Super Smoothies

It’s time to come clean – my daughter doesn’t like vegetables that much. And sometimes even fruits are a struggle. As a mom, I know that it is completely normal and I shouldn’t freak out, but as a registered dietitian, I want to say my kids are great fruit and veggie eaters! The guilt, the expectation of perfection! But the truth is, we all have our struggles at the kitchen table, even as dietitians.

I’ve done it just like I learned in college and from how I was taught as a child:
Introducing a variety of fruits and veggies at six months and on – check
Role modeling at the table – check
Growing fruits and vegetables in the garden – check (by the way, I think this has a huge impact)
Invite the kids into the kitchen to help with mealtimes – check
What else to do?
No need to fret, all of these things play an important role in developing solid, healthy eating habits. So finding fun ways to include them at mealtimes is something I strive for each day. And the number one way I get my kids to eat more fruits and vegetables?

Rainbow of Smoothies!

Easy to make and fun to slurp, I have four recipes my family loves. We make these nearly daily, whether it’s for breakfast or dinner. It’s a good complement to whatever we are having. I also make them ahead and store them in half-pint glass jars, covered, in the refrigerator for 1-2 days of grab-n-go, deliciousness.

All it takes:
Frozen Fruit (eliminates the need for ice)
Greek Yogurt (makes it creamy like a milkshake)
Banana (makes it sweet without adding additional sugar)
Liquid (milk, juice and juice purees are all great choices)

What you can do right now?

1. Pull out the blender – either immersion or regular style.  The first step is having the equipment handy so it’s not dreadful each day to think about pulling it out the cabinet and moving the coffee pot that is in front of it and all those glass bowls – oh wait, that’s my house!
2. Get to the supermarket and buy a variety of ingredients listed above.  Don’t worry about what kinds, it’s going to be easy to mix and match.

Stay tuned…I will post a new recipe each day this week to use in that blender that’s now out on the counter!