Monday, February 20, 2012

Secret 'keep my 4 year old full' weapon

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Good morning friends! Welcome to a new week.  For some reason I really love the beginning of the week because it is so full of possibilities! Since I make a good bit of our meals/snacks homemade a good bit of preparation on Sundays and Mondays.  I truly love being able to make most of our snacks and all of our meals.  It is a good amount of work but I find that if I do most of the prep work ahead of time its much easier. 
This morning I want to show you my secret to keeping my always hungry oldest son, Jonah, full.  Now being 4 of course he always wants candy or snacks but I have found something that he LOVES and asks for everyday sometimes more than once. 

Here it is:


 lol I would love to see some of your faces right now! Some of you may not know what that is and some of you may know but for those who don't it is a green smoothie.  These are all the rage right now and honestly I was skeptical about trying one at first but theyare fabulous! I also didn't think my sometimes picky 4 year old would even try this but he didn't hesitate at all!! He actually asked me to make him one the first time he saw it! He loves smoothies but I just thought the color would mess him up.
You can find numerous recipes for these online and of course on Pinterest.  I usually have frozen strawberries, frozen mangos, fresh blueberries, fresh bananas, and apple juice on hand so I just though in a little of each of those along with a big handful of fresh spinach leaves.  I also add a tablespoon or more of ground flax seeds, a few tablespoons of powdered milk or yogurt, and some orange juice or prepared Tang. I don't usually have to add any kind of sweetener since the fruit is sweet already but if its not I usually add a bit of honey. I always make enough for us to both have one cause I love them.   Sometimes I will save a little bit for my youngest and add some milk to water his down some. 
The flax seeds are not only great for our bodies but they also keep us nice and full.  Sometimes I will have it for lunch with something small but I usually fix us one about an hour after lunch when Jonah starts asking for candy.

***UPDATE: Here's my official green smoothie recipe:
1 cup prepared Tang or OJ
2 TBSP rolled oats, old-fashioned or quick
2 TBSP ground flax seed
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
6 small or 4 large frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen pinapple chunks
1/2 cup fresh banana
4 baby carrots
Place all ingredients in blender starting at the top.  Blend for a few minutes until well blended and smooth.  I have a pretty powerful blender so I have no problem placing everything in there at once.  If your blender isn't the greatest, start with the liquids and spinach first then add the rest.

Here's a picture of my Jonah enjoying it:

Don't you just love those bent little toes!!! lol I sure do.  Man this boy is growing up so incredibly fast!

The awesome part about this is you can't taste the spinach AT ALL and it is really good for you.  I love that he likes these and will be making them for quite awhile.  I am hoping my youngest likes them as much too!

Hope you have a lovely day!

I am linking up to:
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10 comments:

  1. Green smoothies can be suprisingly tasty! The first one I made was not so good, hence the "can be", lol. I haven't made one in a long time, but I think you might have just inspired me to start making them again!

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  2. Hey Lindsay! Thanks for the comment. I should have mentioned that I taste the smoothie after I have it all mixed up and then tweak it from there. Did you put too much spinach in it? I hope you do try it again and let me know how it goes!

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  3. Oh and I became a follower of your blog and I added you to my circle on Etsy!

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  4. The trick to a good green smoothie is to put a banana in it every time. I think vanilla yogurt helps a lot too. Put a frozen banana and a 1/2 c of vanilla yogurt and you can put almost anything else in it ant it will be yummy. My kids love them too!

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    1. Thanks for the comment Rachael! I put a few baby carrots in one on Friday and you couldn't even tell! I love that he loves it so much. Glad your kids like it to! I will be checking out your blog.

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  5. I have kids that are always hungry too! I make smoothies but never though about adding the spinach and flax...such a good idea. I'm going to give it a try this week! Thanks for sharing this great idea. Your blog is lovely and I am now following you! :) Cath
    Home is Where my Heart is
    http://cathhasablog.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks so much Cath! I love that my sion lives them so much in fact he asks for them quite a few times a day. Lol Hopefully your kids will like then to.
      I will check out your blog! Thanks for stopping by

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  6. I love this recipe. I hope you will stop by and link up to my St. Patty's Day Project Parade.

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    1. Thanks so much Lindy! I will definitely link up. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Cute idea and perfectly seasonal. I'd love to have you join me at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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