to soften
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups plain kefir
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Do your kids love smoothies too? Drop me a line, I'd love to hear what you put in yours!

Strawberry Smoothie Snack - 3 Ways

Favorite Smoothies