Happy Eating: Baby Mama Smoothies

Sometimes William is not in the mood to eat a million tiny crumbs of whole grain brain, chopped up greens, half-moons of mozzarella cheese, and slivers of turkey meat. Sometimes, he has a stuffy nose and is not so interested in playing with or eating his food. On days like this, I make us both a healthy smoothie and call it a meal.

Here's the thing I've learned about feeding homemade smoothies to my child: he loves them as much as I do, and I can pack them so full nutritionally that they're healthier than what I could get him to eat off of his highchair tray. The beauty of a smoothie is that it can change a food's texture. William doesn't like cooked spinach, but he can't yet snack on raw spinach leaves. Blended in with his smoothie, he gets all the benefits of raw spinach.

Side note: I know many pediatricians and parents disagree about what is okay to feed your baby. If these foods aren't things you would give to your child, you don't have to make this smoothie! :)

Banana-Mango Milk Smoothie:
2 cups of soy milk or whole milk
1 cup of frozen mango chunks (we buy a huge bag of them at Sam's Club)
1 whole banana, peeled
1 pinch of cinnamon, optional
1/2 cup whole oats (try Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats, not the quick-cooking or instant kind)

Pour milk and remaining ingredients into blender jar and blend until totally smooth. Add more milk to get the consistency you prefer.

The uncooked whole oats provide a full serving of whole grains.

Green Monster (or Spinach & Strawberry) Smoothie:
2 cups of soy milk or whole milk
2 cups of fresh spinach leaves (I leave the stems on.)
1 cup of frozen strawberries
1/2 cup of whole oats

Same directions as Banana-Mango Milk Smoothie.