Pretty Pink Berry Smoothie

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Making smoothies has always been a regular part of our morning routine, even on crazy hectic school mornings. Seriously, it takes 30 seconds to throw a bunch of ingredients in a blender and press a button. And even on mornings where we are running around late and crazy (ahem, 90 percent of the time), getting a smoothie into my kids’ bellies is still something I still prioritize. I like to know that no matter what happens in their diet that day—school parties, play dates, ice cream trips—they’re starting out with something that includes a fruit and vegetable. Here are are some of my favorite reasons why we love smoothies:

  1. They’re forgiving. Most combinations of fruit, milk or juice, and yogurt taste good enough.

  2. They’re easy to sneak in foods. We routinely add in veggies like baby spinach or frozen cauliflower, and you can also pour in probiotic powder or superfoods like ground flax and chia seeds.

  3. You already have all the ingredients. If you keep a well-stocked freezer of frozen fruits and veggies, all you need to do is add a liquid and some optional yogurt if you’re feeling fancy.

  4. If they don’t drink it all at breakfast, save it for dinner. Place their cup in the fridge and give it a good shake or stir before drinking it again. Discard after 24 hours.

  5. Smoothies work for everyone. Pour one for your child and one for you. Parents need their fruits and veggies too!

This pretty pink berry smoothie has become a family favorite since the boys love showering their sister with all that is PINK. And they like it because it tastes like a strawberry milkshake—yum!

If there is any leftover liquid in the blender, I pour it into ice pop molds to have on another day. And, as a kid, there’s nothing better than having an ice pop for breakfast. Note to self: Use use this as a bribe next time you need it, as in “If everyone can be downstairs and dressed in 5 minutes, we’ll have ice pops for breakfast!” Works like a charm.


PRETTY PINK BERRY SMOOTHIE

makes 3 8-ounce portions

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen or fresh berries (for the pinkest color, use mostly strawberries and raspberries; for a purple hue, add more blueberries and blackberries

1/2 cup frozen cauliflower florets

1 1/2 cups milk of choice

1/2 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt

2 tablespoons honey (optional; if unsure, taste without then add in as needed)

Directions:

Add all ingredients to blender and puree until completely smooth. Serve right away.