Delicious First Acai Smoothie Bowl For Your Infant or Toddler
File this one under foods you like but may not have assumed a child could have at an early age–they can! Assuming your child is not allergic to nuts and/or dairy, you could introduce a smoothie bowl as soon as six or seven months, expanding its complexity and heft as your child ages. Added bonus: by integrating spinach and cottage cheese into the mix, I’ve add more protein, fat, and nutrients without altering the flavor; you can remove them–or add more–at your leisure.
Note: this version makes enough for a child and one adult to have a bowl; add a second acai packet and a total of ½ cup of milk to make enough for a second adult to join.
- 1 scoop cottage cheese (small curd and low sodium, if possible; for an infant under one, use no-sodium)
- 1/3 cup almond milk (any milk will work here)
- Honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1 packet frozen acai fruit
- Spinach leaves
- 1/2 frozen banana
- Peanut butter (natural, unsalted)
- Yogurt
- Small or chopped fruit (e.g., blueberries, banana)
- Chia seeds
- Cereal/granola (for 2 or older)
If you don't already have any ready to go, be sure and freeze a banana in advance of preparing the bowl.
- Grab a large handful of spinach leave and remove their stems. (Clean, too, if not using prewashed greens.)
- Blend the cottage cheese, milk, and honey/maple syrup (if using) first; when melded, add spinach and acai block and blend on high until thick and creamy. You may need to break up the acai into smaller pieces if your blender blades have difficulty breaking it down.
For an infant, allow to sit at room temperature for a few minutes in order to lessen the chill. Pour enough acai into a child-size bowl to fill about ⅓ of it; if using toppings, spread them out in front of your toddler and allow them to choose what he/she wants–but you choose the quantity of each. Start with the smooth/creamy ingredients (i.e., yogurt, peanut butter), then add top with fruit and/or cereal bits; mix well. Steel yourself for a mess.
If your child prefers the taste of other fruit, you can add to or replace the acai base by freezing that fruit and blending it as instructed. (Note: you may need to add more milk to compensate for an increased amount of frozen fruit.)
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
