Post-practice snack
Dump one frozen pack in the blender and a busy morning solves itself.
On a packed day, you want a real snack in a kid's hand without measuring a thing.
Each pack is already portioned, so it is just add milk, blend, and pour into a bottle.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for chocolate banana smoothie packs assumes makes 4 freezer packs, one smoothie each and about 15 minutes to prep, then freeze.
- 4 bananas, peeled and sliced
- 2 cups frozen strawberries or mixed berries
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 tablespoons peanut butter
- 2 cups spinach (optional, hidden)
- Milk or juice for blending later (about 1 cup per pack)
How to Make It
A clean stopping point makes chocolate banana smoothie packs much easier to run around practice time.
- Set out four freezer bags or jars and label each with the date.
- Into each pack, add one sliced banana, 1/2 cup berries, and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder.
- Add 1 tablespoon peanut butter and a small handful of spinach to each pack if you are hiding greens.
- Seal, press flat, and freeze. To serve, dump one pack in the blender with about 1 cup milk and blend until smooth.
Make It Work for Picky Kids
Smoothies hide a lot, but let a wary kid see you build a simple banana-and-cocoa pack first.
- Leave the spinach out of one pack for a kid who watches what goes in
- Keep the color chocolate-brown so hidden greens do not show
- Let the kid push the blender button so it feels like their drink
Pack or Store
This is a make-ahead system, so a busy week starts with a freezer full of packs.
- Freeze the bags flat so they stack and thaw evenly
- Use the packs within 2 months for the best flavor
- Send a finished smoothie in an insulated bottle and it stays cold to practice
- Serve with: a handful of granola
Parent Tip
Blend with cold milk straight from the fridge so the smoothie stays thick and frosty.
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Green machine
Use mango and extra spinach for a brighter, fruitier hidden-greens pack.
Berry blast
Skip the cocoa and load up on mixed berries for a fruit-forward smoothie.
PB and chocolate
Double the peanut butter and cocoa for a dessert-like treat.
Tropical pack
Use pineapple and coconut milk for a vacation flavor.
Oat boost
Add a spoon of rolled oats to each pack to make it more filling before a game.
Plan The Next Step
See more make-ahead packs
Browse a few more prep-once snacks that save you on the busy mornings.