This is my best tip on how to get more fruits and vegetables into your child's diet! I do a class called
Super Plant Eaters Club here in Central Florida, and the first class is called "Feeding my Green Machine". We make Green Smoothies and identify the different greens that can be used in smoothies. Kids LOVE this class more than any of my other classes because: 1. They love pressing buttons on the Vita-Mix, 2. They get excited about the different colors they can create with the greens and the different fruits. 3. They love the part where I let them all toast each other and say "cheers" before downing the smoothie.
If you've never tried one, you will be pleasantly surprised at how good they taste. And if you have kids under 3, I recommend you get started right away and make it a daily habit. Kids older than three tend to be more averse to trying them but if you start with even just one small leaf of a green and the rest fruit, you can build up to more greens and less fruit over time. Let them pick out what they want in it and get excited about it!
My kids gulp down 3 cups of raw spinach along with 2 to 3 servings of fruit a day thanks to the Vita-mix. Really, if you can only have one kitchen appliance, let it be this one. Your smoothies will turn out so much better because the high powered motor and stainless steal blade will break down the greens and nuts really well, so much better than a normal blender. I use it more than my Omega 8000 Juicer and more than my food processor. In fact, I could probably live fine without those two appliances but not the Vita-mix.
So I'm going to share what I call "Beginner Green Smoothies" and feel free to adjust the amount of greens to 1 cup to start with and then add on each time you make it. You may add golden ground flax, any type of nut, or even half an avocado to increase calories/fat. You can also omit the plant milk altogether and just add water to the last two. And, you can sweeten with extra fruit juice or Agave Nectar.
Orange Green Smoothie
1-2 cups organic spinach
1 cup orange or tangerine juice (freshly juiced or organic is best)
1 frozen banana
Add coconut water or plain filtered water as needed to blend.
optional- add golden ground flax
Blend the fruit and juice first, then add greens. Enjoy!
Berry Green Smoothie
1-2 cups organic spinach
1 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 cup coconut water or almond milk
1 banana
Add extra coconut water or plain filtered water as needed to blend.
Blend the fruit and juice first, then add greens. Enjoy!
Chocolate Green Smoothie
1-2 cups organic spinach
1 frozen banana
1 cup soy milk or almond milk
1 tbsp organic cocoa powder
1 tbsp Agave Nectar
Add coconut water or plain filtered water as needed to blend.
Blend the fruit and juice first, then add greens. Enjoy!
In the photo above my girls are drinking the Berry Green Smoothie. The berries are dark enough to change the color to an almost brown looking smoothie. The Orange Green Smoothie is very green!
