• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Mama to Littles

  • CELEBRATIONS
  • FOOD
  • PRODUCTS
  • YOUR HOME

July 29, 2019 ·

Spinach Banana Protein Pancakes

FOOD

Like many kids, my little ones can be picky eaters. So I’ve been experimenting with ways to still pack the healthy stuff into their daily meals. One of my favorite go-tos lately is  green pancakes. I thought the boys might be turned off by the green color, but to my surprise they’ve been a total hit! They are super easy to make, and my toddler loves assisting. Call them what you want – green monster pancakes, green smoothie pancakes, or green wheels and hopefully your little ones will love these too.

HEALTHY INGREDIENTS FOR GROWING BRAINS AND BODIES

This Spinach Banana Pancake recipe is a great way to give your little ones nutrients, healthy fats and proteins to build strong bodies and brains. Here are a few additions I’ve made to other recipes I’ve seen:

  • Extra eggs for more protein and healthy fats* (note: depending on your dietary preferences, this recipe also turns out just fine with no eggs)
  • No honey or maple syrup for sweetener – In our experience, the vanilla extract and cinnamon add enough sweetness for the kids. Plus, my oldest will want to top with a bit of syrup anyway, so no need to double up
  • Added Flax Seeds and Almond Butter for protein, fiber, and healthy fats

Note: When I say healthy fats, I’m referring to fats with high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, which studies show support a child’s cognitive development among other benefits. Also, choosing pasture raised eggs over caged can double the omega-3 fatty acids. Vital Farms eggs are a great choice.

EASY TO MAKE PANCAKES WITH A BLENDER

Minimize mess and maximize fun cooking with a toddler with a recipe where you just need to measure, pour and mix. No sink full of dishes left behind.

I also love this pancake pen (link here), which makes transferring the batter from the blender to the griddle/pan so much easier and cleaner. It can make cool shapes and letters too!

Here’s another photo and link to the pancake pen, which makes these SO much easier and less messy 🙂

Make More, COOK LESS

I often make extras when cooking for my littles so I can cook and clean once, but serve for multiple occasions. These pancakes can last in the fridge 3-5 days or a few months in the freezer. Just like waffles, frozen or cold pancakes also taste great when heated in the toaster.

The extras are a great quick weekday breakfast option. I usually make a mix of full size for breakfast and minis for on the go, which my oldest will even eat them cold in his school snack or lunch box.

Green Spinach banana protein pancakes

Recipe // via Mama to Littles

ingredients

  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3⁄4 cups milk (regular, almond, cashew or coconut)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon almond butter
  • 1 small banana (very ripe is best)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup Pancake Mix*

*Note: I like to use Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake & Waffle Mix for the whole grains and added fiber, but any pancake mix will do

instructions

  1. Add all the ingredients to a blender, except the pancake mix
  2. Blend until well combined and you no longer see notable traces of spinach leaves
  3. Pour in the pancake mix
  4. Warm a large pan or griddle and coat with butter or oil. Pour the batter into small circles and let cook until the pancakes start bubbling and the bottom is lightly golden
  5. Flip and cook for a minute or two on the other side
  6. If desired, you can keep the finished pancakes warm in a 275 degree oven while cooking the rest of the pancakes
  7. Serve and enjoy with your little ones!

Serves 4-6

healthy green pancakes
Healthy and Easy Green Pancakes your Baby & Toddler will love
Previous Post: « 5 Reasons to Rock a Fanny Pack
Next Post: Healthy Family Dinners: Sausage Kale Pasta »

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

About Me

Thank you for visiting and welcome to Mama to Littles. I’m Katie and the mama to three boys – Jack (5), Andrew (2), and Ford (6 mo).

In this space, I’ve created and curated content for life with little ones. Here’s to chasing and loving littles and finding beauty in the chaos.

Recent Posts

  • Healthy Snack Swaps Your Kids Will Actually Eat
  • Toy Storage Inspiration
  • The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
  • Nursery Ideas and Inspiration
  • Best Clean Beauty Products for Pregnancy

Archives

  • July 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019

Categories

  • CELEBRATIONS
  • FOOD
  • PRODUCTS
  • Uncategorized
  • Your Home

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org


Copyright © 2023 · captivating theme by Restored 316