Blend up a weight gain shake with accessible, nutritious ingredients for a fraction of the cost of store-bought—and with a flavor that’s designed to please the kids!
Weight Gain Shake
I know there are families who rely on calorically dense shakes to fuel the kids—both kids who may need some help gaining weight and also kids who might need to eat breakfast quickly in the morning or just need a filling smoothie option—and this homemade option of a weight gain smoothie is so darn delicious.
It has a subtle cocoa flavor, is lightly sweet, and has a solid amount of protein, fat, and calories for kids. It also holds really nicely in the fridge, so you can make it ahead of time or stash leftovers for a future meal.
Copycat Pediasure
I won’t promise that this tastes exactly like Pediasure, but it has a similar flavor and is a nice alternative to that kids drink which may be much less expensive. It also allows you to customize it for your kiddo’s preferences, which is really helpful.
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this kids protein shake so you’ll know what to pick up at the store:
- Milk: You can use either whole milk dairy milk or a plant-based option. If using a nondairy milk, choose one that has fat and protein in it, so something like the flax milk shown above, Ripple milk, or soy milk. (Most almond and oat milks don’t have fat or protein, so won’t be as filling in this smoothie.)
- Greek yogurt: This adds a real protein punch and a super creamy texture.
- Banana: One ripe banana adds calories, sweetness, and potassium. It can be frozen or fresh.
- Cocoa powder: A little of this adds a nice note of flavor.
- Protein powder: You can use a kids protein powder or my easy Homemade Protein Powder Recipe.
- Honey or maple syrup: I like to add a little of one of these to balance out the cocoa powder. You can taste and adjust the sweetness as you and the kids like.
TIP: Avoid honey and cow’s milk for babies under age 1.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s the basic method for making this weight gain shake. Scroll down to the end of the post for the complete information.
- Add the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend smooth, starting on low and working up to high.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container for later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any smoothie can help with weight gain if it is calorically dense so that every sip has a lot of nutrients. Ingredients to look for include Greek yogurt, nut butters, and protein powders.
They can be, though for some kids, they may simply fill them up faster than other foods and they may not finish a lot of it. So remember that appetite and fullness cues are always at play with this for kids and trying to help kids gain weight should only be done when recommended by a medical provider (for reasons such as loosing weight). Check with your pediatrician for guidance as needed.
Aiming to make more of their food rich in calories, healthy fats, and protein can help make sure each bite is nutritionally dense. Small amounts of those sorts of foods can add up to help when weight gain is proving to be challenging.
How to Store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 36 hours. Serve cold. You can also freeze in an ice cube tray and blend with additional milk for a future smoothie if desired.
Best Tips for Success
- Use whole dairy milk or a plant milk with fat and protein in it (like soy milk, Ripple Milk, or Good Karma protein milk).
- Sweeten to taste after blending.
- Swap in mango for the banana if desired.
- Add a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter for additional protein.
- Try my homemade Protein Powder or one of my favorite Protein Powders for Kids.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this post, so please comment below to share!
Kids Weight Gain Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (dairy or nondairy)
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup banana (frozen)
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Protein Powder (optional or dried milk powder)
- Optional add-ins: handful baby spinach, raw cauliflower, or avocado; 1-2 teaspoons peanut or almond butter; 1-2 teaspoons hemp seeds
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender.
- Blend until very creamy, starting on low and working up to high.
- Serve immediately or store for future use.
Equipment
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 36 hours. Serve cold. You can also freeze in an ice cube tray and blend with additional milk for a future smoothie if desired.
- Use whole dairy milk or a plant milk with fat and protein in it (like soy milk, Ripple Milk, or Good Karma protein milk).
- Sweeten to taste after blending.
- Swap in mango for the banana if desired.
- Add a tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter for additional protein.
- Try my homemade Protein Powder or one of my favorite Protein Powders for Kids.
Coconut manna (aka coconut butter) is a great ingredient that you can add in to this smoothie. It has good fat, but also some protein, carbs and fibre.
Thanks for sharing the article, I loved reading it.