The Smooth and Creamy Toddler Mango Lassi With Vegetables
You already know what this is: it’s all about orange. Did we sneak some carrots in here because they’re the same color as the mango? Of course. Are yogurt-based mango smoothies refreshing and filling, both for a child and yourself? You betcha. Does this require not more than five minutes of your time to get in front of your kid (and an orange mustache on his/her face)? Natch. It’s why it’s here–and why you’re looking at it. Smooth.
- 1 large Mango (or 2 oranges)
- 1/4 bag Baby Carrots
- 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt (or 1/4th cup cottage cheese)
- Honey (optional)
- Vanilla Extract
- Cardamom powder
- 4 Ice Cubes
- Steam the carrots until soft, roughly 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Peel mango and place fruit and its juices into a blender. Add yogurt and/or cottage cheese, along with a generous drizzle of honey, the vanilla extract, a shake of cardamom powder, and the ice cubes; blend until fully mixed.
- Add in carrots and blend again until smooth. If too thick, add water to thin.
A smoothie this thick and creamy makes for great practice holding and drinking from an open cup–your child may not need a ton of this to feel satiated, anyway. We like to serve with thin planks of carrots and cubes of mango–not only makes for a nice light snack but a teachable moment on shapes and textures.
Most berries should sub in fine for the mango, strawberries especially. You could eliminate the yogurt, too, and make a pressed juice–but get rid of the honey, vanilla, and cardamom; and add in cucumber and a big squeeze of lemon.
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.
