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This quick and easy Blueberry Banana Smoothie is a great option for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. It packs Vitamin C, potassium, healthy fats, and fiber to keep little bellies full and happy.
Blueberry Banana Smoothie
I try to always keep blueberries and bananas in our freezer so we have healthy ingredients for smoothies for kids. This smoothie is sweet from the fruit, and also really refreshing. We often share one for breakfast and though I also serve it at snack time in a reusable pouch.
And while I know there seems to always be the temptation to pack a smoothie with ALL of the fancy ingredients, it’s really possible to use just a few nutritious ones. You don’t need to order special “superfoods” to make this recipe—you can find everything at your regular grocery store to make a blueberry and banana smoothie that’s packed with nutrients.
TIP: Adjust the serving depending on whether this is served as a full breakfast, a drink alongside some toast or a muffin, or for a snack.
Smoothies for Kids
I’ve made a very deliberate effort to serve my second child smoothies from soon after she started solids to make sure that she grew up regularly exposed to them. I hoped that she’d love them and that I’d have them as an easy meal option—and I’m so glad that she loves all smoothies!
TIP: For babies under the ages of one, use a nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk to avoid both cow’s milk and added sugars.
Ingredients in a Blueberry Banana Smoothie
To make this recipe you’ll need:
- Milk (I use plain nondairy milk)
- Fresh or frozen blueberries
- Fresh or frozen banana
- Spinach or baby kale
- Peanut or almond butter (optional but recommended)
- Hemp or flaxseed (optional but recommended)
TIP: If you use one fresh and one frozen fruit, you’ll wind up with a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
How to Make Blueberry Banana Smoothies Step-by-Step
Here’s a look at the quick process. Scroll down to see the full recipe.
- Place all ingredients into the blender, cover, and blend on low to start to combine the ingredients.
- Increase to high and blend for 30-60 seconds to get everything super creamy. The longer you blend, the less you’ll see tiny green flecks!
- Serve!
Can I make this smoothie with yogurt?
If you’d like to add probiotics and additional creaminess to this smoothie, use half milk and half whole milk plain yogurt.
Can I make it without banana?
If you can’t do banana or you’re out, try a few tablespoons of avocado or 1/2 cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead for similar creaminess.
What’s the best milk to use in smoothies?
I prefer to use unsweetened plain nondairy milk such as Ripple Milk, Silk Protein Nut Milk, or soy milk. Those options have protein, calcium, and vitamin D (and make a vegan smoothie if your kiddo can’t do dairy), though you can really use any milk option that you like. (This post has the full scoop on which milks are best for toddlers.)
TIP: I find that dairy milk has a tendency to separate a bit when used in a smoothie that won’t be consumed right away, so use nondairy milk if you plan to make this ahead.
Tips for Making this Smoothie Ahead
You can either put it into a reusable pouch to serve later or into a cup. If serving from a cup, you may want to stir it up before serving. It won’t be as thick and creamy if serving after it’s sat in the fridge since the frozen fruit will thaw a bit, but it will still be good.
TIP: This smoothie is best served on the day it’s made and shouldn’t sit in the fridge for more than 4-6 hours in an airtight container or reusable pouch.
How to Serve Smoothies to Kids
Kids can drink smoothies out of small open cups, a cup fitted with a silicone cup cover and straw like the ones from Silikids, a reusable pouch like a Squeasy Gear, or in a sippy cup. Some babies and toddlers play with the cup or straw, so if yours has a hard time focusing and just wants to play, I highly recommend the Squeasy Gear! (Just remove the green cap before you hand over the smoothie.)
TIP: If you blend this up and it’s too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, you can simply stir in a little water or additional milk to thin it out.
Tips for the Best Blueberry Banana Smoothie
- Nut-free: Use Sunbutter.
- For kids under the ages of one, use nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk.
- To make without banana, try a few tablespoons of avocado or 1/2 cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead of banana.
- To add other veggies, try a few fresh or frozen raw cauliflower florets, baby kale, raw zucchini or raw summer squash in place of the spinach.
- If the smoothie is too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, stir in a little water or milk to thin.
- Use one fresh and one frozen fruit for a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
- Use nondairy milk if you plan to make this ahead for best results as it separates less than cow’s milk.
- You can use half yogurt and half milk to add probiotics.
- This smoothie is best served on the day it’s made, though you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 4-6 hours in an airtight container or reusable pouch.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share if you try it!
Simple Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Description
Frozen banana will create a slightly thicker smoothie, so if you plan to serve this through a straw, I recommend doing either frozen blueberries OR bananas, but not both. You can do all frozen fruit if you plan to serve it through a pouch or in an open cup—or if your child is used to drinking thick smoothies!
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 ripe fresh or frozen sliced banana
- 1 cup lightly packed baby spinach
- 1 cup milk (such as unsweetened nondairy milk)
- 1–2 teaspoons ground flaxseed, chia seed, OR hemp seed
- 1–2 tablespoons peanut, almond, cashew, OR sunflower seed butter
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on low for about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high for 30-60 seconds or until very smooth.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 4 hours. (Shake before serving.)
Notes
Use Sunbutter to make it nut-free.
For babies under the ages of one, use nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk.
Try a few tablespoons of avocado or 1/2 cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead of banana.
If the smoothie is too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, stir in a little water or milk to thin.
Try a few fresh or frozen raw cauliflower florets, baby kale, raw zucchini or raw summer squash in place of the spinach.
Use one fresh and one frozen fruit for a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
Use nondairy milk if you plan to make this ahead for best results.
You can use half yogurt and half milk to add probiotics.
This smoothie is best served on the day it’s made, though you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 4-6 hours in an airtight container or reusable pouch.
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