Sneaky Treats

Hello!  I just wanted to share a recipe with you that I have been making for my kids, and day care kids, the past two weeks.  My kids are the worst breakfast eaters!  I have to beg borrow and steal to get them to the breakfast table and then nag them to eat.  A few weeks ago I started making Carnation instant breakfast for them so that if they dont finish in time for us to leave for school, they can take it with them and get a healthy breakfast in the car.  It has been working for the most part, but they were getting tired of the chocolate shakes.  Since the weather has started to turn warmer, I've decided to change up the recipe and the results have been great!  They now beg me for their morning milk shake and even manage to get some grains in there adding cereal or a mini bagel.  After I portion out the shakes, I take the left overs and freeze them in to popsicle molds for their after school snacks.  Yesterday I had enough to share with my daycare kids and they RAVED!!!!  Its a hit.  So, I wanted to share my recipe with you:

1 cup Skim Milk
1/2 cup plain Kefir (this is packed with good stuff, but high in fat, you can sub nonfat greek-style yogurt, but you'll miss out on the probiotics)
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 frozen banana cut into chunks
2 tbsp ground flax seeds (optional)
1 packet Vanilla Carnation instant breakfast

Add all the ingredients to a blender and, well, blend until combined.
That's it!  If your kids don't think this is sweet enough, you can add honey or blue agave for a little extra sweetness, but I think the banana gives it plenty!  This combination is loaded with protein, calcium, vitamin D, iron, B vitamins, fiber, minerals and just plain tastes great!  I make a version for myself omitting any extra sweeteners, carnation breakfast, and using the nonfat greet yogurt, 1/2 of the rest of the ingredients to get a thick, yummy smoothie that fills me up and satisfies me until lunch, all for about 200 calories. 

I'd love to know if you try this and what your family thinks!  Enjoy and have a great day!