Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables

Eating plenty of veggies is important to a healthy diet. However, getting kids to eat vegetables is often difficult. Kids that are growing especially need to get the nutrition that are in vegetables and fruits, and even little toddlers need to get plenty of veggies in their diet. It can definitely be hard to get kids to eat their vegetables

There's always, at least, one kid that, no matter what you do, will NOT eat...

I have to tell you that I have three very distinct  (from each other) kids.

Kimberly, my oldest, LOVE salads. Greens, tomatoes... She is getting very a little picky these days, though. She is very skeptical to try new things! But still, I can say she is my best "healthy" eater.

Rebecca is very funny about food. She goes through "seasons". Sometimes she will eat everything, her veggies, salad, but then, something happen (I haven't figured out what - yet) and she won't eat anything! But she NEVER gives up her tomatoes! That she will eat as snack!!

Now Noah... This is another story... A sad one, I might add. I can't get this boy to eat anything! I've tried some different things, but he rathers starve than to eat veggies! It's funny and sad at the same time!

Last year, I went to a green smoothie class just to find out the solution to my problems - at least the "eat your vegetables" kind of problem!!

Green smoothies are greens  blended with fruits. It is actually very easy to cover up the flavor of the greens with the sweet fruits.

So needless to say I was more than happy when I got home and, enthusiasticlly, started making my green smothies every day, with the help of my wonderful not-anything green-eater son! I was quite shocked (the good shocked) when we finished our bright green smoothie and Noah drunk almost a quart just by himself!  He is the one the LOVES the smoothies the most!

So  that's the only way I can get Noah to "eat" greens! 

Does your kids like greens? How do you "make" them eat their veggies?

Green Smoothie Recipes


Base:

I use 40% greens and 60% fruit (adjust to taste)
Water (you can use rice milk, coconut milk or almond milk)
Ice
Banana or avocado (to make it creamy)
Agave (sweetener) to taste

For the greens I like kale, spinach and collard greens best, but you can use ANYTHING green; lettuce, arugula, beet tops, cabbage, radish greens, etc...

And I use whatever fruit I have at home. If you use berries the smoothie will be brownish red!!


Tropical Kale Smoothie


1 large ripe banana, peeled
10 kale leaves
1 cup pineapple, fresh
3 dates, pitted
1 cup mango, frozen
3 ice cubes
1 1/2 cup pure water

Pour the water and toss the banana, kale, pineapple, and dates into the blender. Blend. Then add the mango and ice. Blend again until smooth. Very Yummy! 1-2 servings

Melon Lettuce Smoothie


10 large leaves of romaine lettuce
2 cup ripe cantaloupe slices
1 cup strawberries
1/2 teaspoon agave (optional)
6 ice cubes

Add the cantaloupe, strawberries, lettuce, agave, ice into the blender in that order. Blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

Spinach Green Smoothie


1 large banana, ripe
1 cup mangoes, frozen
1/2 cup strawberries, frozen
5 oz spinach, fresh
1 1/2 cups pure water

Pour water in first. Then place the banana closest to the blade with the rest of the ingredients on top. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2