There are so many times as a parent, that it can be difficult to find time to get all the needed nutrients into our children. With older children who are always on the go with activities, it is often difficult, for me, to find time to sit down and spoon feed the baby. I finally came up with the idea of . . .
baby smoothies, where I blend all the yummy and wholesome ingredients together to make it easy for the baby to drink down. I can’t live without the smoothies. And they are so yummy, even the school age kids will ask for them!
NOTE: The following recipes will ask that all solid ingredients be peeled (if needed) and diced into 1inch squares prior to steaming. Also, milk can be considered formula, breastmilk, soymilk, cow’s milk, almond milk, etc depending on what your own preferences are for your child.
Optional: substitute some or all of milk with plain yogurt for a heavier/lighter mixture.
Feel free to exchange ingredients and create with what you have in the fridge! In addition, each of these smoothie recipes can be frozen to make soothing, nutritious ice pops when your little one isn’t feeling well.
Banana Bliss
Age: 6 months and up Yield: Approximately 2 ¼ cups
You’ll Need:
2 bananas
1 cup formula/breastmilk
Method:
1. Blend together ingredients
2. Enjoy!
Carrot/Apple
Age: 6 months and up Yield: Approximately 2 ¼ cups
You’ll Need:
1 cup diced carrot
1 apple, diced
½ cup formula/breastmilk
Method:
1. Steam and then blend carrot and apple together
2. Stir in formula/breastmilk
Apple/Pear Smoothie
Age: 6 months and up Yield: Approximately 2 ¼ cups
You’ll Need:
1 ripe pear, diced
2 apples, diced
1 cup formula/breastmilk
Method:
1. Steam and then blend pear and apple together
2. Stir in formula/breastmilk
Veggie Blend
Age: 8 months and up Yield: Approximately 3 cups
You’ll Need:
½ cup carrots, diced
½ cup cucumber, diced
½ cup butternut squash
½ cup fresh spinach, tightly packed
1 cup breast milk/formula
Method:
1. steam and blend all veggie ingredients
2. stir in milk
Tropical Fun
Age: 8 months and up Yield: Approximately 3 cups
You’ll Need:
1 mango
1 Peach
1 Banana
1 cup formula/breastmilk
Method:
1. Steam mango and peach
2. Add milk and banana and blend together
3. Enjoy!
Pumpkin Pie
Age: 8 months and up Yield: Approximately 2 cups
You’ll Need:
½ cup pumpkin puree
½ cup soft tofu
1 cup milk/yogurt
Method:
1. Add all ingredients into the blender
2. Blend thoroughly and enjoy
Go Green Smoothie
Age: 10 months and up Yield: Approximately 2 cups
You’ll Need:
½ cup fresh baby spinach, packed tightly
1 ripe pear, diced
½ cup melon
1 cup formula/breastmilk/yogurt
Method:
1. Steam and then blend spinach. pear and melon together
2. Stir in formula/breastmilk
As far as serving the smoothies, The 6 month and up can go straight into a bottle… as long as it is blended thoroughly and a fast flow nipple is used.
The others should either be a snipped nipple (not too big!) or into a sippy cup. My own baby quit using bottles at 3 1/2 months… cold turkey!! After some gentle coaching, she learned to use straws at around 5 months and she transitioned into sippy cups around 6 months.
Do you make your own Baby & Toddler smoothies? We’d love to hear your favorite smoothie combinations too!
© Can Stock Photo Inc. / Inarik
