“Yay smoovee, yay smoovee!” That’s what my two year old says every time he sees the blender come out. People always ask how my son eats and are amazed when I tell them he loves spinach, mushrooms, onions, avocados and even salad! Yet he thinks potatoes are poison! He eats what my husband and I eat, and his meals have always been focused on veggies and fruits from the very beginning. And he loves his smoothies. Smoothies are a great way to get your children to eat all sorts of fruits and veggies. Especially the healthiest of dark leafy greens. It’s also a fantastic way to improve your diet as well and get the nutrients your body needs. Make every smoothie an experiment. Try different fruits and greens to find one you love.
I believe that if you start baby’s palate off with fresh healthy food then you can ensure a much easier ride through the picky times. Of course children are always changing, keeping us on our toes. The day will come when something they used to love they won’t even touch. It could be a mixture of taste buds changing, defiance and becoming more independent, or instinctively they know what their body needs and does not! As adults and the chefs of the house we get to decide what’s for lunch every day. I’m not quite so sure I would enjoy someone else deciding what I was going to have every day. So make sure to rotate with a variety of foods. And when they don’t eat something one day, don’t give up. Wait a few weeks and try again. When your child gets to a certain age where they can understand making choices, then let them choose from 2-3 healthy items. Making sure you’d be happy with any of those choices. Of course you can’t cater to your child at every meal, every day. We’re trying to teach independence, but we also don’t want them to become the boss. By giving them choices they may have more desire to eat those veggies. Once your child can cruise around, get them involved in making their own food.

Kids love to help, take advantage of this now, even if it seems more of a hassle and makes a mess, it will pay off in the long run! It’s also important for your children to see you eating healthy foods and enjoying them! If there’s something you don’t like, don’t be afraid to offer it to your child because they may love it!
Here’s a simple smoothie recipe for you and your little one to try:

Blueberry Blast!
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 banana or avocado
4-5 leaves of kale, spinach or Swiss chard *
1-2 Tbsp of Flax Oil
1 cup of coconut water

Blend all ingredients and enjoy.
* I usually food process my greens before I put them in my smoothies to help them blend better. A mini food prep works great and is easy to clean.