The Fix-Everything Smoothie

I’d been holding out on buying another appliance but the summer was just too hot so I bought a blender on a whim and it has paid for itself a bunch of times over! My kids are delighted. Bonus realization – I cannot stomach a regular bowl of oatmeal but know I need the fiber – I throw in the uncooked oats and even a spoonful of chia seeds and voila! We are back in the oatmeal business. Thanks to this post for prompting this renaissance! Unsolicited advice – we also have a cold brew filter/ vessel that I make at night and that has also been a huge money saver because it’s a very serviceable cold coffee that’s just always calmly waiting for me in the fridge throughout the day.

I like to add espresso powder to my banana peanut butter smoothies.

Does anyone have good recs for an unflavored and also a chocolate protein powder that actually tastes good?

My kids every single morning: simple smoothie (banana, frz blueberries, milk) in a bowl, cheerios and PB on top = smoothie bowl (started when I wanted to amp up just Cheerios). Been the same for almost two years!

Hear me out—I throw in silken tofu and/or cottage cheese. They both had creaminess and protein but you really cannot taste them!

Frozen blueberries, frozen cherries, sunbutter, oatmilk. top with granola if you want. the color is a beautiful purple.

Frozen banana, frozen blueberries, scoop of Greek yogurt, dollop of peanut butter, chocolate milk <3

Frozen mango Spinach Greek yogurt Ginger Pineapple juice Splash of kombucha SOOOOO good

My best smoothie tip is spirulina powder! Because a lot of smoothies with spinach end up being more brown than green. The key is a pinch of spirulina and it’ll turn a lovely green colour that is much more appealing to drink!

We are a pb smoo obsessed household. My four year old could drink a gallon a day haha. I recently started making my own kefir and it makes the greatest smoothies, creamy and delicious. And full of probiotics!

I got inspired by the book eat to beat disease, and I came up with a smoothie chock full of healthy goodness (which my loved ones call disgusting). About half a cup of coconut yogurt, a tbsp or so (I eyeball everything) of flax seeds, a scoop of unflavored vegan protein powder, a handful of parsley, a knob of peeled ginger, some blueberries, and water.

Frozen banana, frozen strawberries, strawberry-banana yogurt and orange juice.

Ooh I also got very into ginger smoothies when I was pregnant, nauseous and craving icy cold sweet things. You can add a few chunks of crystallised ginger to basically any smoothie combo (choc ginger is so good!) but my favourite had pineapple, spinach and almond milk with cinnamon and ginger.

My husband makes one he calls a “blueberry pancake smoothie” with banana, blueberries, maple syrup and cinnamon. Tastes like a blueberry pancake! Sometimes he adds peanut butter too.

The comments are like a little smoothie recipe box :) I love adding dates and/or cacao nibs to whatever combo I like at the moment! Adds great cookie-dough vibes.

I have been drinking a variation of this smoothie for over 12 years. It’s my fav! – a cup of so of almond milk – 2 scoops protein powder (I like a plain or vanilla flavor) – spoonful of chia seeds – loooots of spinach – scoop of peanut butter – half a frozen banana – approx. cup frozen blueberries The blueberry + PB flavor really work for me — it reminds me a little of a PB&J. You can’t taste the spinach, and using half a banana means you get the creaminess but not the overwhelming banana flavor.

I’ve been wanting to try making this homemade protein powder: https://plantyou.com/homemade-protein-powder/. This is my sign to make it!

English cucumber! I rough chop it and add it in. You cannot taste it but it adds more veggie. Leave the skin on. My ideal combo is spinach, cucumber, mango, frozen cherries, flax seed meal and orange juice.

Julia Turshen has a great newsletter and once recommended frozen passionfruit chunks for smoothies. Absolute game changer: they add so much flavor and zip!

There are some great recipes here! Any recs for protein powders that don’t contain stevia or monk fruit or lots of fake ingredients? Looking for something that’s not gritty or going to make my smoothie gloppy. Ideally flavorless.

This will not be as nutrient dense as the other smoothie combos offered, but if you have not tried frozen watermelon chunks blended with 2% unsweetened Greek yogurt, you are missing out. Tastes indulgent and fresh and summery at the same time. Highly recommend!

How are we feeling about protein powder these days? That consumer reports piece linking some of it to high lead levels put me off, but then I’ve also read some criticism that the science was not very sound in their analysis. Thoughts?

Throw in a handful of spinach.

Plain cooked oatmeal adds fiber to a smoothie! Bulks it up with no weird taste

Lately I’ve been into prepping all my smoothie ingredients before bed so I can just pop the blender cup on the nutribullet and go, and it’s been so fast and easy! I really like the combination I’ve been using, although the color is also not very appealing (I talked to someone at work who makes really pretty looking smoothies and he says he skips the banana and adds any colorful ingredients at the end, but so far I haven’t had the patience to try that lol). But even if it’s ugly, it tastes great! – 1 frozen banana – 1 cup(ish) frozen strawberries – 1 handful frozen spinach (I put half-finished containers of pre-washed spinach straight in the freezer so they don’t get forgotten and turn to sludge in the fridge. Works great!) – kefir or greek yogurt – scoop of optimum nutrition vanilla ice cream protein powder (makes any smoothie taste like a milkshake) – big spoonful hemp hearts – spoonful of rolled oats (or oat flour if you bought some and don’t know what to do with it like me) – tiny bit of chia or flax seeds* – splash of water, add more if you’re using Greek yogurt and/ or chia/ flax seeds *FYI if I’m prepping the ingredients the night before I wait to add the chia/ flax seeds until the morning so they don’t turn to goo overnight

Frozen avocado is also great for creaminess and thickness. I tend to do simple berry smoothies with almond milk, peanut/almond butter or tahini, and sometimes spinach. It sounds funny, but ‘seasoning’ a smoothie with things like: salt, cinnamon, ginger, lemon/lime or even herbs like mint or basil can really elevate the experience. Having frozen cubes of your liquid of choice is sometimes helpful in making them creamier. Lastly, if you want to get experimental, try using steeped and cooled tea as your liquid of choice.

I have three boys and I’m definitely in my protein smoothie era. #1 Whole milk or cream (or both) Coconut milk Nut butter Banana Vanilla extract Cacao powder Sometimes I add creatine powder for my biggest boy Unflavored vitamin C powder Unflavored magnesium powder #2 Whole milk or cream Coconut milk Frozen strawberries Banana Vanilla extract Vitamin powders above #3 Whole milk or cream Pineapple juice and/or fruit Ice Fresh lime juice

First – love Amy and Yummy Toddler Food! I’ve been making her spinach banana pancakes for – and now WITH – my 2.5 year old twin boys since they were probably early 1, and they still love them and even say “spinach, mmm!” when they help add it to the blender. We make them every Saturday, and they eat the leftovers room temp as a mid-morning snack (we do half the recipe for both of them, it makes a TON of pancakes at least when using AP flour instead of whole wheat, which I do b/c I am not that fancy of a baker to have multiple flours in the pantry). Another shout-out to Amy is that she is one of few influencers who doesn’t have much sponsored content on her IG, and keeps affiliate links to a reasonable amount. And with 2.5 MILLION followers, she totally could be making bank doing both! Finally, my smoothie recipe that my husband and I enjoy – need to try it this summer with the boys: – Banana ideally super ripe – Frozen cherry berry blend, or just cherries in my ideal world – big handful baby spinach – dollar of greek yogurt – milk until it reaches desired consistency If I’m needing the extra cals / using this as more of a meal, I’ll add in a big dollop of PB. And if the banana wasn’t frozen, I’ll add in a few ice cubes.

My go-to smoothie recipe: https://copperoranges.substack.com/p/hyperfixation-smoothie

My special smoothie blend (loosely inspired by Adeena Sussman): frozen banana, frozen spinach, tahini, date syrup/date molasses, scoop of hemp hearts, and milk of choice!

A crowd-pleasing favorite in my home is the Detox smoothie by Catherine McCord from her book, “The Smoothie Project.” Ingredients: water pineapple fuji apple spinach (sometimes I sub with kale) banana I also add hemp seeds and after pouring my kids portions, I add a scoop of pea protein powder to the blender and re-blend for my own cup (my kids don’t like the taste of protein powder). Such a nutritious way to start the day!

I have a smoothie nearly daily! My current version: Frozen mixed berries, 1 small avacado, 2 spoons of powdered peanut butter, and as much baby spinach as I can stuff in the top of the blender. Add water and mix. Not too sweet, but very filling.

Ugh I hit something and my comment posted too early! That’s supposed to say pineapple or peaches too. Mango is key though, for the soft serve like thickness that my kids prefer, and banana to sweeten. I cut bananas into chunks and freeze when they start to get riper than I like. Greek yogurt for protein and creaminess, usually it’s Chobani vanilla. And my little time saver because I don’t think smoothies taste right unless there’s a little citrus zing from OJ, but I don’t like to bother with keeping big jugs of OJ around: I buy a can of frozen orange juice concentrate, and keep it in the fridge. To every smoothie I add a small spoonful of the concentrate, plus water, and it’s the same thing as adding bottled orange juice!

I make my three kids a smoothie most mornings before school. That way I know they’re getting some good nutrition no matter what else they eat (or don’t eat) before they run for the bus. It’s almost always the same: Frozen fruit, orange juice, and Greek yogurt. For the fruit it’s usually mango + strawberry + banana, or mango + blueberry + banana, but sometimes there’s pineapple or pe

Our house go-to is a smoothie bowl with frozen strawberries, frozen pineapples, and frozen mangoes, thinned out with milk just enough to be spoonable. Top with whatever fresh fruit you have on hand and cocoa nibs (and maybe a few sprinkles) for a little bitterness and crunch. We all love it.

I always add a half cup or so of frozen cauliflower rice to my smoothies. It adds bulk, fiber, and creaminess and you cannot taste it! My kids still don’t know my secret ingredient…

I would add red cabbage to my step-daughter’s smoothies when they were younger because, unlike spinach/greens, it keeps the final product “princess colored” lol – they always loved it!

Scoop of ice Costco’s Whey Protein Power – birthday cake Vital Proteins Collagen peptides Fresh or frozen banana Fresh or frozen fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries) Sometimes I throw in handful of spinach, kale or greek yogurt, depending on what is on hand. Enough water to blend to right consistency or once in a while as a treat: Ice, chocolate protein powder, peptides, banana, peanut butter and cold brew. YUM!

Is it just me or does banana make it bitter? I’ve tried the tricks they suggest and it still is so bitter. Any suggestions?

What a fun post!!! My favorite: Banana Almond milk Costco plain Greek yogurt Frozen huckleberries ? The smell when you open the bag is just the best, iykyk) And peanut butter Also very good: Drop the berries and add soaked dates Also, coffee!! Esp wth dates. FRESH, really good strawberries, vanilla ice cream, milk……. ok, this is a milk shake, who cares!!!!

I jumped on the protein coffee bandwagon this summer and have this 2-3 times a week – 1 cup pre-brewed iced coffee, 1/4 cup skim milk, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 banana, 1 heaping tbsp peanut butter, a few ice cubes. If I have greek yogurt i’ll throw some of that in too. Its soooooo yummy and checks off morning protein (hello perimenopause) and caffeine!

We keep a bag in our freezer and all the extra or half eaten or close to expiration fruit, get thrown into this bag. Then, when its smoothie time, we add a bunch of frozen fruit chunks, some frozen carrots, spinach or cauliflower, and whatever yogurt we have. Easy and good!

I have been loving this cinnamon date smoothie from Sohla El-Waylly. Filling and sweet and so tasty. https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026485-cinnamon-date-smoothie?unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.ty_-.QfD1mkTeDNcU&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share

Plain frozen strawberry and apple juice for the kid and something kale or spinach based for me, usually with fresh mint, lemon juice, and mango, grapes, pear or apple. Just no red/blue fruits or berries, it turns into a very unappealing brown sludge… I usually make a big batch and stick portions in the freezer, then put one in the fridge at night. Stirr in the morning and they’re just perfect. We also have oatmeal with protein power on the side.

My favorite add in a smoothie is a 1/2 cup of cooked cannellini beans. Disappears from a flavor perspective while adding 5g of fiber. If you do not typically eat beans I would start slow (1-2 tbsp) to see how you tolerate

Banana-peanut butter-cocoa powder-plant milk was a family go-to for a while, especially after my husband “advertised” it as “candy bar smoothie.”

My family’s go-to smoothie for years has been: 1 cup milk, 1 frozen banana, and 1 Tbsp cocoa powder (the kind you bake with). When bananas start to get a little soft on the counter, we peel them and add them to the large ziploc of bananas in the freezer – they can be used for banana bread/muffins or smoothies as needed.

As a pediatrician I’m compelled to comment that the AAP recommends against protein powder for children and adolescents (they should meet their protein needs through real food in a balanced diet). All of Amy’s recommendations and substitutions (including milk powder) sound great for kids (and adults) though!

My favorite smoothie is frozen mango, Greek yogurt, vanilla yogurt, and orange juice. It tastes like a creamsicle!!

Two of my favorite smoothie ingredients are frozen plain cauliflower rice and pre-packaged (pasteurized) egg whites, for adding creaminess plus fiber & protein. I like to make “healthy” Frappucino-type smoothie with some frozen banana, frozen cauliflower rice, vanilla protein powder, egg white, cinnamon, almond butter, espresso powder, and maybe a date. Great way to combine breakfast + coffee if I’m in a rush!

That but I add a few handfuls of spinach. Another approach to getting them creamy and adding protein without protein powder is popping in an avocado or two.

Another hack is to put the smoothie into a Simple Modern insulated tumbler (I use silicone straws) so if it doesn’t get consumed immediately it won’t get warm and the texture won’t get funky. Those tumblers keep them cold for a long time!

Hear me out – greek yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, PB protein powder, whatever fruit you have lying around. The cottage cheese gives it a nice tangy saltiness that cuts through the sludgey texture, and it ups your protein intake.

This is basically our family’s go to smoothie recipe! We call it “ice milk peanut butter banana”, but it is indeed even better if we have frozen bananas instead of ice + banana. We all love it, and it’s quite hearty.

I add dates to my smoothies for a little sweetness and depth (and fiber!). If they are a little tough and not very soft and squishy, I’ll soak them in hot tap water while I am adding the rest of the ingredients. I always put in a handful of spinach and hemp seeds and a fresh squeeze of lemon for my fruit smoothies. Smoothies are my 9 year old’s primary source of nutrition some days, thank goodness he loves them!

My fave came from a cafe around the corner from my last apartment, which tragically closed. But! I’m pretty sure they made it with the fruits-of-the-forest smoothie packs at costco, a little coconut milk, and chocolate chips. It’s important to add the chocolate chips after most of it is blended, so they are still a little chunky. Soooo good.

I will put almost any leftover fruits and veg in my smoothie, but my favorite is about 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons applesauce, a huge handful fresh spinach, a regular handful frozen kale, topped with frozen blueberries and a splash of lime or lemon juice. Add more water if it gets too thick, and blend for longer than you think. Carrots and cucumbers are also great if I have them. It’s a funky color but tastes great to me.

I’ve been on a pretty good smoothie kick recently! I get frozen bags of mixed fruit (don’t really care what kind, I like to mix it up), add some banana if there’s none in it, scoop of vanilla protein powder, splash of maple syrup, and whatever nondairy milk I have on hand. I like getting the small, single serving milks so I don’t end up wasting a large container accidentally. I found the protein powder keeps me filled longer but the taste is often a bit off, so adding the maple syrup really helps!

Oh I have been using a ton of Amy’s recipes with my 20 month old! We are making our way through her fruit popsicles (“possicles”) right now. My daughter loves em. My go-to smoothie is banana, PB, milk, and a little bit of chia and ground flax. I am intrigued by the addition of the rolled oats, gotta try that! I also love a green smoothie with banana, mango, fresh baby spinach, and milk (and avocado if I have a ripe one on hand).

I love smoothies! My forever favorite smoothie: frozen banana, a cup of almond or whatever milk (or 1/2 c milk, 1/2 c plain or vanilla yogurt, greek or reg), large handful of spinach, 1/4 c or fistful of mint leaves. Tastes like mint ice cream (and you can add mini choc chips or cacao nibs after for the full mint chocolate chip experience!) Oats and bulk and creaminess! Also a handful of steamed frozen cauliflower or steamed frozen sweet potato chunks add veg to breakfast and help to add fiber (which gives some thickness and feeling full-ness) without a lot of change to taste. Powdered PB adds protein with less fat (also tends to not chunk in one place, which I sometimes find happens with frozen stuff + reg pb). I am sensitive to stevia and monk fruit and have found garden of life brand to be a great unsweetened, unflavored plant protein option (mostly flavorless).

The most refreshing smoothie that my pal brought back from Chile: frozen bananas a big knob of raw ginger juice from 2-3 limes bunch of ice bit of water, just to blend It hits sooo well in the summer and the flavor profile weirdly works– tangy, creamy, and zippy.

my 2.5 year old is picky as hell and is basically on a smoothie-only diet. luckily she will eat the kitchen sink in there. last week, i added cooked liver to her batch (with beans, arugula, hemp seeds, beets, nuts, oats, and lots of fruit) and sloooop, right down the hatch she goes. YUM.

Coconut milk, chai tea, mango.

Amy had a lot of great recipes! My non toddler children love them!

Thank you for featuring Amy on COJ! I’ve been following her recipes for years, all of which have been a hit with at least one of my kiddos (total score). Her tips were a lifesaver trying to feed picky toddlers healthy food on a busy schedule. Highly recommend her cookbook as well.

Also, TJ’s frozen blueberries to both color correct and add nutrition.

I second the ton of baby spinach. You cannot taste it, although it is not bad tasting to me. It makes a beautiful color and packs in both nutrients and fiber. It works with any blend.

My local TJs (SoCal) sells these tropical smoothie bags that have banana, pineapple, mango, passion fruit, coconut water or milk and agave. All of my kids love this blend mixed with milk. Super quick and easy!

Love this, and I’ll add- peel bananas before freezing to save yourself the frostbitten finger pain! I keep a big container in the freezer just for nanners now. Life changing.

Chocolate protein powder, peanut butter, banana (frozen), milk. OMG so good!