We love smoothies for after-school snacks, and we love them for a quick morning breakfast. The Ultimate Breakfast Hack. When we’re feeling rushed, or have a morning time crunch, smoothies are our fastest breakfast. Partly because in general, I’m not big on measuring smoothie ingredients. I tend to throw in whatever’s in the freezer or fridge and adjust proportions as I go. When I’m deciding what should go in the smoothie, the rainbow is my general guideline. If I can fit in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue/purple ingredients, that’s terrific. And when I can, I call it a Rainbow Smoothie.
The Power of Rainbow Smoothies
In general, I’m not big on measuring smoothie ingredients. I tend to throw in whatever’s in the freezer or fridge and adjust proportions as I go. When I’m deciding what should go in the smoothie, the rainbow is my general guideline. If I can fit in red, orange, yellow, green, and blue/purple ingredients, that’s terrific. And when I can, I call it a Rainbow Smoothie. Today I’ve got two Rainbow Smoothie variations for you.
Rainbow Smoothies with Oats
I asked my kids to describe the difference, and they said one is creamy, and one is refreshing — and that they loved them both! Each includes wholegrain oats. They make the smoothies more filling, so that it really feels like breakfast in a cup. And though I mentioned I don’t typically measure my ingredients, I did measure these so that I could give you a good starting point, and then you can add more or less amounts of ingredients as you see fit.
#1 Refreshing Rainbow Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 5 large frozen strawberries
- 1 persimmon, cut into chunks or wedges
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple (or about an equal amount as the persimmon)
- a handful of spinach
- 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup water
Throw everything in the blender and mix it up till smooth. You can add more or less liquid if you want the smoothie to be thicker or thinner.
#2 Creamy Rainbow Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 5 large frozen strawberries
- 1 wedge of cantaloupe (about the same amount as one banana)
- 1 frozen peeled banana
- a handful of spinach
- 1/3 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup milk
Once again, add everything to the blender and mix it up till smooth, adjusting the quantity of milk as you prefer.
The Importance of Prepping Ahead
Note: Do Yourself a Favor and Prep Ahead. The think that makes smoothies so fast for us on busy mornings is that we have prepped ingredients in the freezer. Sometimes I buy bags of frozen fruit, other times, if I can see our fresh fruit is about to turn and we won’t have time to eat it, I’ll rinse and prep it for the freezer. When I’m really on the ball, prep Smoothie Packets in freezer bags. I combine all the ingredients in one bag — even things I don’t normally freeze, like the oats — and then stack them flat in the freezer. Which means I can simply empty the contents of the bag into the blender in the morning super quick. We get a good breakfast, even when we’re crunched for time.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Rainbow Smoothies
- Preparing smoothie ingredients in the freezer makes busy mornings easier.
- When prepping ingredients, consider combining them into individual packets for quicker blending.
- You can add more or less liquid to achieve the desired consistency.
- The combination of banana and milk brings creaminess to the smoothie.
- Experiment with different fruits and ingredients to create unique flavor profiles.
Conclusion
Rainbow Smoothies with oats are a quick and delicious breakfast solution for busy mornings. By prepping ingredients in the freezer and using a rainbow of ingredients, you can create a filling and nutritious breakfast that your kids will love. Try these two variations and experiment with your own favorite ingredients to create the perfect smoothie for your family.
Final Verdict: Rainbow Smoothies with oats are a game-changer for busy families. They’re quick, delicious, and packed with nutritious ingredients. By prepping ahead and using a rainbow of ingredients, you can create a filling and satisfying breakfast that your kids will love. Give these two variations a try and experiment with your own favorite ingredients to create the perfect smoothie for your family!
