30 Deliciously Healthy Smoothies for Kids (Vegan, Gluten-Free, Keto, and Paleo Options)

Do your children cry at the sight of vegetables? It can be challenging to convince kiddos to eat more healthy foods, especially if they sob at the sight of anything green. This “kid-tested and approved” collection of nutritious and delicious smoothies (vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free options) is a great way to add more nutrients to your family's diet with minimal angst in the kitchen. Well- at least you can try!

Yes - every child’s palate is different, and some children joyously eat their veggies and fruits, asking for more! However, it IS common for children to not be super jazzed about eating healthy foods. If your kiddos happily crunch on greens with no complaints, I’m sending you a massive high five. Please - share your secrets! For the majority of parents who struggle to convince the family to eat more vegetables and fruits (without the massive meltdowns that inevitably ensue), delicious colorful smoothies may be a way to turn tears into cheers!

Sure - we all love the idea of children adoring healthy foods without parents having to “hide” fruits and veggies tricking the sweet little cherubs into eating/drinking something healthy. However, sometimes - we have to get creative in the kitchen, which may mean disguising healthy foods into delicious fun foods. Are the kiddos being bamboozled? Perhaps. But at least they are getting some vital nutrients, and that’s a win! Colorful healthy smoothies are packed full of vitamins and minerals, making sure that your family gets extra nutrition in a creatively scrumptious way.

Tips for Making Kid-Friendly Smoothies

COLOR: To create a successful kid-friendly smoothie, you may want to first try recipes that are vibrant pink or orange or look like a chocolate shake as these types of smoothies may be less alarming than green drinks that appear “healthy.” If your kiddos don’t care about colors of smoothies, then go for the vibrant green ones!

INGREDIENTS: For the most healthy version of smoothies, balance fruits with veggies; otherwise, smoothies become more fruit than vegetable-based, and the smoothies may be high in sugar (even though fruit has natural sugar), and smoothies are the perfect way to sneak in some extra vegetables. With the right combinations, you can include baby kale or baby spinach in almost every smoothie! Adding some protein powder is another great way to create a more balanced smoothie for your family.

TEXTURE: To make sure the smoothie’s texture is kid-friendly, you may want to avoid adding chunky(ish) ingredients like chia seeds, flax seeds, or oatmeal unless your children do not mind a thicker texture. Texture plays an important role in whether smoothies are enjoyed. Using a high-powered blender, such as a Vita-mix works best for smooth blending, but if you don’t have one, blend ingredients in stages to make sure all ingredients are blended smoothly.

MAKE IT FUN: Invite your children to participate in the smoothie creating process. Making smoothies (safely) with the family is a wonderful way for kids to enjoy the process of creating and eating healthy recipes. Several of my nephews LOVE to make smoothies. They happily throw veggies and fruits into the blender, and when fresh kale is available in the yard, cutie pie 4-year-old Gideon eagerly grabs stalks of greens from the garden to add to the smoothie. He likes trying his creations too!

Most of these “30+ Deliciously Healthy Smoothies for Kids” recipes have been created by parents, so we want to give a huge THANK YOU to the awesome moms and dads for sharing their kid-friendly smoothie recipes with us. Parents, you are changing the world - one smoothie at a time.

Convincing your kiddos to eat healthy foods can be challenging, so finding a smoothie that your children enjoy may be a trial and error process. I hope that one or ALL of these smoothies bring(s) more joy to your household. Cheers!