Smoothies: The Perfect After-School Snack!
When your children come home from a long school day, they’re most likely in need of someone to vent to, a relaxing atmosphere, and a nutritious snack. There are so many snack options marketed towards children these days, most filled with sugar, unpronounceable ingredients, and dyes. While fun to eat, these options don’t do much for kids nutrition-wise. I’ve found a great alternative to these snacks: A smoothie. My child loves them, they taste good and there are so many different varieties. Keep reading to get some smoothie inspiration for your own family!
Shamrock Green Smoothie:
We love this recipe because it’s a healthy take on the fast food favorite! This smoothie has coconut milk, bananas, and dates. It gets its gorgeous green color from fresh spinach and mint. You can top this smoothie with sundae-type toppings if you choose. You can find the recipe here.
Pina-Colada Smoothie:
This smoothie will make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation. This is a fun smoothie to serve during the colder months and it sparks a great game of imagination! The tropical flavor comes from a combination of coconut flakes and fresh pineapple. Find the recipe here.
Strawberry Peach Refresher Smoothie:
There’s a secret ingredient in this smoothie: Bok Choy! If you have a little one that’s starting to get sick, this is the smoothie for them. It gives them so much of their daily vitamins and minerals and a HUGE dose of Vitamin C! Don’t be put off by the Bok Choy. The taste is very mild and totally unnoticeable. The recipe for this sickness-buster is here.
Chocolate Covered Cherry Smoothie:
This is more of a decadent shake than a smoothie. Cherries and cocoa provide a burst of antioxidants. Cherries also contain melatonin, which will help your child sleep better at night! This smoothie serves two and is a great treat! Find the recipe here.
Peach Coconut Dream Smoothie:
If you’re looking for a not-so-sweet treat, this smoothie is for you! The grapes, peaches and coconut water create a mildly sweet, creamy smoothie. This is a great smoothie for an after school sport since coconut water contains a lot of electrolytes! The recipe can be found here.
The great thing about smoothies is that they can be customized to fit your individual tastes and what you have on hand. Feel free to use these recipes as a base and experiment with your favorite healthy ingredients! I’d love to hear what smoothie concoctions you create!
