Diversity in our diets is the key to all things good. Next up is family togetherness. Try creating a 'mystery smoothie lab' experience the whole family takes part in. You'll get excellent nutrition, introduce your kids to some new foods, and have fun together as a family.

Funky tee-shirts? Check. Aprons on. Blender plugged in. If you’ve got “lab goggles,” even better. Tonight, the kitchen becomes a flavor lab where curiosity beats perfection. The promise: start with a tasty base everyone loves, then draw surprise add-ins to boost color, fiber, and fun. Five hundred seconds of teamwork, and boom—new family favorite.

Setup & Roles (fast & fun)

Assign jobs: Blender Boss (adult at the controls), Flavor Scout (sniffs and suggests), Texture Tester (calls “thicker/thinner”), Scribe/Namer (writes the recipe + name), Photographer (snaps the victory toast). Put out cups, spoons, sticky notes, and 4–6 tiny “mystery bowls.”

The Base (your safety net)

• Liquid (1 cup): water, oat/almond milk, kefir, or diluted 100% juice

• Fruit (1 heaping cup): frozen mango, pineapple, strawberries, or banana

• Creamy fiber (choose 1): ½ avocado, ½ frozen banana, ¼ cup Greek yogurt, or 2 tbsp rolled oats

• Optional green: small handful baby spinach (vanishes in taste, wins on nutrients)

Blend this first. Taste. You’ve already got a win.

The Mystery Bowls (tiny = mighty)

• Color & Sweetness: blueberries, cherries, pear chunks, a pitted date

• Veggie Ninjas: cucumber coins, steamed carrot coins, cauliflower rice, beet bits (tiny!)

• Boosters: chia/flax/hemp, cocoa powder, fresh ginger slivers, cinnamon, peanut/almond butter, vanilla

• Fun Twists: mint leaves, shredded coconut, lemon or lime zest

Keep portions small—confidence grows faster than portions do.

Game Rules

1. Pick your base.

2. Each person draws 1–2 mystery add-ins (eyes closed = extra laughs).

3. Blend, taste, and vote to tweak: sweeter, creamier, colder, greener.

4. Name your creation and stick the label to a “Recipe Hall of Fame” on the fridge.

Score It (all positivity)

Rate Flavor, Color, Creativity, Power (fiber/protein/greens) 0–5 each. Bonus star for trying something new.

Sneakz Tips (parent cheat codes)

• Aim for a 3:1 familiar-to-new ingredient ratio.

• Spinach hides well; beets color everything—use a little.

• Too thick? Add liquid. Too tart? Banana or date or ripe pear. Too flat? No pop? Pinch of salt + squeeze of citrus.

• Want protein? Greek yogurt, nut butter, hemp hearts, or silken tofu slide right in.

Safety & Allergies

Check nut/dairy allergies. Skip honey for kids under 1. Keep little hands away from blades. Rinse right after blending. Sticky fruit sets fast. And onto the next recipe.

Leftovers & Habits

Freeze extra in popsicle molds or ice trays for instant smoothie sticks or “smoothie cubes” tomorrow. Keep a running list of winning names—kids love seeing their recipes “on the menu.”

Wrap-Up

Clink cups, snap the “cheers,” and celebrate the day’s champion. Remember: brave tastes today become favorite foods tomorrow and every spin of the blender is another tiny vote for healthier, happier family habits.

Your Ultimate Goal

Teach kids to experiment with food and increase the variety of food items they eat. And teach kids to be able to 'cook' for themselves. 

And generate a fun family memory.

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