Early years activity: Smoothie sensation

Explore healthy eating with this hands-on smoothie making activity. Children mix and match ingredients to create a sensational smoothie, supporting confidence in trying new tastes and an appreciation of healthy, nutritious food.

Smoothie sensation activity learning aims

This early years activity will help children to:

Promote understanding of nutritious choices
Sensory exploration and descriptive language
Develop fine motor skills
Sequencing and following instructions.

Resources you will need

Variety and fruits and soft vegetables such as spinach, banana, berries, kiwi, avocado
Juice or milk (non-diary equivalent)
Blender
Knives, plates, cups
Chopping board.

Smoothie sensation activity outline

Preparation – check allergies beforehand, maintaining sensitivity and discretion around dietary requirements
Ask children to wash their hands and the fruits/veg
Gather the children to discuss the fruit and vegetables on offer. Can they name them? Have they eaten them before? What are their favourites? Etc.
Encourage children to explore the fruit and vegetables. How do they feel? What do they look/feel/smell like? Model and encourage descriptive language: soft, bumpy, rough, sweet, sour, hairy, earthy etc.
Discuss concepts of ‘healthy’ and ‘nutrition’ using simple and positive language, highlighting that different foods help our bodies and minds grow strong and capable
Model making a smoothie. Talk through your choices of fruit/veg. Cut any that require chopping into smaller pieces. Add to the blender along with some of the liquid (juice/milk). Add a small amount of spinach to demonstrate that, although it impacts the colour of the smoothie, the sweet fruit is what you can taste. Once blended, give each child a sample to try – encourage them to describe the colour, texture, smell, and taste
Let the children choose the ingredients for their own smoothie. Prepare the fruit/veg for the blender (any cutting and blender operation must be under close supervision)
Pour into cups, sit down together to drink and enjoy.

How to extend this smoothie sensation activity

Take photos of each step of the process to create a pictorial recipe to send home for the children to do with their families.

NDNA products to support you with this activity

PANCo - training

Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.