Incorporating smoothies for babies is a great way to load in some extra nutrient dense foods without a lot of fuss. I love making smoothies a regular go-to snack for my family. If you’ve never made smoothies before, have no fear it is easy once you master the solid/liquid ratio and find flavor combinations that you love. I recommend that you start your smoothie making adventures by making a small amount of baby smoothie so you can play with the flavors and textures as needed without wasting a lot of ingredients.
You can build nutrient-dense smoothies for baby by following these simple steps:
1. Choose a 1/3 cup of a base:
- water + ice if not using frozen fruit
- hibiscus tea (unsweetened, herbal, no caffeine) like this one
- unsweetened, no-additive plant-based milk including almond, oat, hemp, organic soy, pea (find the best ones in Cornucopia Institute’s Report on Plant-based Milks):
- full fat coconut milk
2. Add 2 Tbs fresh or frozen fruit for lots of phytonutrients and yummy flavor
- blueberries
- blackberries
- raspberries
- strawberries
- peaches
3. Add 2 Tbs. nutrient-dense food
- baby kale
- lettuce
- cucumber
- cooked cauliflower
- zucchini
4. Add 2 Tbs. creaminess and some sweetness
- banana
- mango
- whole rolled oats
- cooked quinoa
- scoop of full fat coconut milk
- avocado
5. OPTIONAL: Extra flavor:
- Sprinkle of cinnamon
- Sprig of mint
- Basil leaf
- a bit of fresh ginger grated
- a squeeze of lemon
Some quick tips for introducing baby smoothies:
- Be sure to fully blend ingredients and check that there are no large chunks by mixing blended smoothie with a spoon
- Serve in a bowl or open cup with a spoon to promote oral motor development (use code HealthyMamas for 10% off)
- If using a straw, choose a straw cup combination that supports correct oral motor development like the ezpz straw cup combination. (use code HealthyMamas for 10% off)
- For thinner smoothies that easily fit through a straw, add more liquid
- For thicker smoothies that are served with a spoon, reduce liquid and use frozen ingredients
- Serve developmentally appropriate serving sizes for your baby’s age:
- 6 mos: 1-2 Tbs.
- 9 mos: 1/4 cup – 1/3 cup
- 12 mos: 1/2 cup – 3/4 cup
My Favorite Combinations for Nutrient-Dense Baby Smoothies
As your baby gets more exposure to different flavors and textures, you can begin to put even more nutrient dense foods in your recipes such as nut butter, arugula, ginger and more.
Mango Berry Smoothie:
- hemp milk
- mixed berries
- mango + full fat coconut cream
- cooked cauliflower
Raspberry Cucumber Smoothie:
- full fat coconut milk
- raspberries
- cucumber
- banana