They're toddlers, they're picky, and greens are just not on the list of 'acceptable' foods in their minds.
Fresh leafy greens, yogurt, oats, fruit... These smoothies do the trick every time. I can fill them with as much green stuff as I want, and the kids have yet to turn them down.
And that makes this mama-heart happy!
(Especially when I am very pregnant, very tired, and really not wanting to cook... which seems to be the case more and more these days.)
I use the oats primarily to bulk up the smoothie so I feel better about serving it to my kids as a meal. Feel free to leave them out if you want, but you won't even know they're in there!
And if you think you're kiddos (or yourself) will be turned off by the color, use mostly dark berries for a nice purple smoothie.
*By the way, these smoothies freeze great... so if you don't drink them all up at one sitting, throw the rest in the freezer and thaw overnight in the fridge the next time you want them!
'Eat Your Greens!' Smoothie Recipe
serves 3-4
Ingredients:
2-3 cups frozen fruit (strawberries, berries, banana, mango... whatever you like!)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/2-1 cup juice or water
3-4 handfuls mixed greens or spinach
Directions:
Place the fruit, yogurt, oats and 1/2 cup of water/juice into your food processor. Process until very smooth, streaming in more liquid if needed so it's not too thick.
Take off the lid and add in the greens, filling the processor as full as possible... it will blend down into nothing, don't worry! Puree again until as smooth as you'd like, adding more greens if you couldn't fit them all in at first.
Taste for sweetness and thickness and add a bit more juice or water and a touch of honey if needed.
Serve to your kids and smile when they ask for more!
