Mixed fruit and vegetable smoothies are the perfect plan for getting kids to eat vegetables. Whether or not you decide to TELL your kids about the veggies, they'll think they're getting a treat! And they really ARE getting a treat... it just happens to be a healthy treat! Smoothies are a terrific way to sneak a few vegetables into your child's diet! Make purely fruit smoothies a few times so the kids grow to LOVE them. Then, start experimenting with adding a vegetable here and there. Carrots or baby carrots are a natural to start with. They grind up to pure liquid and the taste goes well with apples and many other fruits.

Depending on your kids and how open-minded they are about healthy eating, you may need to try a few tricks: Add a carrot or other veggie and then tell them about it afterwards. Even better, ask them FIRST if they like the smoothie you just made them. Then, ask if they notice anything different from the usual smoothies. Then, tell them how proud you are of them that they tried and LIKED something new that happens to be healthy! Remind them that eating healthy helps them grow big and strong (or tall and thin depending on your child's preference.) For my boys, it always helps to point out that the healthier they are, the faster they'll be able to run. Not sure why, but THAT'S what works for them!

If your kids will protest to the sneaky approach, then go ahead and tell them you're adding a new, healthy ingredient and see if they can guess what it is from tasting it: Play "Name that veggie" and see which kid figures out what vegetable you've "hidden" in the smoothie. You can even let one of your kids in on it and have them help you make it for the others. Then, alternate the next day and try a different vegetable.

If you've never made smoothies before, see our How to make smoothies page for a quick lesson.

Here are some of our favorite, easy fruit and vegetable smoothie recipes:

Green Smoothie Tips:

• ANY fruit smoothie recipe can be made "green" (into a fruit and vegetable smoothie.) Try adding a little spinach or other green, leafy vegetable to your favorite fruit smoothie recipe.
• The trick is to start with the fruit and add the greens to taste.
• Start teaching your kids early that "green is good." Read them "Green Eggs and Ham" if you have to and then dare them to try it!
  
  

Have a Vegetable Smoothie Recipe?

Do you have a great vegetable smoothie recipe - or any way you've managed to sneak vegetables into a fruit smoothie without your kids protesting? Please Share!

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Hulk Smash  Not rated yet
I buy bananas in bulk after they are too ripe to sell and therefore marked down 1/2 price. As soon as I get home from the market, I peel them, cut them ...

Kids Island Smoothie  Not rated yet
1 cup milk
1 cup orange juice
ice cubes to make 1 cup of crushed ice
3 tablespoons sugar
spoon or ice cream scoop
plastic bag
blender
rubber spatula
...

Berry Banana Tomato Surprise  Not rated yet
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup fat free plain or vanilla yogurt
1 whole banana
6 strawberries
1 handful grape tomatoes
splash of apple ...

Delicious Emerald Smoothie  Not rated yet

2 cups fresh, ripe Pineapple, (if you have a Vita-Mix, you can even include the core)
1 stalk Celery (cut into small pieces if necessary)
1 cup ...

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