Your daughter’s best friend is sipping green juice on playdates, your neighbor’s kids are chugging green drinks on the porch, and now it feels like every other post on your Instagram feed is pushing greens powders for kids. What’s all the hype about? Are these greens powders actually as good as they claim? Here’s the deal: greens powders are trending for a reason—they’re loaded with nutrients and offer a convenient way to boost your child’s intake of fruits and veggies (especially if you’re dealing with a picky eater!).
In this guide, I’m breaking down everything parents need to know about greens powders: Are they truly nutritious? How do I choose the right one? And what are some easy, kid-approved ways to add them into your child’s daily routine? Let’s dive in.
What is greens powder?
Greens powders are a blend of dehydrated fruits, leafy greens, vegetable sprouts, grasses, herbs, and other plant-based nutrients, all blended into a fine powder. Just mix it with water or milk for an easy way to add extra nutrients and round out your diet.
Is greens powder healthy for kids?
Absolutely! Greens powders are loaded with a ton of nutrition and can offer some great health benefits for kids, including:
Offer a convenient way to get in fruits and veggies
If you’ve got a picky eater, you know how challenging it can be to get them to eat a wide variety of foods, let alone fruit and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a child's diet because they’re loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber–all of which help support gut health, digestion, the immune system, cardiovascular health, and disease prevention. While greens powders shouldn’t replace whole fruits and veggies, they can be a convenient way to fill in nutritional gaps, especially while you ride out the picky-eating phase.
Includes ingredients kids don’t normally eat
Greens powders are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients like alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, and turmeric—foods you’d rarely find on a kids’ plate! But these superfoods are loaded with essential nutrients that kids need. For example, chlorella is an algae that’s rich in protein and iron, turmeric has anti-inflammatory benefits, and spirulina is loaded with antioxidants. With a greens powder, your child can get the benefits of these superfoods without having to eat them directly.
Contains fiber and digestive support
Greens powders are packed with fiber thanks to their fruit and veggie content. If your child is having trouble with bathroom visits or needs a little extra help with digestion (especially during potty training), adding a scoop of greens powder can do the trick. Plus, fiber also feeds the good bacteria in the gut, supporting both the microbiome and the immune system.
How to choose a greens powder for kids
Not all greens powders are created equal, and some are better than others. Here’s how to choose the best greens powder for kids:
- It’s tasty: First and foremost, you’ll need a greens powder that actually tastes good because if it doesn’t, your child won’t drink it. Since they’re mostly made from vegetables, they can taste earthy and bitter—flavors kids don’t usually enjoy. Look for a greens powder that provides sweetness, but without added sugars.
- Designed for kids: Make sure you pick a greens powder that’s specifically made for kids. Many are formulated for adults and may have ingredients or dosages that aren’t suitable or safe for children (like caffeine or adaptogens).
- Check for allergens: Greens powders can have a lot of ingredients, so carefully check the nutrition label and ingredient list to make sure it doesn’t include any allergens if your child has food allergies or sensitivities.
- Look for third-party testing: Make sure the greens powder has been third-party tested for quality and purity. This means an independent organization has verified that what’s on the label is actually in the powder.
- Purchase from a reputable brand: Choose a greens powder from a well-known and trustworthy brand, which is more likely to provide high-quality ingredients and adhere to good manufacturing practices.
- Avoid extra additives: Watch out for unnecessary extras like artificial colors, dyes, and fillers. The best greens powders have clean, simple ingredients.
6 creative ways to add greens powder in kids diet
Sure, you can mix greens powder into your child’s favorite drink, but if that doesn’t quite cut it, here are some creative ways to incorporate greens powder into your kid’s diet:
- Blend a serving of greens powder with cow’s milk, plant-based milk, or freshly squeezed juice. Just follow the recommended ratio on the packaging for the best results.
- Toss a scoop of greens powder into your child’s morning smoothie. And if you have leftovers, freeze them into popsicles for a refreshing treat later.
- Stir it into yogurt, cottage cheese, or chia pudding.
- Mix it into oatmeal or overnight oats.
- Add greens powder to muffin, pancake, or waffle batter.
- Add it to oatmeal cookies or energy bites.
Why I love Hiya’s Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods
So now that we’ve covered why greens powders are nutritious, how to pick the right one for your kids, and fun ways to include it in their meals, here’s why Hiya’s Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods checks all the boxes for kids’ greens powder:
- It’s packed with 55 whole food ingredients that support brain development, digestion, and overall growth.
- It has a deliciously chocolatey, kid-approved taste, without any added sugars. Plus, if you mix it with milk or a plant-based alternative, it tastes exactly like chocolate milk.
- It’s formulated specifically for kids, so you can feel confident knowing the dosage and ingredients are safe for kids.
- Whether your kids are in one of their picky phases or you’re traveling, this greens powder can help fill in those nutrition gaps when fruits and veggies aren’t always on the menu (or are flat-out rejected!).
- It’s suitable for kids who follow plant-based, vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free diets.
- Hiya’s products are third-party tested and made in a cGMP-compliant facility, ensuring higher quality standards from start to finish.
- Kids can get in on the fun by decorating their canister with stickers that come with the first order. This helps to give them ownership over their daily greens routine!
Just scoop, shake, and sip your way into whole-food nutrition.