Healthy smoothie recipe provides fun summertime activity for kids, moms

When outdoor afternoon activities for children begin to dwindle due to rising summertime temperatures, teachers at Casa de Niños preschool turn to a tried, true and tasty indoor activity.

They prepare a cool, crazy smoothie recipe with preschool children, which moms at home can also do with their children.

Crazy Berry Banana Smoothies are "just healthy, quick and fun," said Sabrina Seale, Casa de Niños owner. The smoothies make a great breakfast item or an after-school snack, she said.

"We serve it as a specialty drink every once in awhile around here, and it's something the children really appreciate because they don't get it all the time. It's a really neat project for the children to do as an afternoon project in the class. It's just fun, and the teachers enjoy it too."

Seale also prepares the recipe at home with her family. "We use different kinds of glasses at home, to make it fun and unique. We even go to the Dollar Store and get some of those funky, tall glasses that are different colors and different shapes, and we chill those.

"And then, adding a crazy straw is another fun thing that we add as well as an umbrella to jazz it up a little ... the kids really like that. Sometimes we put a little whip cream on top to make it a little extra special."

Nuts could also be added on top, as long as the children do not have any nut allergies and are at least four to five years old so they would not easily choke on the nuts, she said.

Having the fruits pre-cut and pre-frozen in bags makes it easier for children to help prepare the smoothies.
Different fruits also can be substituted, she said. If a child doesn't like blueberries, for example, simply substitute raspberries, kiwi or perhaps pineapple.

"During our melon season, we throw some honeydew or some cantaloupe in there. I look for sale items, and I look for things that are in season. That really cuts down on the price. This is a really healthy snack that utilizes super foods.

"It's low in fat and just packed with heart-healthy whole foods, things that don't have all of the processed, added ingredients." Plus, there's no added sugar, she said.

But there are almost a whole day's worth of nutrients in one single glass, she said. "You're getting your vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, your potassium from your bananas, your calcium from your milk."

To give the drink a true smoothie consistency rather than that of an Icee, milk (or yogurt) is a necessary ingredient, she said. But some children may be lactose intolerant, so soy milk can be substituted, she said.

"We've even tried vanilla soy milk as a substitute, which kind of gives it a little extra sweetness. And that vanilla soy milk is very, very good, and it's also a good source of calcium.

Because no ice is used in the recipe, it's important to pre-freeze the fruit, she said. "That will keep it cold rather than it being just at room temperature, especially with summer coming."

Casa de Niños is located at 585 E. 16th St., and the number is 782-7770.

Crazy Berry Banana Smoothie
Makes 4 to 6 1 /2 cup servings

4 bananas
10 to 20 whole strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup of milk (or 1 cup of yogurt)

Peel the bananas, slice into one-inch chunks, place them in a sealable plastic bag and set aside. Meanwhile, wash and stem the strawberries and blueberries, place them in a bag as well, and seal the bag. Freeze bags of fruit for at least three hours.

Place the frozen fruits in a blender, or a bowl for the food processor. Add the milk and puree, or process, until the mixture is smooth and thick (about 30 seconds). Pour into a chilled glass and serve immediately.

Tips: Freeze several bags of berries and bananas in advance, so you can make smoothies whenever you want. Also, instead of discarding overripe bananas, chop them up, freeze them and use them later. Although some children do not like to eat overripe bananas, they are good when used in smoothies, Seale said.