I’ve never been a huge fan of juices for kids because most of the important fiber and nutrients, which are in the skin and flesh of fruits and vegetables, are lost in the juicing process. Still, juice, especially for kids who have a difficult time eating fruits and vegetables can be a life saver for a parent.
Watermelons are a perfect choice because as their names states, they’re comprised 95% of water as well as being sweet, crispy, and delicious water at that.
Watermelon contains vitamin C and is also rich in lycopene and beta- carotene, which protects skins and the lining of the intestines, lungs, nose and throat.
Kenya has been eating a slice of watermelon every day since it popped back in season, but you should have seen his eyes when I opened a yellow watermelon. The texture of the yellow is a little bit more dense, but it’s still got that sweet, refreshing flavor.
This juice only take seconds to make and is a fraction on the cost of the bottled juices you get at the store which are in many cases filled with sugar and artificial flavors. Another bonus, if you buy a whole watermelon (the yellow one I bought at the farmers market was $3 and the huge red one was $5), you’ll have plenty of your fruit left over to much on!

Watermelon Juice (Makes 2 Cups)

1/4 Red or Yellow Watermelon (about 3 cups)

1. Cut the watermelon into chucks removing the rind and seeds.
2. Place in a blender and puree.
3. Slowly pour the mixture through a strainer into a bowl or large glass to remove the pulp. You may need to use a spatula or spoon in the strainer to keep the juice flowing through.
4. Serve (I like to chill it before we drink it).

I was at my best friend Jillian’s store, Maxwell Dog, when I came up with this idea. Instead of giving out dog biscuits to visiting “customers,” they give them dehydrated sweet potatoes to gnaw on. She gave one to Kenya and he spent a good hour teething on it. He loved it and I knew somehow it comforted him.
I do realize that most people don’t have dehydrators, so if you don’t you can try this on the lowest setting of your oven, but it won’t be exactly the same.
I put every fruit and vegetable I could find in it over night. It was like a science project. Let me tell you, though, avocados are down right nasty dehydrated. On the other hand kiwis and cucumbers were delicious. Below is a list of my favorite, but feel free to try different produce to see what your little angel will love.
I cut everything lengthwise so baby had a big piece to gnaw on for a long time.

Fruit Teether

Bananas
Kiwis
Strawberries
Watermelon
Sweet Potatoes
Cucumbers

1. Set dehydrator to 135 degrees.
2. Slice fruit and vegetables into slices about 1/8 inch thick or smaller, lengthwise.
3. Place on trays and put into dehydrator (cooking time will vary, so check the dehydrator every few hours).
4. Serve.