Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
These 15 Smoothies for Toddlers + Kids are an amazing way to get more fruits, vegetables, and nutrients into your kid’s belly! They’re easy, fast, and delicious. Great for breakfast, snacks, or on-the-go lunch!
Smoothies for Kids
Smoothies are a great (and easy) way to get nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables into your kids without them really knowing it!
Spinach, sure! 🌿
Cauliflower, you betcha! ✔
Beets, of course! ❤️
Fruit, obviously! 🍑
The best part is that toddlers and kids think that smoothies are the equivalent of having a milkshake. And I, for one, am never going to tell them any differently! 🙊
In our house, whenever I yell “‘it’s smoothie timmmmmeeee…” the girls come running. They start pulling out frozen fruits and veggies from the freezer, grab their kitchen step stools, and start helping me put together the smoothie of the moment.
For me, making smoothies is my secret weapon for providing a healthy meal for my little ones (that they will actually eat!).
These 15 recipes will give you a ton of inspiration for some delicious and healthy smoothie-time action in your own kitchen.
Smoothies for Babies: if you are looking for smoothie ideas for your baby that is 1 year and under, then check out my favorite post; 5 Easy Smoothies for Baby!
Reasons to Love Smoothies
- wholesome ingredients
- some have hidden-veggies
- delicious
- easy to make – less than 5 minutes
- allergy-friendly
- great for breakfast, lunch or snack
- family-friendly
- great for picky-eaters
- can be customized based on your family’s preferences
- nutrient-packed
How to Make a Smoothie
Making smoothies is very simple and takes roughly 5 minutes from start to finish.
- Add Ingredients: Place all of your ingredients into a blender.
- Blend: Press the smoothie button on your blender or start on low speed and increase to high speed for 2-3 minutes. Do not under blend, you want all of the pieces of fruit and veggies completely smooth.
- Add More: Add more milk or liquid if the smoothie is too thick. I have found that toddlers and kids like a thinner consistency of smoothies since it is easier to drink out of a straw.
- Drink: Pour into a cup with a lid and serve.
Tools Needed
- Blender
- Smoothie Cup (see below)
Best Smoothie Cups
For Toddler:
- Thinkbaby Thinkster – a great option for toddlers that may spill their smoothies. I love that it is leak-proof and easy for small kiddos to drink through. I cut the tips off of both ends of the silicon straw so my little ones could have an easier time sucking their smoothies out. Easy to clean!
For Kids:
- Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups – great glass cups with silicone sleeves and straws with stoppers (helps prevent messes). We just found this brand and honestly use them for smoothies or drinks every day. Comes in 8oz or 12oz sizes, which are perfect for kids of all ages.
- Ello Rise Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle – this is the smoothie cup my kids use all the time. It’s a great size, easy to clean and made of stainless steel. Would highly recommend it!
Elk and Friends Kids & Toddler Cups
Our absolute favorite glass or metal smoothie cups for kids! All products are created from quality, natural materials and independently tested, ensuring each design is 100% safe for your children and the environment.
Fun Smoothie Add-Ins
Smoothies are a great way to get in extra nutrient-dense ingredients into your little ones’ diet without them knowing about it. Feel free to add in a couple (not all) of these ingredients into any smoothie on this list. While these are great boosters, don’t feel like you have to add anything else to the smoothie if you don’t have the time or resources to do so.
- hemp seeds: an easy way to get in extra protein into a smoothie as hemp seeds contain 33% protein by weight. And they are a sustainable source of Omega-3s, amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals. Can add in 1/2-2 teaspoons into any smoothie.
- bee pollen: bee pollen contains over 200 compounds, minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids. I find bee pollen is an easy way to ease symptoms on seasonal allergies for my family. Can add in 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon to any smoothie.
- chia seeds: are loaded with protein, antioxidants, essential omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, calcium, and fiber. Can add in 1/2 – 1 teaspoon into any smoothie.
- coconut oil: a great way to get in some extra fat into your smoothies, which will help keep your kiddos fuller for longer. Can add 1 teaspoon – 1 tablespoon to any smoothie.
- probiotics: helps with promoting balanced and healthy digestion. Add in 1/2 – 1 serving of liquid or powder probiotics.
- fish oil: loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil helps support brain development, learning, and a healthy nervous system. Can add in 1/2 serving of any fruit flavor to a smoothie. This is the only way my kids will take fish oil.
Can toddlers have smoothies?
Yes! Toddlers and kids can definitely have smoothies made with any fresh or frozen ingredients you have. I always start first-time smoothie drinkers off with a sweet pink or blueberry smoothie, but any of the recipes below are fair game. Head over to this post if you are looking for smoothies for kiddos 1 year and younger.
Tips for Making the Best Smoothies
- Blend: you will want to blend your smoothies really well to make sure you get out all of the chunks of fruit or veggies (not many kids love chunks of spinach in their smoothies 🙊). If you have a smoothie setting on your blender use that, or blend starting on low and increasing to high speed for 2-3 minutes.
- Frozen Foods are Your Friend: while it’s great to use fresh produce to make smoothies, don’t let that stop you if you don’t have any on hand. I always have a stash of frozen bananas, fruit and greens in my freezer for smoothies.
- Use Frozen Bananas: I’ve been using frozen bananas instead of ice in my smoothies for the past year and it really makes all the difference. Frozen bananas make the smoothie more creamy and smooth without the extra ice. I take any super brown bananas (the same kind you would use for banana bread) and cut them roughly into 8 pieces. Then I just pop those pieces into a stasher bag and place them in the freezer. When I go to make a smoothie I take 8 pieces and know it’s roughly the size of one banana. It’s a game-changer!
- Yogurt: you can always add in probiotic-rich yogurt to your kiddos smoothies. You can add a couple of tablespoons up to 1/4 cup without really changing the smoothie recipe. If you are using plain Greek yogurt, you may want to add in a little more sweetener as Greek yogurt tends to be tart.
- Reluctant Toddler – DIY Smoothie Bowls: if your toddler or kid is reluctant to smoothies, I have found that if you pour the smoothie into a bowl and let them top it with their favorite toppings (cereal, dried fruit, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, granola, etc) this makes the smoothies suddenly fun and they become more open to the idea.
So, here we go – 15 amazing smoothie recipes for your toddler, kids, and of course you!
Peach Pie Smoothie (2 hidden veggies!)
This delicious peach pie smoothie recipe is a perfect healthy breakfast for toddlers, kids and adults. Quick and easy to make, it has two veggies that no one will even know are there!
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Apple Pie Smoothie – Toddler + Kid Approved
Filled with 7 nutritious ingredients – apple, banana, oats, hemp seeds, spices, almond milk and even cauliflower, this smoothie is a tasty treat for your toddler or kid.
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothie
If you have a picky one at home who refuses to eat their vegetables, this chocolate peanut butter smoothie is a great way to sneak them in! This kid approved smoothie is great for a quick and easy breakfast or snack and is nutrient dense.
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Cold Buster Smoothie for Toddler + Kids
This Cold Buster Smoothie is loaded with vitamin C, natural electrolytes and probiotics that will boost the immune system, aid in digestion as well as provide extra hydration.
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Avocado Green Smoothie for Baby + Toddler
A tasty green smoothie for baby! Loaded with unsaturated fats from the avocado, protein from the yogurt and iron from the spinach, this smoothie can be served as a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack for baby.
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5 Minute Cantaloupe Smoothie (family favorite0
Looking for a healthy smoothie idea that kids and adults love? This easy, healthy cantaloupe smoothie is it. It’s made with 6 simple ingredients—including cauliflower rice for added nutrition. Whipped up in a high-powered blender, this fruit and veggie-packed smoothie is ready in just 5 minutes. Great for 9+ months!
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Kid Friendly Power Packed Smoothie
This Power-Packed Smoothie is loaded with spinach, kale, blueberries, pineapple, beets, probiotics, antioxidants and an enzyme blend that is so good that even the pickiest of eaters will devour it!
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Baby’s First Spinach Smoothie
Baby’s First Spinach Smoothie is packed with spinach, avocado, mango, banana, oats, chia seeds and coconut milk. This nutritious and delicious smoothie is easy to make and perfect for babies (and toddlers) 9 months and up!
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My Toddler’s Favorite Pink Smoothie
This is My Toddler’s Favorite Pink Smoothie and it is filled with strawberries, raspberries, beets, a banana, hemp seeds, kefir and a drizzle of honey. It’s a power-house smoothie loaded with protein, fiber, vitamin C, iron, probiotics, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Perfect for any toddler, especially those picky eaters out there!
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3 Green Smoothie Packs for Toddler + Kids
With flavors like Tropical Green Smoothie, Peanut Butter Spinach Smoothie and Peachy Kale Smoothie – it will be hard to decide which of these smoothies to make first. You can make these smoothies on-the-spot for freeze them in smoothie packs for the ultimate time-saver on a hectic morning.
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Blueberry Pie Smoothie
This Blueberry Pie Smoothie tastes just like your favorite summer dessert but is full of healthy proteins, fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and probiotics for a delicious and nutritious breakfast for the entire family!
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Green Mint Smoothie Recipe
This Green Mint Chocolate Smoothie is filled with healthy whole foods such as a banana, spinach, chia seeds and spiced up with a little mint and a few chocolate chunks. Makes for a perfect afternoon snack for the kids or a beyond yummy on-the-go breakfast!
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5 Minute Strawberry-Banana-Oat Smoothie
This strawberry banana smoothie with oats is a great nourishing smoothie idea for kids, toddlers, teens, and grown-ups, too! Finally, a smoothie that’s a wholesome option for the whole family. Recipe uses frozen fruit, a milk of your choice (regular, almond, hemp, coconut), and is made without any yogurt.
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Cherry + Beet Smoothie
This vibrant 6-ingredient Cherry + Beet Smoothie is a sweet way for the entire family to enjoy a healthy smoothie! Toddler (and mom) approved this smoothie is great served for breakfast, light lunch, a quick afterschool snack or even after a tough workout.
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15 Smoothies for Toddlers + Kids: Avocado Green Smoothie
A tasty green smoothie loaded with avocado, spinach and yogurt! Plus, 14 more smoothies your toddlers and kids will love!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 ripe banana with lots of brown spots, fresh or frozen
- 1/4 avocado
- 1/4 cup spinach, packed
- 1/4 cup whole milk plain yogurt, use plant-based yogurt for a dairy-free option
- 3-4 ice cubes
- 2/3 cup milk, regular, almond, coconut, oat, etc.
- pinch chia seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, scraping down sides if needed, until the smoothie is completely smooth and creamy.
- The smoothie should be on the thinner side so it's easier for baby or toddler to drink from a straw. Pour into a cup and serve
Notes
Age: 9 months and up
Makes: 2, 4-5 oz servings
Storage: Can save in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Ingredients will separate, so shake before serving.
Ripe Banana: using a really ripe banana will help give this smoothie some sweetness. If you find that it isn’t sweet enough for your toddler or kid, you can add in 1-2 tbsp of honey, maple syrup or agave nectar.
Fun Additions: we love adding in a 1/3 cup of frozen pineapple or mango to this smoothie for a fun twist.
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