Strawberry Kiwi Protein Smoothie Bowl
From: Lovely Little Kitchen
This one not only looks amazing, it also has plenty of greens in the form of spinach, and some frozen peas! Start your reluctant greens eater off with something like this instead of a side salad to win them over onto team spinach, and suddenly it will be on your grocery list every week. Yum!
How Do You Make Your Toddler Eat Vegetables
My kids are definitely not perfect eaters. Actually, let me amend that: my toddler is definitely not a perfect eater.
The baby is in that glorious sweet spot where shes just so enamored by the mere idea of solid food that shell eat anything and everything you put in front of her with the ferocious intensity of a grizzly bear .
My 3.5-year-old, on the other hand, fights us on pretty much anything that isnt a chicken nugget or nutrient-free snack.
Actually getting him to eat a vegetable requires expert-level negotiating, involving at least one pack of gummy fruit snacks, one chocolate chip cookie, and one hour of screen time.
However, Ive discovered the trick to getting real food into him. Id like to say it was my sheer brilliance and instinct as a mom that led me to this moment of ingenuity, but alas, it was not.
It was my own selfishness and desperation for nourishment.
A few months ago, I started making smoothies for myself in the mornings before work, so I could chug them on my commute without disturbance.
Green Smoothie For Kids
This green smoothie is a fantastic way to add greens into your childs diet. Deliciously sweet and creamy with no taste of spinach!
It is estimated that less than 1% of Australian kids eat the recommended serves of vegetable each day . For this reason, we need to find easy ways to incorporate more veggies into our childrens diets.
This is where green smoothies are perfect. The fruit content makes them deliciously sweet and you can slowly adjust the fruit to veggie ratio, to favour the leafy greens, as your child becomes used to the flavour.
Starting the day with a serve of vegetables is only one reason to love the green smoothie, other reasons include
- Quick and Easy perfect to make on busy mornings.
- Flexible Can use both fresh or frozen fruit/veggies and can mix and match to suit what you have available.
- Less Waste Great for using up fruit/veggies towards the end of their life.
- Veggie Exposure Allows children to see how versatile and taste fruit and vegetables are.
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The Best Blender For Making Creamy Toddler Smoothies
One of my favorite inventions is the personal bullet blender. My husband just got me a Nutri-Ninja for Mothers Day, after my old bullet blender finally bit the dust last month. I am IN LOVE with this blender.
Not sponsored, I just truly love it.
It gets my smoothies so creamy, even when theyre loaded with fruits and vegetables and fiber, and the IQ blending does a great job of knowing when to pulse and when to let the ingredients settle, so it gets it all perfectly blended with just one touch which means I can start my smoothie, put all the ingredients away and wipe down the counter, and by the time Im done, my smoothie is ready and breakfast is cleaned up. Its perfect.
Cauliflower Cashew Banana Smoothie
This is a sweet and delicious smoothie which is a perfect hiding place for veggies like cauliflower for fussy eaters. Boiled potato and steamed cauliflower along with banana give a smooth creamy texture to the smoothie and impart a milky white color. Cashew nuts give a nice nutty and rich flavor to the smoothie.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 florets of cauliflower, steamed
- 1 small potato , boiled
- water as required
Method:
In a blender add all the ingredients and pulse to get a lump free smoothie. Serve immediately.
The veggies are steamed prior to adding to the blender to make the smoothie, ensuring easier digestion for the younger tots. All the smoothies of this series use plain water as the base and are free from salt and sugar, while also being vegan. These fruit and vegetable smoothies can be given to kids above 12 months of age. For older kids the smoothies can be frozen into ice pops. I dont know about you, but I might just sneak away a smoothie ice pop for myself!
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Honeydew Cucumber Melon Smoothie
This is a tasty smoothie recipe and is ideal for trying during the hot summer months, as its ingredients provide the much-needed cool feel to your child. Plus, this recipe helps rehydrate your child with a boost of multi-minerals and multivitamins.
You will need:
- ¼ cup of mint leaves
How to prepare:
- Add the diced melon and cucumber pieces into the blender and blend for a minute.
- If you want, add some crushed ice to the mix and blend for another 30 seconds.
- Serve the smoothie chilled to your child.
These smoothie recipes are perfect for your fussy eater and help replenish the essential nutrients required for your little ones healthy growth and development. Just make sure to keep these smoothies natural and avoid artificial sweeteners and colours, as too many of these ingredients can harm your toddlers health.
Featured image: freepik.com
Hidden Veggie Smoothies Your Kids Will Actually Eat
Do you have problems getting your kids to eat their veggies? I do, unfortunately. There are some my daughter will eat including broccoli and carrots and corn, but my son will not eat a single veggie unless it comes in the form of a pouch.
To get them both to eat a few more veggies in their diets, including some neither one of them will touch, I created three hidden veggie smoothies smoothies that are perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon pick me up. If your kids are on a diet of nuggets, granola bars and air too, try these recipes at home. They all make about two to three servings.
Hidden Veggie Smoothies Strawberry Banana Surprise
This is one not only my kids will eat but I will eat it too. In fact, I started drinking this while I photographed these, which is why in the photo with all three of them I hid it in back. Its half gone.
Orange bell pepper generally has a mild taste when compared to other peppers and it is available year round in the grocery store. According to Livestrong.com, one orange pepper contains 190 percent of the daily recommended vitamin C intake for an adult and vitamin C makes it easier for you to absorb iron. Recently, we found out that my son is severely iron deficient so we have to give him supplements.
Orange peppers also include antioxidants, vitamin B-6 and two grams of fiber in each pepper.
Ingredients
Hidden Veggie Smoothies Tropical Hurricane Smoothie
Ingredients
- ½ cup of mango or pineapple Greek yogurt
- 1 whole carrot, shredded
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Papaya Carrot Banana Smoothie
This one is sweet and has a vibrant orange color which appeals to kids. The smoothie is full of antioxidants and vitamins, with all the goodness of papaya, carrot, pumpkin and banana. Candied apricot is also added to the smoothie.
Ingredients :
- 1/4 cup chopped and steamed pumpkin
- 1 candied apricot
- water as required
Method:
In a blender add all the ingredients and pulse to get a lump free smoothie. Serve immediately.
Healthy Fruit And Veggie Smoothies
If youre worried that youre not getting enough fruits and vegetables in your daily diet, you can easily remedy that with one of these smoothies. Its so easy to fit a serving of veggies into a single healthy smoothie recipe.
But dont think for a minute that these are going to be a chore to drink, just as eating your least favorite vegetables was a chore as a kid. No, these fruit and veggie smoothies are absolutely delicious youll drink them up in no time flat.
Make an extra serving or two to freeze for later in the week if you can. Set it in the fridge the night before, and youll have a healthy breakfast on the go ready for you the next morning.
But lets get to the healthy smoothies, shall we?
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Smoothie Recipes For Toddlers + Kids
INSIDE: 12 Yummy and healthy smoothie recipes for toddlers and kids. Smoothies are a wonderful way to start your day with a healthy treat. They are super easy to make and easily customizable. Smoothies are also a great way to sneak in veggies. Adding a small handful of spinach to most smoothies wont change the taste but will add a boost of nutrients to your toddlers or childs diet!
READ MORE looking for fun and easy activities for toddlers? Check out this list of 50+ Easy Toddler Activities for some amazing ideas!
Smoothie Recipes For Kids To Sneak In The Fruits And Veggies
Meeting the daily recommendation for fruits and vegetables can be a real challenge, especially if your kids purse their lips at the mention of strawberries and spinach. But as a parent, you know how important it is to include fresh fruit and veggies in your family’s diet. You may also realize how difficult it can be to sneak these nutrient-packed powerhouses into their meals.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be a challenge. With the help of a few registered dietitians and some tasty smoothie recipes, we have the tips and tricks to get your kids hooked on fruits and vegetables.
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Top Tips For Making Fruit And Vegetable Smoothies
Here are some tips that you can follow to make your preferred smoothie
- Try to blend your veggies and liquid first. It helps your ingredients as smooth as possible
- Look for steamed or fresh options for your ingredients. You can also defrost your frozen veggies. So, that you can blend these into your smoothie easily. But if you have a high-speed blender, then frozen ingredients will work too.
- If you start with vegetables, then choose super sweet fruits to cover up any veggie taste and make it more creamy. Fruits like mango, strawberries, pineapples will go just fine because of the sweetness.
- Its better to skip fruit and vegetable juices into your smoothie. Because they dont contain any fiber that whole foods have. In the case of fibers, they are vital for your body. So, use whole fruits for the fruit test in your smoothie.
- For extra creaminess, you can add milk and yogurt. It will increase the thickness and taste of your smoothie.
- Always start with sweeter veggies like peas, corn, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. These vegetables offer a nice texture and sweetness to your smoothie
- Frozen fruits help you to make chill smoothies. Try to freeze your fruits like pineapple and banana to create a cool smoothie without adding any ice.
Version : How To Get 10 Servings Of Fruits And Vegetables In One Green Smoothie
Its a challenge to get five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day. I always struggled with it.
Its not exactly fun to eat carrot sticks, celery, and spinach.
Plus, eating a salad is time consuming when you have little time to sit and eat.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups or handfuls of fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 scoop protein powder or your favorite superfoods
Serving Size: You can either drink this as one big meal, or share with a partner. You can also split this smoothie into breakfast and lunch portions if you are doing a green smoothie cleanse.
Nutrition Information
For this smoothie, Ive included the full nutrition information for this recipe. The source of data is from the USDA database.
As you can see, this smoothie gives you an excellent start to meeting your full nutrition needs. Combined with healthy, whole foods throughout the day, you are ensuring that your body is getting what it needs from fresh, whole foods rather than relying on synthetic vitamin pills.
Calories: 433
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 163%Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 10%
* Without protein powder, this smoothie has 9 grams. If you do add protein powder, check the label for additional calories and protein amount. One serving of NutriBiotic rice protein brings this smoothie up to 21 grams!
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How To Make Your Smoothie Thicker And Thinner
For thinner smoothies add small amounts of milk, water, or juice. Try to maintain this order liquids first, then soft fruits or vegetables, greens, and ice. Run your machine up to its highest speed and process for 10-20 seconds.
To make thicker smoothies use or add frozen fruit like bananas, add more ice, or frozen yogurt. Run your blender with its highest speed, and process for 20-30 seconds. Thats how you can serve a thickened smoothie.
Kiwi Broccoli Banana Smoothie
This smoothie is sweet and sour in taste. It has the sweetness from banana and mild sourness from the kiwi. Broccoli not only imparts a lovely green color to the smoothie but also adds in to the nutritional value. Almonds give a nutty flavor to the smoothie and oats give a smooth texture.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 florets of steamed broccoli
- 4-5 almonds
- 1 Kiwi, washed, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup oats
- Water as required
Method:
In a blender add all the ingredients and pulse to get a lump free smoothie. Serve immediately.
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Ingredients For A Perfect Green Smoothie
This green monster smoothie for kids contains many fruits and veggies to bring the energy they need for the day.
Gather all the ingredients in the jug of a high-speed blender, starting with the almond milk. In fact, its much easier to blend all your ingredients, starting with the liquid.
So all you need to make this simple kid smoothie are:
Orange Smoothie For Kids
This smoothie looks quite orange juice like, so can win kids over.
The combination Orange + Mango + Pineapple +Carrot + Cashews + Courgette/Zucchini.
My trick for the courgette/zucchini is to peel it, this takes away the green factor, and means the courgette just adds creaminess to the mix.
I hope your kids enjoy these smoothies like my kids do. If you are looking for other sneaky veggie recipes, my favourites are My Healthy Macaroni & Cheese with Vegetables and my Cauliflower Cheese Egg Muffins
Also Check: How To Make A Delicious Smoothie
Adjust Consistency As Needed:
Sometimes your smoothie may come out thinner or thicker than you prefer, and that is okay. This is a really easy fix, and with a few tweaks, you can make your smoothie come out to the consistency you prefer.
-
For a thicker smoothie: Add in more frozen fruit, banana, yogurt, and/or ice. Re-blend and adjust as needed.
-
For a thinner smoothie: Add in more liquid, such as juice or milk and re-blend to desired consistency.
How To Make A Celery Smoothie
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and instructions. Here are my tips for making a celery smoothie.
- Use frozen celery for best results. It blends better than fresh celery and will make your smoothie refreshingly cold.
- Add a leafy green, such as spinach, to give the smoothie a vibrant color.
- For a creamy texture, add avocado.
- To sweeten the smoothie, use fresh fruits like apple and banana.
- Enjoy the smoothie right away if you can. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for a day or two, but a freshly made smoothie tastes best.
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Easy Green Smoothies For Babies And Kids
Smoothies are a busy, tired moms dream because they are so easy to whip up and an awesome way to get a host of nutrients into our growing kids in one sitting.
Theyre especially great when your child is sick, doesnt have much of an appetite, or is on-the-go a lot of times.
I always aim to add some type of vegetable alongside the fruits. And since greens wilt quickly, adding them to smoothies helps reduce waste.
You can also freeze them, which is what I always do whenever I purchase a big container of spinach or baby kale. Its SO convenient to have as you can easily add them to so many foods like, pancakes, muffins, cakes, and of course, these smoothies!
I do want to encourage you to continue offering the greens in their natural state. Otherwise, you may find yourself constantly having to sneak them into their foods, which can hurt their trust and make things harder for you.
Best Tips For Success
Here are some tips to consider when making a fruit and veggie smoothie for your kids.
- If you can freeze the greens ahead of time, the finished product will taste much less green but will have the same nutrition. Just make sure the greens are dry, then put them into a zip top freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Blend really well to get a very smooth consistency, adding a little more milk as needed to thin.
- You can get a less thick texture in toddler smoothies, which some kids prefer by using fresh fruit rather than frozenand this is also a good option for winter days when a frozen drink is less than ideal.
- You can use yogurt in place of milk if you add a fruit with a lot of liquid like a clementine or orange.
- Try using half milk and half yogurt for a creamier texture some toddlers may prefer.
- Serve toddler smoothies in a reusable pouch or in a cup with a straw.
- You can also offer small tastes with a spoon if you have a child who isnt yet a fan. Consider even a small sampling a success!
- Sprinkle on some granola or a favorite cereal and serve as a smoothie bowl for a fun variation.
- And if nothing else works, freeze them into popsicles!
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