Green Leafy Vegetables For Babies And Kids
Spinach, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, lettuce, beet greensso many varieties!
Green leafy vegetables contain a host of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. They are particularly rich in vitamin K, folate, and some even contain calcium and iron. So of course, we want our children to eat them.
Except that bitter flavors are not those that they naturally gravitate towards, and oftentimes a ton of repeated exposures are needed before toddlers and kids learn to appreciate them.
And if you have a baby, research shows that early exposure to bitter flavors may help increase acceptance and shape food preferences that will carry into childhood and beyond.
So start early! Since introducing them to young babies can be a bit tricky, I show you exactly when and how to prepare them in my 3 month meal plan program. You will be able to incorporate so many different greens to your baby diet with ease and confidence.
Breakfast Smoothies For Kids
A smoothie is an excellent choice of breakfast because it is easy to prepare and is packed with nutrients that your child needs.
5. Papaya Smoothie
Papaya is rich in vitamins A and C, and minerals like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The fruit also has fiber and antioxidants that can help your kids stay healthy.
- 1/2 cup of low-fat milk or water
How to:
- Wash the spinach and grapes properly.
- Slice the banana and remove the seeds from the grapes, if any.
- Blend all the ingredients to the desired consistency and serve.
Preparation Time:10minsServings: 1
9. Banana Smoothie
One of the simplest fruit smoothies you can make for your kid, the banana smoothie is rich in potassium and vitamin C. The cinnamon powder added to this recipe is a source of antioxidants and other bioactive compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. The blend of ingredients in this recipe can help boost your childs health.
Servings:2
Easy And Delicious Smoothies For Kids To Make
Lets talk about getting your kids in the kitchen again. Have you made smoothies with your kids, or maybe even just for them. We love smoothies, kids love smoothies. Here are more than 30 fun and easy smoothies for kids to make on their own, or with a little help.
This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.
I used to make smoothies all the time for my oldest, she went through a stage where she didnt want to eat, and if you had seen her, you would understand why I was making anything to get calories into her. Such a tiny girl she was, she now, at 11 years old it very close to being taller than me.
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Creamy Raspberry Chia Seed Smoothie
Chia seeds add so much thickness to a shake, and they keep you full for hours making this a good before school breakfast. Chia seeds are also one of the best sources of nutrients in the world .
If your kids dont like or cant have raspberries swap out for strawberries, peaches, blackberries or blueberries.
Calories: 255 Fat: 10 Fiber: 13.5 Protein: 12 Carbohydrates: 33
Creamy Raspberry Chia Seed Smoothie Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds*
- 1 cup raspberries
- ½ tablespoon honey
* I like to soak the chia seeds in the milk overnight, just add it all to a jar, cover and shake and place in the fridge. In the morning dump the contents and the rest of the ingredients into the blender and blend as usual.
Raspberry & Beet Smoothie
Image source: Buona Pappa
The bright pink color of this smoothie is 100 percent natural. It comes from the combination of raspberries and beets. The other fruits and ingredients in this recipe easily disguise the beet flavor. This recipe is loaded with nutritional powerhouses that add a healthy serving of vitamin C, iron, and other elements that are important for a healthy, growing child to consume regularly.
Find the recipe and a video tutorial on how to make it at Buona Pappa, a kid-friendly food blog.
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Chocolate Smoothie For Kids
* We sometimes use affiliate links, so we may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Check our disclosure for more info.
A thick, deliciously thick Chocolate smoothie for kids. This easy blender drink is an absolute winner. It tastes just like the old chocolate shakes we used to have often pre Clean eating and this is now a regular smoothie on the rotation list!
Melissa Dorval Pine Rd
Science and Health Educator
Melissa is a registered dietitian and works in our Medical and Scientific Communications department as a Science and Health Educator. She has worked for Pharmavite for over 20 years educating consumers, healthcare practitioners, retailers and employees about nutrition, dietary supplements and overall wellness. Prior to joining the Medical and Scientific Communications team, Melissa launched and managed Pharmavites Consumer Relations department. Melissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Science, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and completed her dietetic internship at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in East Orange New Jersey.
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How To Make Green Smoothies
Just getting into green smoothies? Creativity and an adventurous spirit will take you far! All you really and truly need to make a great green smoothie is fresh and frozen fruit, a handful of raw leafy greens, and a splash of water.
But if you want a little more of a road map than that, weve created a template that can serve as a guide for your blends. This template yields a tasty, drinkable green smoothie that feeds about four people. Print it, laminate it, and stick it to your fridge to stay motivated.
Key Nutrients In The Berry Crush Immune Smoothie
Mixed Berries: Vitamin C, Zinc
Banana: Potassium, Fiber, Magnesium, Vitamins C & B6
Almond Milk: Melatonin, Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamins E & D
Yogurt: Calcium, Protein, Magnesium
Chia Seeds: Omega-3 Fats, Fiber
Avocado: Omega-9 Fats, Vitamins A & E
Egg Yolk: Vitamins A & E
Ginger: Soothes the stomach
Turmeric: Healthy inflammation response, Soothe minor aches
Protein Powder: Additional protein – add your favorite!
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Smoothies For Toddlers To Gain Weight
If your doctor has told you that your toddler needs to gain weight, a smoothie can be a helpful mealtime tool. Consider adding nut butters, avocado, healthy oils , full fat yogurt, hemp seeds, and offering a serving of a toddler smoothie at snack time, mealtime, or as a bedtime snack.
Use those in between times to get in a little extra nutrition and calories .
TIP: Find more foods to help toddlers gain weight here.
Yummy Tummy Smoothie For Kids
- Pin
If youre a mom, you must likely have encountered days of tummy issues with your kids. From tummy aches to food sensitivity, diarrhea or the dreaded constipation, most moms have seen it all and yet we still survive. Around here, we go through phases of constipation. Constipation stresses me out though because I try really hard to get my kids to eat all their fruits and veggies and I try to make sure they get enough fiber in their diet. But yeah, constipation still happens. As all moms do, a little detective food tracking work is in order. For our kids, Ive found that when they are in an Im not eating or Im only eating this phase, constipation is sure to follow. Enter this yummy tummy smoothie for kids.
So whats in a yummy tummy smoothie for kids? Greens of course + fruits and one of my favorite liquids, coconut water. Simple enough and highly effective most of the time. And if things are really bad then I add prunes. My kids actually love prunes so they may just get them as a side to the smoothie. On occasion, Ill also add some probiotics and a little fiber.
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Blending Tips For Making A Perfect Aa Smoothie
- Choose a good blender. While any blender would do, investing in a quality blender makes the whole process a lot easier. A high-speed blender would work best.
- Throw the SAMBAZON packets in warm water until you can easily break them into small pieces.
- Put the liquids first before adding the frozen ingredients. This will help the blades to spin freely.
- Gradually add liquid. You should add as much liquid as necessary until you achieve the perfect blend.
Mango Peach Smoothie For Summertime
Kids smoothies in bright colors always look appealing to the little ones. The drinks bright yellow color comes from beta carotene and supports eye and skin health and the immune system.
In fact, mango is the richest in beta carotene from all fruits and vegetables! It also has high levels of vitamin C and A. An additional benefit from mango is that it improves teeth and gum health!
I like to mix it with fresh peaches to enhance the vitamin C and antioxidants in the drink for the toddlers I help to care for. Try mango and peach smoothie using the Themidgetmomma.com recipe.
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Tips For Making The Best Constipation Smoothie
- If you cant find or dont have kefir, try half yogurt and half nondairy milk.
- Trade in 1 small fresh orange instead of the blueberries for an option.
- Use almond butter instead of or in addition to the coconut oil.
- Read more about toddler constipation here to learn what other steps you can take to help.
Can I Make This With Greek Yogurt
You can make this yogurt smoothie with Greek yogurt if you prefer. The result will be slightly thicker, but it will also contain more protein. Try it both ways and see what you thinkand if your toddler has a thickness preference!
TIP: We love this strawberry yogurt smoothie without banana as an easy option if youre out or if you have a banana allergy in the house.
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Tips To Make Healthy Smoothies Appealing For Kids
If you want to ensure that your children are hooked to healthy smoothies, here are a few tricks you can use.
Smoothies can be a great way of including more fruits and vegetables in your childs diet. If your child is a fussy eater, then smoothies may help replenish the food your child left at the table during their last meal. Remember to keep smoothies healthy by avoiding artificial colors and sweeteners. Keeping it natural is the ideal choice for your childs good health.
Try our recipes for healthy smoothies for kids and let us know what you think! Do write to us in the comments section below.
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Yummy Tummy Smoothie Recipe
Wondering about the containers I keep our fruits in? No? You should because you will love them. They are the Rubbermaid FreshWorks produce savers and they really work. Now while this yummy tummy smoothie for kids is a must have recipe for parents, these FreshWorks are just as important because we all know produce go bad far too quickly. And they are expensive! Expensive I say especially when you buy organic. I could go on and on about the cost of food thats good for you and the sometimes sad state of produce in the grocery store but Ill save that rant for another day.
On average, if I keep my produce stored in the grocery store container, they may last a week but usually less! My kids are used to having a ton of produce because, waste not, want not!
Tip: Never wash or cut up produce before storing unless you plan to freeze them right away.
Tip 2: Let the family know they still need to wash the produce once they take them out of the FreshWorks containers. Trust me, you will need to remind them a few times. LOL.
So cheers to better tummy days with this yummy tummy smoothie.
Whats your favorite smoothie ingredients?
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Irresistibly Yummy Smoothie Recipes For Kids And Toddlers
Have you met a child who doesnt love a smoothie? Most of the kids I have been in contact with would rather drink a fruit smoothie than eat actual fruit.
Today, I will share a compilation of my favorite smoothie recipes for kids, made from healthy ingredients. If you lack inspiration and/or time, I hope my list will be useful!
You can also use the smoothie recipes for toddlers to prepare them breakfast, snacks, or healthy treats.
Delicious Smoothie Recipes For Children
Making an interesting combination of smoothies for children is easy! Kids can be in charge of pressing the buttons of the blender and choosing their own combination of ingredients. If your children are much older, give them the opportunity to prepare their very own smoothie by themselves.
We have compiled 10 delicious ideas on different kinds of nutritious smoothies for kids along with the recipes.
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Balance Your Wellness With Nutrition
Your sleep habits, immune health routine, and stress management activities might seem like different aspects of your overall health and wellness, but in fact, they are interconnected. How? Consider this: when you are experiencing stress, your sleep might be disrupted. This can increase fatigue, which then impacts your ability to cope with stress. When you are not managing stress and not sleeping well, your immune system function can be negatively impacted. When you are not feeling well, your sleep can be impacted again, which can lead to more stress, and so the cycle continues.
This might sound negative, but the flip side is when you are supporting one aspect of health, such as your sleep, then the others can benefit from this support. So, lets focus on the positive!
One way to help support these three areas of wellness is through good nutrition. By eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats, youll gain vital nutrients that your body needs, like the B vitamins and minerals with antioxidant properties . One easy way to load up on these nutrients is through blended smoothies. Theyre not only easy to make, but theyre packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and healthy fats.
How To Make Healthy Smoothies For Kids
Making healthy smoothies for kids is easy. So easy that you can even get the entire family involved!
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Often, if the kids get to press the buttons on the smoothie blender, they will love the sound of it as opposed to being fearful of it.
For the youngest in your house let them press the button. For older kiddos, let them add in the ingredients. And for your big kids who love to do it themselves, let them do all of it!
I like to portion out all the ingredients into little bowls and let my daughter do all the adding to the blender. Sure it makes for more clean up, but she LOVES it, and is always more opt to drink the smoothie when shes made it.
That brings me to another tip: Often, picky eating kids are picky as a way to control their lives a little. So give them the control here, let them pick the ingredients!! Allow them to feel in control of their food and they may be more open to trying new things!
Making smoothie recipes for kids is really easy!
Directions:
- Step 1 add all ingredients to blender
- Step 2 blend until smooth
- Step 3 serve and enjoy
If you want to make the smoothie cold, you have two options:
1. Freeze the fruit, or buy frozen fruit.2. Add 1/2 a cup of ice.
Chances are, many adults will enjoy these drinks the nutrition is there for the adults. So please hold the hate mail, thanks .
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Crazy For Kale Smoothie
This kale smoothie is one of my reader favorites, its also one of my daughters favorite. You can find it in my 10 Green Smoothie Recipes for Quick Weight Loss article, though you dont need to be on the weight loss path to enjoy all the nutritious value in this popular drink.
Calories: 275 Fat: 6 Fiber: 5 Protein: 11.5 Carbohydrates: 50
Crazy for Kale Smoothie Ingredients:
- ½ cup cherries
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 cup water
Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie For Picky Eaters
Toddlers smoothies with strawberries are delicious even for picky eaters! Because of the cottage cheese, the cheesecake smoothie is also an excellent protein smoothie for kids. The drink from Fromscratchfast.com almost tastes like a milkshake and has lots of excellent ingredients!
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