Smoothie Queen (That's Me)

I just updated my profile to reflect that I am now the mom of a hungry toddler and a hungry 7-year-old, as opposed to a hungry baby and a 6-year-old! Oh, the days and moths go by too fast, and sometimes the babies, who were GREAT eaters, become toddlers who are a little more picky. My newly picky toddler has started to reject even trying new foods, and seems to have a dislike of fruits that she used to love! What to do as I watch my toddler's diet shrink, as opposed to grow, with age?

Well, not to worry - after talking with the doctor, I learned (or was reminded, since I've already been through this once) that toddler pickiness can be attributable to anything from teething to maturing taste buds anxious for more exciting flavors to a toddler's natural tendency to shed a bit of the baby fat (and believe me, she's got plenty of that to spare). And that pickiness is often just a phase. So with renewed gumption, I'm forging ahead with continuing to make good foods that offer a variety of tastes and textures, and sneaking in the fruits and veggies where I can!

With my renewed gumption comes a new recipe that sneaks in a few fruits that some toddlers (including mine) consider bitter or tart when served on their own, and can sometimes be difficult to chew, and turns them into a yummy smoothie that both my kids ask for in the morning for a quick breakfast or in the afternoon for a snack.

Fruit Smoothie

1 ripe banana
3/4 cup assorted fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, mango, pineapple, or blueberries (fresh for a creamier smoothie or frozen for a thicker, chilled smoothie)
1/2 cup yogurt (I use either regular full-fat vanilla or Greek yogurt)
1/4 cup whole milk, plus more to thin to baby's liking

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth, thinning with a bit of extra milk, as necessary. I have found that it doesn't matter whether I use a yogurt that has some sugar, or a sugar-free Greek yogurt; the sweetness of the fruits is enough to make it appealing.

I often use just pineapple, banana and mango and call it Mango Tango. Or just blackberries, banana and strawberry and call it Berry Delicious (this one come out a bit purple in color, which older kids enjoy). So many fruits could work - I would love to hear your suggestions!

Serve in a cup with a straw; the straw makes it easy for a toddler to drink and the smoothie is too thick for a standard sippy cup. I serve the smoothie with a side of dry Cheerios for a change of texture and to give my toddler's hands something to do, otherwise she insists on holding (and often spilling) the smoothie.