Smoothies with a Twist

Smoothies are a great, healthy snack for your kids. And here's my little secret to make them even more nutritional for your kids (and you for that matter).



Just throw a handful of fresh spinach into the blender with your other smoothie ingredients. Even though it will turn the smoothie green, your kids will not be able to taste the difference. By adding spinach to your smoothies, your kids will get all the nutritional benefits of eating a large bowl of greens, which I know is hard to get most children to do.

Spinach is a super food: it is rich in antioxidants, a good source of iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamins A, C, E, K, B2, and B6 as well as magnesium, potassium, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are essential for keeping our kids healthy and happy.

Spinach for Kids

Spinach is a super food—it is low in calories; rich in antioxidants; high in iron, calcium, and folic acid; and a good source of vitamins A, C, E, K, B2, and B6 as well as magnesium, potassium, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

But if your kids are like most I know, getting them to eat spinach is practically impossible. Adding spinach to juices is a fun and easy solution to incorporating spinach into your child’s diet without altering the taste of their favorite drinks (although it does turn the juice green). Add a handful of fresh spinach leaves to orange juice, apple juice, or any other 100-percent fruit juice and blend it in the blender. You can even put the nutrient-rich juice into your toddler’s sippy cup.

Another alternative for your kids (or for you busy parents) is to make a spinach and fruit smoothie. You can use whatever fruit you want in the smoothie, but I typically use frozen strawberries and blueberries, part of a banana, spinach, and orange juice. The result is a perfectly healthy treat for your family!