We’re big on making smoothies in our house. Frankly, I don’t know many kids that object to tossing foods in a blender and then getting to press the “on” button to pulverize them. As I’ve said time and again, if you want to get your kids to eat food that’s good for them, get them involved in the preparation process. Making smoothies is one of the most perfect, fun and simple opportunities to do just that.

Recently, Kenya and I have been switching things up a bit in the drink department and making lassis instead of smoothies. A lassi is a Southeast Asian yogurt-based drink containing milk, honey and/or spices. It’s technically not a smoothie, but you’ll never know that from the way it tastes. I thought that adding cumin (a traditional lassi ingredient) might be a bit too bold for this recipe, so I opted instead for a bit of lime zest and loved the refreshing result.

So, power up the blender, grab your little one and have a great time preparing a uniquely delicious and nutritious treat for the whole family.

Tropical Lassi (Makes 3-4 Servings)

1 Cup Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Cup Mango, chopped (fresh or frozen)
1 Tsp Lime Zest
1/2 Cup Yogurt
1 Cup Milk (you can use rice, almond, soy or cow’s milk)
1 Tbsp Honey
12 Raw Almonds
1 Large Handful of Ice

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender on high and puree for 1 minute or until smooth.
2. Serve.

I’m not a huge fan of serving bottled and canned juices to kids because they’re usually packed with sugar and fillers. If your kids love juice — Kenya certainly does — this is a great replacement to what you would buy in the grocery store because it’s like a meal in a glass. But it’s juice. How is this possible, you may ask?

I’m totally aware that just the thought of collard green juice will make most of you nauseous. I get it, most of us don’t even cook collard greens to eat, let alone to drink. The best part of this juice besides the nutritional value from the greens is the gorgeous bright green color of the juice — we may find this an unusual color for a beverage but if your kids are young enough, it’s actually fun for them to have green juice. Collard greens are packed with vitamin C, soluble fiber and contain multiple nutrients with anti-cancer properties. It has also been known to help with bronchitis and blood circulation problems. Collard greens are available year round, but they’re at their best from January to April.

I made the recipe on a total lark and Kenya was instantly addicted. I’m not kidding. Watch the video that goes along with the recipe. He slurps up every sip of his — and mine! — over and over again. Trust me, he’s not a weird kid, it’s really that good!

Super Green Juice (3-4 Servings)

1 1/2 Cups Collard Greens, coarsely chopped
Juice of a large Lemon
2-3 Tbsp Agave, or to taste
2 Cups Water

1. Place all the ingredients into a blender and mix on high for 1 minute.
2. Drink and enjoy.

Holy deliciousness! I was at the health food store and there was a 
plethora of fresh pineapple and papaya to be had. I knew Kenya would love the 
flavor of both fruits, but I wasn’t sure if he would jump at the chance to eat it in 
pieces. One trick I’ve learned is that if I include Kenya in the 
cooking process, whether it’s just letting him push a button or asking him to stir whatever I’m mixing, he ultimately wants to try 
whatever I make because he feels like he’s making it, too. And smoothies are a great way to get kids to eat fruit 
and yogurt without having to twist their arms.
Papayas and pineapples are both high in Vitamin C as well as 
containing enzymes that help break down protein in the body, thereby 
aiding digestion.
Just one taste of this luscious smoothie and Kenya was hooked. I filled 
up his sippy cup and moments later he was back for seconds.


Tropical Smoothie (Makes 8 Baby or 4 Toddler Servings)



1 Cup Pineapple, chopped

1 Cup Papaya, chopped

1/4 Cup Whole Milk Yogurt



1. Place the ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree 
until smooth.
2. Serve in a glass, bowl or sippy cup

We used these to make this recipe:

Cuisinart DLC-2 Mini Prep Plus Food Processor