Green Smoothie Recipe (for Kids and Toddlers) - Baby Foode (2024)

FAQs

Can I give my baby green smoothies? ›

By about 8 months of age, most babies are ready for green smoothies. We like to avoid plastic sippy cups and instead use small glass or ceramic cups (I just go to the thrift store for these) for introducing green smoothies and other liquids.

Because the ingredients are simple, I use the purees in recipes to help with meal prep! We use the baby foods in soups, I hide carrots in spaghetti, and I throw berries in smoothies! In fact, I made Beech-Nut's pumpkin pie smoothie recipe at the party! It's a great treat for babies, children and adults!

Technically you can introduce smoothies into your child's diet after their first birthday, though we generally suggest waiting until 15-18 months of age. Here's why: It takes time to transition from drinking your meals (from breast or bottle) to chewing and swallowing them.

The best green vegetables to add to smoothies in terms of flavor profile and nutritional value include spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, zucchini, cucumber, and avocado (which is technically a fruit but is more commonly used as a vegetable).

A green smoothie is definitely nutritious, but a diet consisting of only green smoothies (or any single food) isn't healthful. It has to be balanced out with whole grains, heart-healthy fats, lean protein, and fruits and vegetables. So go forth and rock that green smoothie!

Make a salad with tender greens such as spinach or baby kale. To expose kids to dark greens, try tossing together a salad made half with familiar lettuce and half with a dark green one.

When blending baby food, use enough of a base so your blender can blend well (at least 1 cup). Thin homemade baby food with breast milk, bone broth, cooking liquid or fermenting liquid. Freeze (or freeze-dry) any baby food you won't use within three days in an ice cube tray. This is great for big-batch baby food days.

To puree food, you'll need a food processor, blender or immersion blender. Any of these is a great investment if you plan to make baby food regularly. By using these machines, you can quickly puree most veggies and fruits, and when you're done making baby food, put it to use making pumpkin puree or gazpacho!

If you're introducing solids in the form of purées, you'll need something to grind or purée your baby's food to the right consistency. You can use a blender, food processor or immersion blender — equipment you'll likely have at home already.

Is spinach good for toddlers? ›

With the above nutritional values, is it good for children to eat spinach? Accordingly, the vegetable is very benign and has high nutrition, so most ages can use it, including children.

Bananas are a good source of potassium, vitamins B6 and C, fiber, and magnesium. Because of this combination, as well being easy to prepare, convenient to carry, and tasty, they're considered one of the best first foods for babies.

Takeaway. Green smoothies can be a great source of nutrients. They can also help you to feel full and encourage your body to burn fat. The best green smoothies for weight loss are low in calories and high in fiber and protein.

The Bottom Line. Kale and spinach are highly nutritious and and associated with several benefits. While kale offers more than twice the amount of vitamin C as spinach, spinach provides more folate and vitamins A and K. Both are linked to improved heart health, increased weight loss, and protection against disease.

Unlike juices, smoothies are made with whole veggies, so they can be a good source of fiber as well as nutrients. But you're best off making your own. Commercially available smoothies may have lots of juice — and very few whole fruits or veggies.

When can babies have smoothies? While it's ok for babies aged 6 months to 1 year of age to have sips of your smoothie from time to time, we recommend avoiding serving smoothies as a beverage until after your baby has turned one year old.

Don't feed homemade spinach, beets, green beans, squash, or carrots to babies younger than age 6 months.

Dark leafy greens, like Swiss chard, collard and mustard greens, kale, spinach, and broccoli, are rich in: Folate, a B vitamin needed for energy, RNA, and DNA production, making red and white blood cells, supporting brain health, and preventing neural tube defects in newborns.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents or caregivers should wait to introduce juice until the infants reach the age of 12 months and are able to drink from a cup.