Breakfast · american
Banana Berry Smoothie
A blender smoothie with frozen fruit is genuinely faster than making oatmeal, and kids drink it without negotiating -- which on a school morning is the whole win. Using frozen banana instead of fresh also means no ripe banana timing problem; peel and freeze bananas in a zip bag whenever they start to brown.
How to make it
Add milk and yogurt to blender first.
Add frozen banana and berries on top.
Blend on high for 30 to 60 seconds until smooth.
Pour into four cups and serve.
Trader Joe's frozen mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) are a Costco-level value per ounce and make a smoothie that is purple enough that kids find it visually exciting. Whole milk or oat milk both work. Chobani plain whole-milk greek yogurt adds thickness and about 10g of protein per serving without changing the flavor.
To boost protein further, add a scoop of vanilla protein powder before blending -- it mostly disappears. A handful of baby spinach blends invisible behind the berries if you want to sneak in greens. For a dairy-free version, swap yogurt for a frozen banana chunk and use oat milk or coconut milk; it is thinner but still works.
Need tonight's dinner handled?
Playful Parents knows your family — what's worked before, how much energy everyone has — and suggests one specific meal. Not a list. One.
Try Playful Parents free →Times are approximate. Adjust to your stove and your kids.