5 Healthy, Delicious Kid-Friendly Smoothie Bowls

If you want to improvise and make your own smoothie bowl without a recipe, here are some tips to guide you toward the perfect blended bowl:

- Smoothie bowls are meant to be devoured with a spoon, so be sure to use less liquid than a traditional smoothie.

- Turn to ingredients that add good nutrition and thickening power such as Greek yogurt, frozen or fresh banana, nut butters, and chia seeds.

- For added nutrition, add fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables including strawberries, mango, pineapple, avocado, peaches, blueberries, banana, raspberries, baby spinach, kale, pumpkin puree, or even roasted beets.

- Include a wholesome protein source like nut butter, milk, soymilk, cottage cheese, yogurt, or protein powder.

- Get creative when topping your smoothie bowl. Some of our favorite toppers include whole grain cereal, nuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, coconut chips, crushed graham crackers, and fresh, frozen, or dried fruit.

Liz Weiss, MS, RDN and Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RDN are registered dietitian nutritionists and The Meal Makeover Moms. They host the Cooking with the Moms podcast and write cookbooks and coloring books for families including The Smoothie Bowl Coloring Cookbook, The Family Dinner Coloring Cookbook, and Eat and Color the Alphabet.