Papaya Banana Smoothie
This creamy papaya banana smoothie is naturally sweetened with whole fruit and makes a refreshing snack or breakfast for little eaters. Whether you're introducing papaya to your baby or looking for an easy papaya smoothie for kids, this simple recipe is one the whole family will enjoy.
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"Now...I just wish papaya was more readily available because this recipe was so tasty! It was my kiddos first exposure to papaya." - Sumeet
My (Jessica's) boys are both fruit fanatics. They have been known to sit down and split an entire cantaloupe or consume four bananas each. If we have plenty in the house, I don't restrict their fruit intake when it's on the menu. My key is that I don't offer fruit at every meal! We typically have fruit for breakfast and often as part of our afternoon snack. It would be an unfair competition if other foods had to compete with fruit for their attention!
They may have a lot of picky tastes about other foods but it's rare for my boys to encounter a fruit they don't enjoy on first taste.
Except.....
Papaya.
I bought a papaya for the first time and neither of them were fans!
In order to help them gradually learn to like the taste of papaya (and so as not to waste food!), I created this smoothie that combined flavours they knew and loved (banana and orange) with the new papaya flavour. Now, if smoothies are your jam--then bookmark this recipe for a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie. It honestly tastes like a milkshake. And--if you're wondering how, when and if babies are allowed to drink smoothies then this is for you.
Back to this papaya banana smoothie. It was a winner!
Recipe Overview: Papaya Banana Smoothie
🕒 5 minute prep time
🧡 Exposes your child to new fruit like papaya! If they haven't explored mango, then these mango chia pops are for you!
🔄 Offers your child a source of hydration and nutrition!
💪🏾 This smoothie offers fibre, potassium, calcium and vitamin C!
👶 Baby friendly from 6 months+
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Allergen information & substitutions
The only allergen in this recipe is dairy. If your child has a cow's milk protein allergy then you can use a milk alternative that works best for you and your family. To learn more about milk alternatives and how they compare to one another, take a look at the chart we created here.
For the most recent step-by-step recommendations for introducing food allergens to infants, visit our video lesson in Start Solids Confidently, your go-to resource for feeding babies.
How to serve a papaya banana smoothie at each baby & toddler stage
6-9 months: Since your baby is likely not sipping from a straw just yet, we'd suggest any of the following options:
- Place smoothie contents in a small bowl, thicken with 1 - 2 tablespoon iron fortified baby cereal and spoon feed or let your baby self feed (yes, there will be mess)
- Place in a tiny open cup, and let your baby practice sipping
9-12 months+ : By this stage, your baby may be sipping well from a straw, so you can offer it in a straw cup. Here's our favorite straw cup for smoothies.
For the rest of the family: Follow the recipe exactly as suggested. You're welcome to add any additional sweetener if you'd like.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, it's important to offer whole fruits in developmentally safe ways so that your baby or toddler can taste and recognize the fruit in its natural form and to help them develop the skills to chew and swallow these textures.
But while your child is learning these textures, serving the occasional smoothie can give them an exposure to these flavours in an easy to slurp texture!
This smoothie is suitable for babies 6 months and older. However, you want to be mindful of the ingredients used to make the smoothie! In our e-book, Smoothies and Popsicles for Your Happy Healthy Eater, we recommend waiting until closer to 9 months before serving most of the recipes. This is because there's a significant amount of milk, which can interfere with and take the place of high iron foods. When a baby is starting solids, maximizing iron intake and absorption is really important!
To choose a ripe papaya, pay attention to both its colour and how it feels. Look for a papaya that is mostly golden-orange with a very small amount of green remaining near the stem. It should also be fairly soft when you touch it firmly. Once it reaches this stage, it's ready to enjoy. If you're not planning to eat it right away, store it in the refrigerator to slow further ripening and help maintain its ideal texture and flavour for up to 10 days.
This is really up to you and your personal preference! If your baby has previously tolerated dairy, you're welcome to use cow's milk since they'll likely only consume a small amount. We cover everything you need to know about milk options for baby here.
Play + books that match this recipe
At Happy Healthy Eaters, we know that comfort comes before consumption. If these foods are new, playful exploration can help set your child up for success. Here are a few ideas to explore! Don't forget, we've rounded up 24 of our favorite foodie books for you too--we love them all!
If you tried this papaya banana recipe recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Papaya Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed papaya
- 2 bananas
- 1 navel orange
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in blender.
- Start on low, then slowly turn up to high. Blend until smooth.
This looks so tasty!!
We agree! We love a yummy papaya moment!
Now.,,,I just wish papaya was more readily available because this recipe was so tasty! It was my kiddos first exposure to papaya.
Love this smoothie for the whole family, and it's such a cute colour too!