Kids and Green Smoothies...

[RaisingAlex]

Raspberry4

Does he like the GS? Has he ever said anything about the color of it? Curious because some kiddo's really have a issue with the color. Maybe is gets all worked up causing tummy pain.
Green Smoothies are very filling maybe he is full?
Just some thoughts. Good luck!

I got the grandkids to drink them by having "science experiments" in the kitchen that they participated in. We call them all kinds of fun names too.

Raw Love
Melissa

[garden granny]

Are you washing the greens/spinach really well? Just a thought, cause I bought some salad/herb mix a couple weeks ago that said it was prewashed and it looked really clean so I used it and within a few minutes I got cramping and running to bathroom. So, I tried rinsing it really good in cold water and used it with no problems at all after that.

[Raspberry4]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas/thoughts. The color is ok for him. I do wash the greens really well (the ones in bags I don't trust anymore after the salmonella scares). The ice is out for now too. Thank you!

[lavendarJ]

I know everyone has their own views about food combining, but I really believe in the power of combining foods properly (even raw foods) and I do like green smoothies but they give me indigestion and major gas every single time (never get gas when drinking separately), so if I decide to enjoy them I do so in small amounts. I started combining and researching food combining long before raw and I believe in its healing power as strongly as I believe in the power of simply living raw. Fruits and vegetable juices really shouldn't be combined and I used to be very disciplined with this prior to raw, but I can eat the same fruits and veggie separately (all fruit juice or all veggie juice) with no problems but when I turn them into a green smoothie-Bam, bloating, indigestion and gas. Some people think it's something your body needs to get used to but I think that on the other hand, the body is intelligent and it's the body's way of telling you that your foods are improperly combined. I don't even mix any fruits together. All foods break down differently. Everyone's digestion system is different, some people drink them with no problem.I drank them this week for a few days and prepared myself for the consequences- some people have to run to the bathroom but hey've never had that effect on me..yet we are all uniquely different.

I hope you find a happy medium for your little one....:)

[klomasius]

We call our green smoothies snot shakes, or halloween shakes.

My 7 y o son has never had a problem digesting green smoothies, but I make a gentle gs of mild greens, banana, orange juice and avocado.

I think for us the addition of some fat in the form of the avocado goes a long way to making both a gentle and palatable drink. My son drinks it no problems and is VERY fussy!

[Pookietooth]

Spinach is very high in oxalates. I think kale is lower, you could strain it after making it to get the bigger pieces of kale out (since it's harder to break down in a regular blender).

[ltcartwright]

In my Hamilton Beach blender I blend the greens in whatever liquid I'm using first until its broken down really well, then I add the other ingredients. With the heavier ingredients the greens take a while to break down. If you have a high speed blender, then this isn't necessary.

My 2yo takes one look into my cup of green smoothie, scrunches up her nose and shakes her head at me. Once the color doesn't look right to her, she doesn't even bother to drink. If I fool her into thinking it's something different, she'll get it on the tip of her tongue then spit it out like she tasted poison.

I wanted to start her on Raw, but getting her to eat anything SAD or RAW is extremely difficult. I'll checked the postings under "Raising Raw Kids" to see if any strategies were used that I can incorporate.

[coco]

they say that the way to get kids to eat any foods is to never force and to offer the food over and over again. i think having it yourself and expressing obvious enjoyment, maybe sharing with other people too, would illicit some interest from your small one.

[MiahTay]

In my Hamilton Beach blender I blend the greens in whatever liquid I'm using first until its broken down really well, then I add the other ingredients. With the heavier ingredients the greens take a while to break down. If you have a high speed blender, then this isn't necessary.

My 2yo takes one look into my cup of green smoothie, scrunches up her nose and shakes her head at me. Once the color doesn't look right to her, she doesn't even bother to drink. If I fool her into thinking it's something different, she'll get it on the tip of her tongue then spit it out like she tasted poison.

I wanted to start her on Raw, but getting her to eat anything SAD or RAW is extremely difficult. I'll checked the postings under "Raising Raw Kids" to see if any strategies were used that I can incorporate.

The way I started my kids with green smoothies is to make them with blueberries and not to much green so that it's still purple (not brown) and they never even knew the greens were in there.

Oh yes, and I agree with coco that when I mmm and ahhh over food and DON'T offer them some it usually makes them want some.

Good luck.

Heather

[klomasius]

I wonder if any stomach issues with green smoothies are at least in part a result of the high fibre content.

I find that if I've eaten terribly (non raw and yuck) and I go back to green smoothies, I get some bowel issues at first. A big hit of fibre has definitely been shown to have some detrimental effects on a system that is not used to it. That's why people who have been recommended they should eat more fibre are told to increase the levels slowly, and not to take fibre tablets as these deliver a big hit of fibre all at once.

The good news is that the issues soon go away after I'm back on a high fibre diet.

I'd guess the same thing would apply to children.

[phytomama]

my 19mo had some funny bathroom issues with green smoothies. she had really loose stools and urgent. a tough one when you are letting her run around bottomless.

i have decreased the amount of kale and added a bit more fruit for her. i also leave out the flax seed meal for her. those little bowels don't need the fiber that we do.

so, we are doing banana, blueberry, kale and spirulina with water. she is digging them, but oddly enough, she loves the greener smoothies more. what a funny little creature i have.

we'll have to experiment with some other recipes.

happy smoothie making.

:)

[klomasius]

awwww...

I just love to hear of little ones who love healthy food, what a great boon for you as a parent! How odd that she likes the greener ones better!