I love celebrating holidays now that I have a child. With a nearly-2-year-old at home, I’m always looking for ways to teach her about holidays through crafts, activities, books and food. With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, what better time to share some delicious, healthy, kid-approved green snacks?
First up: green smoothies! My daughter loves fruit smoothies, but I was skeptical about whether she’d go for a green one because, well, it’s green. The more involved I let her be in the food-preparation process, however, the more likely she is to eat the result. For this recipe, I let her assist with washing spinach, peeling the banana, measuring ingredients and putting it all in the blender. After watching it whir and turn a gorgeous green, I asked, “Do you want to try it?” Her response was an enthusiastic yes. Much to my delight, she loved it! It doesn’t hurt that these smoothies are absolutely delicious – they’re creamy, citrusy and coconutty, like something you’d enjoy on a Caribbean vacation.
Tropical Green Smoothie
makes 3.5 cups (two adult-sized smoothies, or four kid-sized smoothies), adapted from SkinnyTaste
Ingredients
3/4 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup Greek yogurt
3/4 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
1 ripe medium banana
1 cup spinach, packed
2 Tbsp shredded coconut (I prefer unsweetened)
1 1/4 cups iceDirections
Put all ingredients into the blender + blend until smooth. Serve immediately.
Another super simple, healthy green snack? Fruit, which is made extra fun and appealing when skewered. Again, I let my daughter take an active role in this snack, helping me choose some perfect green fruits from the grocery store. We went with apples, pears, grapes, kiwis, and starfruit. She helped me wash the fruit, then I sliced and skewered them for a pretty presentation. Older children can help with the skewering (which becomes a fabulous art project unto itself), but because my daughter is so young, I felt the pointy skewers were best left in my adult hands. She did clap when I showed her the fruit skewers and loved chowing down on the fruits that I reminded her that SHE had selected from the store.
If you’ve got veggie-loving kids at home, you could do similar skewers with fresh green vegetables, and serve them with a favorite salad dressing or hummus for dipping, because kids love anything they can dip!
And don’t forget, there are lots of other naturally-green, kid-friendly foods. Some of my daughter’s current favorites include guacamole (or really, anything avocado-based), edamame, pasta with pesto, broccoli, and peas. Does your family have any favorite green foods that might make an appearance on St. Patrick’s Day?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my gosh she’s so cute with her tiny pony tail!
ahhhh she is just so adorable!! getting so big, it goes so fast
love these ideas! thinking that i need to pick up a bag of spinach for some green smoothies tomorrow night!
Thank you, Rachel + Erin! She *is* getting so big so fast. =) Hope the green smoothies are a big hit in your household, Rachel! =D
My son who picks the tiniest speck of green out of any of his meals can suck down a green smoothie like no one else. I will have to try your version out on him next.
Please do, Danielle, and report back! It’s my favorite green smoothie I’ve ever had, but I’m a total sucker for those tropical coconut/pineapple flavors. =)
I love the ideas! And I can’t believe your girl is already this big!
Cute ideas and I love the little ponytail!
You are so smart to involve your daughter in food buying and preparations. She’ll be someone who grows up loving food – healthy food!
Awesome ideas! I also had a green smoothie on St Patrick’s Day
Great minds, Cathleen …. 😀
The kiwi fruits look amazing, so cute and adorable. As for the smoothie, I’m the biggest fan of green smoothies 😀 (as you probably know :)).
I make a green smoothie similar and love it but I definitely need to add the coconut, coconut milk and yogurt to mine next time. – especially since I love the tropics so much.
Your daughter is darling!
Thank you so much, Vicki! And yes, you absolutely must give this version a try – it is my favorite green smoothie ever!
You have a very cute little daughter. God bless her.
She seems to be relishing the smoothie and why not! It sounds delicious and I love that coconut in there 😀
Aaw your daughter is so so adorable! Love all these green goodies The tropical green smoothie sounds so refreshing and delicious!
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