How Introduce Smoothies?

[Mom to M&M]

So my almost 19 month old has been getting pickier and pickier with his eating. Now molars and a BAD cold aren't helping matters. I'd like to start introducing smoothies with fruits/veggies/protein hidden in there. BUT he'll only drink milk from his bottle. He happily uses a sippy or straw cup for water or diluted juice but not for milk. And I'm totally OK with that but then how does the smoothie work? Any thoughts?

[anna*]

Have you tried him with a straw cup with a smoothie?

[Mom to M&M]

No I can/will do that. Was just worried since he won't drink more than a sip or two of milk from any sort of cup.

Any favorite super healthy smoothie recipes?

[anna*]

My instinct is that a smoothie is so delicious (and different from milk), he may go for it. My LO was the same, but would guzzle down a smoothie. I'd start with something simple (banana, yoghurt, silken tofu) and then you could get into adding more exotic things. My LO even drinks them with chopped frozen spinach in!

[Jiinx]

mine stopped drinking smoothies Have you tried letting him hold a cup to drink? That can sometimes entice her to drink more...

I don't have any super duper healthy smoothie recipes, just my usual one..

- a few frozen berries
- half a banana - may need more depending on the puree you add to mask the taste
- a teaspoon of flax or chia seeds or both
- teaspoon of honey for sweetness
- almond milk, rice milk, regular milk..about half a cup.
- add a tablespoon of avacodo or spinach or any sort of thing you want hidden any sort of veggie puree

that's it usually makes about a cup for me depending on how much milk I add. It doesn't get frothy like it would if there was regular milk so I add more banana if I need to. Or yogurt if your lo tolerates that.

good luck, Karen I get her to drink from a straw most times as she finds that fun. She likes blowing bubbles into the glass too hehe

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Austin 'eats' a smoothie for breakfast every morning!    He has for at least 3 or 4 months now and he loves them.  We do: frozen berries, banana, a bit of OJ, and full fat greek yogurt (for the protein).   We do them out of a straw sippy.  Definitely give it a try!

I like the spinach idea, Anna.  Tricky!

[Mom to M&M]

Anna - do you add juice or milk or just the banana, yogurt and tofu to start? Going to make a grocery run and trying to decide what to buy - don't have much in house right now in terms of possible smoothie ingredients other than regular milk, frozen bananas and fresh berries!

[anna*]

I just add a little milk or OJ to loosen it up.

[Mom to M&M]

OK here's what I have on hand actually:

- regular milk, coconut milk, almond milk
- full fat Greek yogurt
- firm Silken tofu
- frozen strawberries, blueberries, peaches, bananas
- Diluted apple juice
- avocado

What do you think would be good for a picky, low-eating toddler with a bad cold/congestion (recovering from ear infection)? Maybe apple juice/tofu/frozen fruit? Skip the dairy since he doesn't need extra dairy right now with the congestion? Sneak in the avocado for good fats since he's barely eating?

[anna*]

That sounds good! I'd sweeten with a little honey/stevia/agave because you want him to LIKE it... cut down on the sweetening once he's got the idea that he loves smoothies.

[Mom to M&M]

OK have honey and stevia both in house. Maybe will do 1/2 cup diluted apple juice (Motts for Tots), 1/2 cup frozen peaches, 1/4 banana, 1/4 cup tofu and 1 tbsp honey? Do those amounts sound like they will work or will it need more liquid?

Thanks for all your help Anna and everyone else!

[anna*]

Sounds perfect, you can always add a little more juice if it seems too thick.

[Mom to M&M]

I made as above but used a couple tablespoons greek yogurt instead of tofu - only because I didn't have a clean tupperware to put the unused tofu in. But he totally refused lunch, even a drink - so he went to sleep that way (not surprised though, he's not eating much of anything with this cold).

[Jiinx]

keep trying hun..esp after he's done his cold

*hugs* I feel your frustration.

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Big hugs.  We definitely go through eating refusal, especially with illness and teething.  But he won't starve, really, he won't.  He's the best judge of what he needs/wants.  I know it's really hard but I try not to stress too much when he doesn't eat.  He'll come around when he's feeling better.  And he'll have yummy smoothies to try!  (Also, when he is feeling better, could you dribble some smoothie on his fingers so he can taste it and know what's in the cup?  Sometimes I do this - kind of gently persuade Austin to try something new when he thinks he's not into it and then he's all about it!)