Kale "Monster" Smoothie Bowls

Kiddos scared to try kale? Make it into a sweet monster! A smoothie bowl is thicker than a smoothie but softer than ice cream. You can add a little extra milk to the recipe and drink it if you’d prefer. Frozen bananas make this snack sweet and creamy, and you really can’t taste the kale at all. Make sure your little chef rips up the kale leaves and adds them to the blender, so he/she knows those super greens are in there. Have a chocolate lover or a child that prefers not to see green? Add a couple tablespoons of cocoa powder and you’ve got a chocolate monster! Slice some fruit and get out toppings such as nuts or seeds and let the kiddos make silly or scary monster faces on top. It’s an interactive and delicious snack that’s packed with kale!

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 7 and 5, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

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Kale "Monster" Smoothie Bowls

Makes 1 large bowl or 2 small bowls
INGREDIENTS

• 1 packed cup kale leaves
  
• 1 frozen banana
  
• 2 tablespoons almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter
  
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 2 to 4 tablespoons milk (any kind)
  
• Fruit and toppings such as strawberries, blueberries, seeds, and chopped nuts

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Rip up kale leaves (be sure to remove any tough stem) and add to a blender with the frozen banana, nut/seed butter, and vanilla. Add 2 tablespoons of your milk of choice, but don’t add too much or the smoothie won’t be thick.
   
2. Blend until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Smoothie melted or not thick enough? Blend in ice until the desired consistency is reached.
   
3. Spoon smoothie “ice cream” into bowls and create a flat surface with the back of a spoon. Decorate with toppings. Enjoy!

*To make the chocolate version, add 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder to the blender with the other ingredients.

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This month we're celebrating kale at Veggie Buds Club! If you'd like access to tons of kid-friendly kale recipes, kale crafts, kale games, kale growing projects, and more you can purchase our "Kale, Yeah!" eBook or Box here.