A Smoothie So Good, Your Kids Will Think It’s a Milkshake
In all fairness, this smoothie indeed does taste like a milkshake, except that it’s packed with fibre, antioxidants and protein…and all the good stuff. I don’t know if it’s the cocoa that makes it so good or the fact that it’s so easy and the kids don’t even realize they are getting a tonne of nutrition.
Either way, I am one happy mom this went down well.
Smoothies, in my home, are generally for me or my husband. It’s us that experiment with various ingredients, look up cool new recipes on social media, or sometimes epically fail at making “healthy” ones. However, in the past year, I noticed how little my son, in particular, was willing to take in fruits and vegetables. Naturally, I didn’t panic (alright maybe I did a little), but I thought, alright there must be a better way than always just offering it, hoping he will take to it, and then freaking out that he only had apples and zero berries.
I was over it.
So we started doing “milkshakes” as a breakfast accompaniment on occasion. Works like a fricking charm!
We have been doing it for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to keep in creative and fun. While we have our “go-tos”, I tried a variation of this chocolate smoothie a few times, but this one was the best. It’s simple and the addition of the berries provides it that antioxidant that I really wanted to provide.
Normally, I have done this with protein powder, I have a vegan mocha protein powder, as well as a vanilla one, both are amazing in this recipe. In efforts to make it kid-friendly, I am leaving that out here (I don’t give the kids protein powder) and, instead, adding the nut butter and the hemp seeds; this gives it a boost in protein without it being too much for kids.
Nutrition talk aside, they love to push the button and say they made it.
Well, I suppose that is the really fun part.
Kid-friendly, gluten-friendly, vegan (as you can use whatever yogurt or milk you prefer), and a slam-dunk!
Maybe one day I will tell them they aren’t milkshakes…maybe.
Ingredients For An Epic Chocolate Banana Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup frozen bluberries
1 tbsp nut butter of choice (I used almond butter)
1 tsp organic unsweetened cocoa powder
Sprinkle of chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds (optional)
2 tbsp plain yogurt (or coconut yogurt)
2-3 dates (remove pits)
Cashew or almond or oat milk to fill
Directions
Blend all at once.
Taste test, if you feel it’s too tart, feel free to add a dollop of honey and blend again.
Pour in a fun glass, add a straw and enjoy!
