Easy Fruit Smoothie Recipes: 7 Great Ways to Get "5 A Day"

We all know the importance of eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, with our busy lifestyles it's not always so easy. That's where smoothies come in. Delicious and nutritious smoothies can be a mom's secret weapon to ensuring your kids get enough fruit in their diets.

Here are some yummy smoothie combinations that are great for breakfast or any time of the day.
Simply throw all ingredients in the blender and blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes. 

Bananarama – 1 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt, dash of milk 

Mango Mania – 1 mango (cut and pitted), 1/4 cup orange juice

Peach Medley – 1 peach (cut and pitted), 1 banana, 1/4 cup orange juice 

Berry Surprise – 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup raspberries, ¼ cup of milk 

Strawberry Ice – 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup orange juice, I cup crushed ice

Honey melon – 1 cup chopped honey dew lemon pieces, 1/4 cup apple juice, tablespoon honey. 

Banana Boost – 1 banana, 1/4 shredded wheat cereal (or other high fiber cereal), 1/4 cup milk. A great way to get extra fiber and vitamins into your child's diet. 

And if it's hot outside, try easy fruit smoothie popsicles. They may a great alternative to sugary ice cream and are a delicious summer treat. For a creamier consistency, add 1/4-cup yogurt of your choice to the recipes above and pour the smoothie mixture into popsicle molds (or paper cups - or even ice cube trays.)  Fill cups or tray and insert popsicle sticks when half frozen and slushy. Leave until fully frozen. 

You can experiment with the basic fruit smoothie recipes above. Just about any combination of your favorite fruits will taste delicious in a homemade smoothie. It's also a great way to let kids get involved in the kitchen. Let them choose their favorite fruits and let them help you peel and chop them up (according to their age, of course). Children can also pour liquid ingredients into measuring cups.