smoothies

Okay, I talked about this before (in our email chain), but I am more and more convinced that if you want get your kid to eat more veggies, sneak em in a smoothie.  Actually, if you want to get me to eat more veggies, sneak them in a smoothie.

I basically use this recipe:

• frozen strawberries
• frozen or fresh blueberries (I don't use the mixed berries because morgan does not like the seed).  I definitely like to add the blueberries because they are so good for you
• 1/3-1/2 cup of yogurt, I use vanilla, but I'm thinking about making my own yogurt here pretty soon (my Indian friend does it and thinks it's much better.  I agree.)
• banana...bananas really sweeten it up and mask other flavors
• any other fruit--pear is a good one, it's pretty sweet
• 1 cup(or more) milk or apple juice.  I'd prefer to just use milk, but the juice really sweetens it up and my kids are more likely to drink it.  I usually add both.
• spinach.  I fill my blender up as full as I can with spinach
• grated carrot (or left over baby food you want to get rid of.  beware if it has peas in it.  they kind of have a strong flavor.)
• honey or agave if it needs sweetening
• flax seed, i usually add 2-3 tablespoons
• sometimes I add protein powder if I remember.

I usually just make the above recipe, but my friend makes green smoothies, which are more veggie-ish and she adds kale, cucumber, sprouts, bock choy, avocado(makes it creamy), zucchini.  So I bought some kale (which is supposed to be the healthiest of the greens--is that true jamie?), cucumber, zucchini and added it today, and I like it (I grated the cucumber and zucchini).  I can really taste the cucumber, can't taste the zucchini or kale, although the texture is more mealy

There you go, lots of healthy veggies in a smoothie.  If morgan is home i add less veggies, she has a pickier pallet when it comes to these.  Beware of the color.  It's greenish/brown (depending on the blueberries).  I usually put it in a cup with a lid and straw.