This quick and easy Blueberry Banana Smoothie is a great option for breakfast, snack time, or even dessert. It packs Vitamin C, potassium, healthy fats, and fiber to keep little bellies full and happy.
I try to always keep blueberries and bananas in our freezer so we have easy ingredients for smoothies for kids. This smoothie is sweet from the fruit, and also really refreshing. We often share one for breakfast and though I also serve it at snack time in a reusable pouch.
And while I know there seems to always be the temptation to pack a toddler smoothie with ALL of the fancy ingredients, it’s really possible to use just a few nutritious ones. You don’t need to order special “superfoods” to make this recipe—you can find everything at your regular grocery store to make a blueberry banana smoothie that’s packed with nutrients.
Adjust the serving depending on whether this is served as a full toddler breakfast, a drink alongside some toast or a muffin for kids (like my Spinach Muffins), or for a snack.
(You may also like my Blueberry Banana Bread, Blueberry Ice Cream, Easy Blueberry Sauce, Apple Smoothie, and Blueberry Baked Oatmeal.)
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
To make this blueberry banana smoothie recipe you’ll need to have the following ingredients on hand.
- Milk: I use plain nondairy milk as that’s my preference for smoothies. You can use any that you prefer. (For babies under the ages of one, I use a nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk to avoid a a large volume of dairy milk, which can be difficult for young digestive systems to digest.)
- Fresh or frozen blueberries: This works with any kind of blueberry and frozen wild blueberries are particularly delicious. Note: You’ll want at least one of the fruits to be frozen.
- Fresh or frozen banana: You can use either fresh or frozen very ripe banana (with brown spots) in this recipe. Note: You’ll want at least one of the fruits to be frozen, so either the berries or the banana.
- Spinach or baby kale: Either of these are options that you can add to add a dose of greens.
- Peanut or almond butter: This is optional, but can be added for additional protein and fat.
- Hemp seeds or flaxseed: This is also optional, but can be added for additional beneficial fats and protein.
TIP: If you use one fresh and one frozen fruit, you’ll wind up with a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the quick process involved in making this blueberry banana smoothie. Scroll down to the end of the post to see the full recipe.
- Place all ingredients into the blender, cover, and blend on low to start to combine the ingredients.
- Increase to high and blend for 30-60 seconds to get everything super creamy. The longer you blend, the less you’ll see tiny green flecks.
- Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’d like to add probiotics and additional creaminess to this smoothie, use half milk and half whole milk plain yogurt.
If you can’t do banana or you’re out, try a few tablespoons of avocado or ½ cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead for similar creaminess.
I prefer to use unsweetened plain nondairy milk that is either fortified with soy or pea protein to ensure that it’s filling. Those options have protein, calcium, and vitamin D (and make a vegan smoothie if your kiddo can’t do dairy), though you can really use any milk option that you like.
I find that dairy milk has a tendency to separate a bit when used in a smoothie with blueberries that won’t be consumed right away, so use nondairy milk if you plan to make this ahead.
How to Serve Smoothies to Kids
Kids can drink smoothies out of small open cups, a cup fitted with a silicone cup cover and straw like the ones from Silikids, a reusable pouch like a Squeasy Gear, or in a sippy cup. Some babies and toddlers play with the cup or straw, so if yours has a hard time focusing and just wants to play, I highly recommend the Squeasy Gear! (Just remove the green cap before you hand over the smoothie.)
TIP: If you blend this up and it’s too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, you can simply stir in a little water or additional milk to thin it out.
How to Store
You can either put the leftover blueberry banana smoothie into a reusable pouch to serve later or into a cup. If serving from a cup, you may want to stir it up before serving. It won’t be as thick and creamy if serving after it’s sat in the fridge since the frozen fruit will thaw a bit, but it will still be good.
TIP: This smoothie is best served on the day it’s made and shouldn’t sit in the fridge for more than 4-6 hours in an airtight container or reusable pouch.
Best Tips for Success
- For kids under the ages of one, use nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk. A large volume of dairy milk can be harder for babies to digest.
- To make without banana, try a few tablespoons of avocado or ½ cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead of banana.
- To add other veggies, try a few fresh or frozen raw cauliflower florets, baby kale, raw zucchini or raw summer squash in place of the spinach.
- If the smoothie is too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, stir in a little water or milk to thin.
- Use one fresh and one frozen fruit for a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
- Use nondairy milk if you plan to make this ahead for best results as it separates less than cow’s milk.
- Freeze it into a Blueberry Popsicle or try my Constipation Smoothie.
Related Recipes
Smoothie Recipes
Favorite Yogurt Drinks
Smoothie Recipes
Strawberry Smoothie Recipe with Yogurt
Tableware
Favorite Smoothie Cups
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share if you try it!
Favorite Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 ripe fresh or frozen sliced banana
- 1 cup lightly packed baby spinach
- 1 cup milk (such as unsweetened nondairy milk)
- 1-2 teaspoons ground flaxseed, chia seed, OR hemp seed (optional)
- 1-2 tablespoons peanut, almond, cashew, OR sunflower seed butter (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on low for about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high for 30-60 seconds or until very smooth.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within 4 hours. (Shake before serving.)
Notes
- For babies under the ages of one, use nondairy unsweetened nut or seed milk.
- Try a few tablespoons of avocado or ½ cup of frozen mango or mashed roasted sweet potato instead of banana.
- If the smoothie is too thick for your little one to drink through their sippy cup or straw, stir in a little water or milk to thin.
- Try a few fresh or frozen raw cauliflower florets, baby kale, raw zucchini or raw summer squash in place of the spinach.
- Use one fresh and one frozen fruit for a not-too-thick smoothie that’s easy for kids to drink through a straw.
- You can use half yogurt and half milk to add probiotics.
- This smoothie is best served on the day it’s made, though you can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 4-6 hours in an airtight container or reusable pouch.
Nutrition
This post was first published January 2018.
Very good
This is delicious. I’ve forgotten the spinach and had it added, it’s really good both ways. Also with frozen and fresh bananas. I actually liked it with a fresh banana because it was super easy to drink out of my cup immediately.
Thank you! Made this morning to get rid of some blueberries in the fridge. Just what I needed for my momma breakfast.
Our go-to smoothie recipe! I add a scoop of chocolate protein powder and a little ice. The whole family enjoys it!
This smoothie was delicious!!!!!
Can I make popsicles of this smoothie?
Sure!
This is a new go-to smoothie recipe at our house! I never used to measure ingredients for smoothies. They always turned out ok but never amazing every time. Once I tried this one, I’ll never go back to just eyeballing the amounts. It turns out perfectly every time. And it’s the perfect amount for me and my two year old to share. Thanks so much!
I made this with Trader Joe’s Blueberry Lavender Almond milk and it was an absolute hit for my three-year old!
This was the first smoothie my 17mo tried today and it was a hit! We didn’t have frozen bananas so I mixed everything and added them on top of mashed bananas just in case he may not like it – and he ended up preferring to drink this :] thank you!
Have you heard the study about milk negating the antioxidants of blueberries when eaten or combined together…
Only use Non animal milk folks!
I am not familiar with that study but I do mention that I prefer nondairy milk here regardless.
Is there a reason this can’t be frozen and then served later? It made quite a bit!
That should be fine, just stir it once it’s thawed again
Do you grind the chia seeds as well?
yes!
I made this smoothie as posted and like the flavor. I added 1 tbsp of sucralose to sweeten it up for me. I didn’t use super ripe bananas. Thanks you for a great smoothie with ample protein, chic seeds and pb, and veggies, spinach. Just what I was looking for to try and shed some lbs before summer with a meal replacement.
Hi, can you explain the rubber/silicone cover and straw you seem to have? That looks like a great idea, just not sure what you did. Thank you!
They’re by GoSil Products and fit over most cups. We use them with plastic cups, small glasses, or half-pint mason jars. They’re really helpful and durable (we’ve had ours for about a year with no issues other than the little one pulling the straw out at times!). You can find them here: http://amzn.to/2juwDpu and http://amzn.to/2if0LIW