Why Green Smoothies?

Does your toddler love to eat veggies? Do you have the time to cook fresh vegetables to accompany every meal they eat? If you answer no to either of those questions, read on and pin this easy toddler approved green smoothie recipe!

From the time we introduced solids and started making out homemade baby food, Taylor would pretty much eat anything, including veggies, at every meal. “Score!”, we thought…However, at around 15 months she began to really develop her independence and preferences – not to mention an increase in her activity level! She began to reject the veggies presented to her, or eat less of them than I knew she needed for optimum daily nutrition.

She also developed a LOVE for Jamba Juice Acai Antioxidant smoothies. While absolutely delicious, the sugar content in (and price of!) those smoothies had my “I want to be a responsible mama” head spinning. I decided to make my own version of a “Jamba Juice” at home and she went bonkers for it.  It’s basically a simplified version of the green smoothie her dad and I drink regularly.

I decided to make my own version of a “Jamba Juice” at home and she went bonkers for it.  It’s basically a simplified version of the green smoothie her dad and have made for ourselves regularly for years now.

Nowadays, Taylor has this toddler approved green smoothie once daily: sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for lunch, and sometimes for her late afternoon/pre-dinner snack. It’s a total #momwin to know she’s getting such a nutritionally packed meal that she is also thrilled to eat!

Of course, I continue to offer her fresh, cooked vegetables with every meal, but on the occasions when she refuses or eats very little, I am confident that she is still getting sufficient fiber and nutrients in her diet from her green smoothie. I’m not a doctor, and of course there are feeding issues for some little ones that complicate this, but in general it’s recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to introduce a variety of foods to toddlers, multiple times and in multiple ways, in age-appropriate portions, but to let them decide how much to eat.

Why Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Blender?

Okay, so I won’t spend too much time on this piece, but I do have to say that we have tried gone through  several different blends over the years, and the Nutri Ninja Auto-iQ Blender is A) the most convenient for a family (it comes with several different sizes of blender cups), and B) the best a thoroughly blending the ingredients (even whole, frozen fruits or ice!) .

The auto setting is awesome; the Nutri Ninja takes the guesswork out of the equation and blends perfectly every time. I’m not exaggerating. I will not mention our previous blender or harp on any more about the Nutri Ninja, but l think we can all agree that no one wants a grainy smoothie resulting in remnants of kale leaves in their teeth, am I right?

Go get the Nutri Ninja – totally worth the investment in your toddler’s health.

Simple Toddler Approved Green Smoothie Recipe:

Shop Cups With Straws:

The possibilities are endless with this base smoothie! Which other yummy, nutritious, power ingredients will you add to this easy toddler approved green smoothie recipe? Avocado? Egg white protein powder? Gogi berries? What tips and tricks do you have for getting picky eaters to eat veggies?