Anyone else deal with the daily struggle of a picky eater and doing all you can to help them get their veggies in? You are not alone. We too have a picky eater. But these Healthy Green Smoothie Waffles pass the test and I am excited to share them with you!
Our picky eater is three, has the face of an angel, and if given the choice, would rotate between chicken nuggets, pretzels, and yogurt at every meal. Meet George.
The Secret Ingredient
After months of strategizing, I have created a waffle that both he loves AND makes me feel like a super mom. This Healthy Green Smoothie Waffle is not just any waffle … but a protein packed, quick and easy, special ingredient laced waffle. It is light and delicate, full of nutrients and yumminess. These waffles truly make the perfect breakfast! And my kids LOVE that the secret ingredient, spinach, makes them green!
I can honestly say we love them more than our standard every day buttermilk waffles. In fact, here is social proof that George not only ate them, but that he ate all of them ... and then asked for more!
James our not so picky eater enjoyed them too!
How to make Healthy Green Smoothie Waffles
Heat Up the Ole' Iron
Pull out your waffle iron and fire it up. The type of waffle iron you use doesn't matter, but because we are always asked what our favorite is, I'll go ahead and share that here. I absolutely love that this bad boy allows me to choose exactly how I want the texture of the outside and inside of my waffle. It is waffle perfection EVERY TIME. And it doesn't hurt that it makes some pretty darn cute flower and heart shaped waffles.
Blend It, Blend It Real Good
I will let you in on a little secret ... these Healthy Green Smoothie waffles earn their title because of the handfuls of spinach I am able to sneak in. And to keep that secret ingredient a true secret, we are going to need a blender for this recipe.
We have a Blend Tec and absolutely love it. We got ours from Costco and it’s a total beast. My sister has a Vitamix. Ironically, Costco also sells these. -- I will say, I think the Vitamix has more power overall, but both definitely get the job done. So, if you are in the market for a heavy duty, no messing around, blender you now have my two cents.
Add Ingredients
Now that we've got the equipment out of the way it's time to add all of your ingredients to the blender. The order doesn’t matter, just dump them in, starting with whatever is closest to you.
Our favorite way to enjoy these waffles is using buttermilk flavored Kodiak cakes, vanilla or almond protein powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Delicious! But truly there are so many ways to customize this recipe. Maybe next time try using a coconut flavored protein powder and adding fresh blueberries instead. Have fun with it.
Once you have all the ingredients added to the blender blend until mixed and smooth-ish. And now you are ready to get cooking.
Serve Hot, and Enjoy!
Once waffles are cooked, serve them while hot and enjoy! Don't be afraid to experiment with toppings. Some of our favorites include fresh fruit, peanut butter, chocolate chips and berry syrups!
But our favorite way to enjoy them is with Kodiak syrup. It’s delicious, might be healthier than normal syrup (at least that is what I tell myself), and comes in some awesome flavors. Two of our favorites are the Mountain Berry and Raspberry syrups.
PRO CHEF – MOM HACK
To make my time worthwhile, and because these Healthy Green Smoothie Waffles freeze perfectly, I like to double the batch, spend a little extra time cooking the waffles and freeze any extras. And when those mornings come around where I need a little extra help, we pull out some of these bad boys and toast them right up. A hot, homemade, healthy breakfast in minutes.
To freeze the waffles, first you will want to make sure they are ENTIRELY cooled. I like to place them on a sheet of parchment paper on the countertop till they reach room temperature. After they are cooled I pick up the parchment paper and slide a cookie sheet underneath so I can easily place them into the freezer. After 45 minutes pull out the waffles and place into an airtight container and store for up to 6 weeks.
Healthy Green Smoothie Waffles
Filled with greens, whole grains and protein packed these waffles are delicious and full of nutrients. Truly an easy healthy breakfast in minutes! Kid and toddler friendly -- picky eater approved.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup Kodiak Cake mix
- 1 scoop protein powder
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups spinach
- 3-4 tablespoons ground flax seed
- 3-4 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the waffle iron.
- Add all ingredients to blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour mixture into your waffle iron. Cook till done.
- Serve hot with toppings of your choice.
Notes
- Our Kodiak Cake flavor of choice is buttermilk but there are countless flavor combos you could use.
- We LOVE Vega Protein and Greens -- especially their coconut and almond flavor but again the combos are endless.
- You could definitely substitute pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon, or other favorite spices to create your own unique flavor profile.
- Our favorite way to enjoy these waffles is using buttermilk flavor Kodiak cakes, vanilla or almond protein powder, and pumpkin pie spice. Delicious!
- We purchase our shelled hemp seeds at Costco.
- Look above for recommendations on our favorite waffle iron.
- Double the batch and freeze leftovers for easy and quick breakfast meals on the go -- for tips on how to freeze scroll up to the Pro Chek - Mom Hack section.
- Our favorite way to enjoy these waffles is with Kodiak berry syrup.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 209mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 11g
More Breakfast Inspiration
Needing other easy, healthy breakfast options the whole family will love? Look no further, we've got just the ones for you. Start your day off right with a hearty muffin. Best Ever Bran Muffins are sweet enough to feel like a treat, but come with none of the guilt! Another perfect option would be our Baked Oatmeal Bars. Both recipes are perfect breakfasts for a day on the go. Filling, portable, nutritious and delicious! Sounds like a win-win to me!
And if you are looking to indulge your sweet tooth a bit more you must take a look at our German Dutch Baby Pancakes and Mini Caramel Breakfast Rolls. Both are the perfect way to treat-yo-self!