Green Smoothie Recipe for Babies and Toddlers
If you have a baby or toddler and are ready to introduce them to the lovely world of green smoothies then keep reading. If you are an adult who's curious about green smoothies or have a child who has never tasted one before, then keep reading. This post is for you too!
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. This gives babies and toddlers the opportunity to learn how to properly drink from a real cup right from the beginning. And, as an added bonus, they lessen their exposure to very toxic substances found in plastic: BPA and BPS!
Tom's TED talk on cruciferous vegetables
Why introduce green smoothies to a baby? This is the perfect time! Children's taste buds develop in the first 3 years of life so it's best to take advantage of this time and offer a wide variety of healthy food choices. This helps to establish a taste bud-brain connection to different flavors and textures! Kale and other dark leafy green vegetables can have a strong flavor but are also a powerhouse of nutrients.
The amazing chemicals in kale and other raw cruciferous vegetables assist in detoxification.
In fact, sulforaphane in these dark leafy greens ramps up phase 2 detoxification in the liver, providing over 72 hours of protection from both environmentally and internally produced toxins. Considering that cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the US today, I think it's very important to make sure that older babies and toddlers are receiving at least one small serving of raw cruciferous vegetables every one to two days. Green smoothies are a perfect way to get them in!
Baby Green Smoothie
This mild-tasting smoothie is very simple to make using a high-powered blender. Once your child gets accustomed to this version, add another leaf of kale to the blender (the flavor will get a little stronger). I like to add a little freshly squeezed lemon juice to all smoothies which will help prevent the fruit from oxidizing and keep the smoothie fresh, especially if you plan to store it in the refrigerator for a day or two. Some babies react to citrus so please check for a reaction before adding it to the smoothie. I like to buy bunches of ripe organic bananas and then peel them and freeze them in large containers to have on hand for smoothie recipes like this one. If you have leftover smoothie, you can freeze it in popsicle molds. My kids love eating green smoothie popsicles!
One quarter of a bunch of kale usually equates to about 2 large kale leaves. I like to keep the amount of kale to a minimum when first introducing green smoothies.
- Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until ultra smooth and creamy.
- Serve immediately or pour into a jar and store in your refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Use this recipe in our Meal Planner
About the Author
Ali Segersten
Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.Nourishing Meals Newsletter
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Comments
is it safe? please notify me
is it safe for babies? like it's raw? no need to boil them first? or deep clean?
Thanks for such a informative post.
Hello, I'm interested in trying these green smoothies. However, I've read in other places, especially Nourishing Traditions etc., that too many raw greens can be hard on our systems - too much oxalic acid. Do you ever cook the greens before making smoothies? What are your thoughts on this? Thank you! I'm learning so much from your website.
It really depends on the baby. Anytime between 8 and 10 months is a good time to start. How are you thinking that greens could burden a baby's liver?
Yes, it's good to start with fewer greens for little ones. And if he still isn't interested, wait a month and try again. :)
At what age do you think it's safe to introduce greens to a baby? Mine is 8 months, and while I'm anxious to start him on green smoothies, I also don't want to burden his liver, which is still developing. Would love your thoughts!
Thanks for the recipe. I've been trying to make baby food with lots of greens but my 15 month old takes little interest - I think maybe I've been trying to include too high a ratio of greens, after looking at this recipe. Maybe if I start with fewer greens and ramp up he'll take to it better.
Thanks for this post, it's so important to introduce babies and small children to a range of different flavours while minimising 'sweet' flavours where possible for as long as possible.
This smoothie would be fabulous for anyone however and in particular I love smoothies that combine kale and pear - it's divine!