He's no Jack Lalanne, but...

He does DRINK his veggies!

Jackson doesn't have issues with all veggies (as I have been told some toddlers do), however he is particular, and I can't blame him.

Steamed greenbeans are better warm.

Roasted carrots are, too.

Corn is more fun on the cob.

Edamame beans are yummy in salads.

Cauliflower should be sauteed with olive oil.

Zucchini is nice on a skewer.

Peppers are boosted with dip.

Celery is great in a stir-fry.

Onions are best when caramelized.

The list goes on.

Now, look down that list again...

Which of these items are good as finger food in the car/ grocery cart/ stroller/ lunch box?

NONE!

This is our primary problem with veggies and Jackson:

He likes veggies the way I cook them at dinner-- not as cold sticks packed in a ziploc.

But when we go and go and go from 6am (if not earlier) until 12-1pm, the majority of Jack's food is snack-sized fruit/carbs/dairy (in that order, actually). Then he naps, wakes up, adjusts, plays, and often "yikes" everything in sight around 4:30pm, when it is obviously not time for dinner... so you Give [the] Mouse a Cookie (not really, but I couldn't resist:) to tide him over, and when dinner rolls around at 6pm-- and the veggies ARE made to his liking-- he's no longer hungry. Nor is he interested in spooning a jar of vegetables.

Awesome!

So what's a nutrition-obsessed Mommy to do?

(aside from baking zucchini bread, carrot muffins, and other veggie-laced starch dishes)

Well, as the weather heats up, who wants hot veggies anyway?

And what toddler isn't all about experiential eating? (i.e. if it's FUN, they're IN!)

Therefore, instead of homemade juice-popsicles in the afternoon as a post-nap treat, we're milkshakin' it up!

You will need:

a blender

ice cube trays

V8 fusion/ Eating Right/ or other vegetable-fruit juice

4 oz. vanilla yogurt (preferably one low in sugar like YoBaby)

4 oz. pureed mixed veggies

1/2 banana or berries (optional-- I usually only add the extra when Jack has missed his morning nutrients)

Step 1. (the night before)

Take the juice and dumb it down with water into ice cube trays, for all you mommies who have kids that "don't do juice". You still want the sweetness, just not quite so WHOA!

Plus, this stretches it out for all you frugal mommies ;)

Step 2. (day of)

Place 4 of your juice cubes into a blender.

Add your yogurt, vegetable jar, the optional fruit, and whip it up!

Step 3.

Present your toddler the, "YYYUUUMMMYYY!!! MILKSHAKES!!!!!" and enjoy!

These shakes are easy, tasty, and (once poured in a wide-spout sippy) GREAT for life on the go!