“How do I get my kids to eat more vegetables?” If this sounds familiar, you are not alone! Luckily, there are some easy ways to incorporate more veggies in your kid’s diets – even if you have a selective eater.
Starting off the day with a fruit and veggie smoothie is a great way to consume important nutrients early in the day. You don’t have to follow an exact recipe, and you can play around with different healthy ingredients to find the tastiest options for your family. Both fresh and frozen fruits and veggies work well in smoothies, and there are lots of options for protein and flavor boosts as well.
If your children are picky about drinking something that has an unappealing color be cognizant of the mixes you use. For example, while a smoothie with strawberries, blueberries, banana, and spinach will taste amazing, the combination of ingredients will have a brownish color which may be off-putting to some kids. Instead, stick with fruits of similar colors (raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate) to keep the color more kid friendly. One combo that is popular with kids is a simple banana, spinach, blueberry, and almond milk combination. Here are a few other ideas:
Fruits:
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Peach
- Banana (really great to add to naturally sweeten the smoothie and gives it a creamier texture)
- Apple
- Melon
- Cherries
- Apricot
- Avocado
Vegetables:
- Carrot
- Kale
- Spinach (very mild flavor when blended with banana)
Protein:
- Plain yogurt (unsweetened or non-dairy substitute)
- Almond/cashew/soy/cow milk (unsweetened)
- Plain kefir (unsweetened or non-dairy substitute)
- Natural peanut butter
- Natural almond butter
Bonus Ingredients for Health/Flavor:
- Flaxseed
- Chia seed
- Old-fashioned oats
- Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut water
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
Play around with combinations to find out what works best for you and your family. Enjoy your smoothie!
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