Being health conscious is all the rage, and for good reason! In fact, it’s gone beyond being trendy and is fast developing into a lifestyle for many.
These days, the word “organic” can be applied to so many different things, not just food, but with cosmetics and even clothing. It’s become a selling point for a lot of products, but make sure you read the ingredients and do your research so that what you’re getting is certified organic.
At The Maya Kitchen, we’re all for this movement of eating healthy, especially when it comes to feeding our kids. Health is wealth, and the best way to get them their daily dose of nutrients is to integrate it into their diet. By doing this, you can actually do away with the need for multivitamins.
Now here lies the problem: kids are notorious for not wanting to eat their veggies. They push them around on their plates, hide them between the folds of napkins, and try to feed them to the family pet. No amount of pleading or bribing seems to work.
On the other hand, fruit goes down way easier and kids can develop a love for them at an early age. They’re nutritious, contain a lot of essential vitamins, and they’re naturally sweet. But you can’t depend on just fruit for a well-rounded diet. For one, they still have a lot of sugar, which isn’t good for anyone in large quantities.
Convincing kids to consume their greens is a problem that parents have faced through the ages. Thankfully, we have the answer: Give them a combination of fruits and veggies in the form of refreshing smoothies or fresh juices.
It’s as simple as juicing or blending your child’s favorite fruit with veggies like kale, carrots, or spinach. Trust us, they won’t even taste the difference. This may seem a bit manipulative, but when they’ve declared, “This is my favorite smoothie ever!” they’ll be surprised to know that what they refuse to eat can actually taste great!
The Maya Kitchen has a few tasty smoothie and juice ideas we’d like to share with you.
Our Power Booster Juice isn’t just for kids, but for the kid in you who is still averse to eating your veggies. It has 6 kinds of fruits and veggies, including celery, carrots, and cucumber. Not only does this taste great, it gives you that extra boost of energy you need for a busy day ahead. Plus, it’s super rich in fiber.
Kids associate veggies with the color green and fruit with red-colored liquids (apples, cherries, etc.), which is why they’ll chug this concoction down in no time. Find out how to make this here.
Melon is rich in Vitamins A, C, and potassium, with the added plus is that it’s so readily available. This Cantaloupe Soda Float is sure to be a hit with your kids. To top up the nutritional value, add half a carrot and replace the sugar with honey. There’s no way your kid will detect the carrot while slurping up some vanilla ice cream! Read the complete recipe here.
One last tip: adding ingredients like acai and chia seeds to your smoothies will make them even healthier. We know that veggie-appreciation can take time, but at least this way you and your kids can happily blend or juice your way to a healthier life.