Smoothies

[Anonymous]

I have been on the lookout to add different breakfast options for my kids. Just tried chia pudding, I liked I it but kids were meh. They do love smoothies and I am starting to look into meal prepping.

How do you prep your smoothies? One technique is making smoothies on Sunday, freezing smoothies in jars and taking them out the night before. What do you add to really fill kids up? What are your favorite recipes? What are your fav health additives for a 42 year old mother? Looking for guidance from others who have done this. Yes I realize I am like 10 years behind the trend.

[Anonymous]

I would not make them ahead of time. They separate and get gross. I make mine with Greek yogurt, frozen fruit and spinach.

[Anonymous]

I would put all the ingredients in the blender the night before, pop in the fridge overnight, then blend in the morning after adding ice.

[Anonymous]

Smoothies are a must have in our house. My husband and one kid are serious athletes and they love the hydration and nutrient boost in the mornings. I love that it means my kids get at least a couple of servings of good fruits and vegetables each day. And I never feel like eating first thing, so it’s a great first breakfast for me after a workout (midmorning I’ll have second breakfast).

I do not prep ahead because I keep everything on one shelf in the fridge and find it super easy to just grab and stick in the blender. (My refrigerator is directly across from the counter, so I leave the door open and it takes literally 45 seconds to prep.)

I have tried various things over the years, including silken tofu, protein powder, and Greek yogurt to add protein. So okay with that.

Right now I am on a mango kick:

Ice
Orange juice
Coconut milk (the type in the carton, not the can)
A ton of baby spinach
Chia seeds
Frozen mango
Banana
Enough water to make it blend

The Vitamix is key. Blending takes another 45 seconds. Pour and go. (We use those big protein shake shaker bottles - they don’t spill if clicked shut, fit in a bike bottle holder, and they are great for on the go.)

Sometimes I will swap blueberries/raspberries/blackberries blend for the mango, or add blueberries to the mango…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not make them ahead of time. They separate and get gross. I make mine with Greek yogurt, frozen fruit and spinach.

Even if you freeze?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smoothies are a must have in our house. My husband and one kid are serious athletes and they love the hydration and nutrient boost in the mornings. I love that it means my kids get at least a couple of servings of good fruits and vegetables each day. And I never feel like eating first thing, so it’s a great first breakfast for me after a workout (midmorning I’ll have second breakfast).

I do not prep ahead because I keep everything on one shelf in the fridge and find it super easy to just grab and stick in the blender. (My refrigerator is directly across from the counter, so I leave the door open and it takes literally 45 seconds to prep.)

I have tried various things over the years, including silken tofu, protein powder, and Greek yogurt to add protein. So okay with that.

Right now I am on a mango kick:

Ice
Orange juice
Coconut milk (the type in the carton, not the can)
A ton of baby spinach
Chia seeds
Frozen mango
Banana
Enough water to make it blend

The Vitamix is key. Blending takes another 45 seconds. Pour and go. (We use those big protein shake shaker bottles - they don’t spill if clicked shut, fit in a bike bottle holder, and they are great for on the go.)

Sometimes I will swap blueberries/raspberries/blackberries blend for the mango, or add blueberries to the mango…

I am seeing an enormous price range on Vitamix blenders. What model do you recommend? Or is there a cheaper alternative that blends in 60 seconds instead of 45?

[Anonymous]

We make acai bowls with the frozen packs of acai. Blend with some frozen fruit and juice, top with granola, fresh fruit, shredded coconut. Can add yogurt and protein powder as well. Can prep things the night before and blend in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Pp again. I have whatever model Vitamix they sell at Costco. I think sometimes you can get them for $100 off.

Also, for those of you worried about the investment - it is really worth it. My parents have an original model Vitamix (I think it’s about 25 years old) and it works just as well as my new one.

[Anonymous]

We often add rolled oats, ground flax seed and/or chia seeds to our kids’ smoothies to help fill them up. We don’t make smoothies ahead of time but I imagine they might get kind of gross—especially the flax and chia which turn into a gel after a while.

[Anonymous]

I have reusable bags like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Freezer-Reusable-Vegetable-Sandwich-8-46x7-28/dp/B088BDZS1H/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=33B9V4ANNU4WC&keywords=reusable%2Bfreezer%2Bbags%2Bquart%2Bsize&qid=1684529612&sprefix=reusable%2Bfreezer%2Bbags%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzN1dONUpBQk5COU1EJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzI2MzI3MjFCQ05HNkZLSFNCWiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTM4MzY2MjdMWTJKTkg2S1dIRiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

Each weekend, I buy some frozen fruit, and a clamshell of baby spinach and put it in the freezer. Then when everything is frozen, I divide it up into 5 bags, each with enough for 3 smoothies. In the morning, I grab a bag, dump it in my blender with a bunch of Greek yogurt, and hit blend. Maybe if I put the yogurt in the bag before I froze, or if I made 5 smoothies and froze them in the bag, it would work equally well, but I haven't tried either of those things so I don't know.

[Anonymous]

You dont need to spend so much on a Vitamix. I have the Ninja for less than half the price and it chops all the fruit, ice, etc you could ever want.