Photo: Maltman23

My ChowBaby isn’t much interested in dinner these days. It could be his age. My friends with 3-year-olds tell me their little ones are up to the same “no good.” Or it could be the season. Warm summer evenings make me less interested in big meals, too.



I don’t worry as much as I used to when he doesn’t eat. I look at his consumption over the span of a week (not over a meal or even over a day) to make sure he’s getting the nutrition he needs. My concern is more practical. When Atticus doesn’t eat dinner, he uses the I’m-starving-mama excuse to avoid going to bed on time. And that’s just makes getting him to sleep that much harder than it already is.



Under such circumstances, I turn to drink. Not that kind! Although that might help too. No, I mean the subject of this week’s parenting tip—the smoothie!

Smoothies are yet another demonstration of the ChowMama philosophy. They are great anytime. They make easy afternoon snacks, breakfast on the run (in a sippy cup, if you must!), and even healthy substitutes for junk food—mix ‘em thick and fruity for a delicious alternative to ice cream on movie night.



And smoothies are infinitely flexible. Use whatever you have in your fridge, freezer, or pantry. A little tofu? Some walnuts? A spoonful of peanut butter? Frozen blueberries? Fresh watermelon? Cinnamon? Carrot juice? Mint? Almond milk? Maple syrup? Anything goes! This isn’t about hiding things you’re kids won’t eat. It’s about featuring them. Don’t be afraid to experiment.



My favorite thing about smoothies is that it’s really easy to make them into a delicious and complete meal that even my dinner-avoiding-son will relish. Pack them with things like wheat germ or flax oil or ground flaxseeds and you’ve got something rich in nutrients and totally hearty.



Here are a few of my favorite recipes. I especially like green smoothies since, well, they are green! Mixed with fruit, the greens are much more mellow and yet it is still obvious they are in there. It has made Atticus much more open to eating green stuff. Even seaweed at the Japanese restaurant!  Green or not, I always add one or more nutrition boosters mentioned above to all eliminate bellyaching before bedtime.



Coco-Banana Date Smoothie

Fragrant Peach Green Smoothie

Avocado Apple Smoothie, Tofu Smoothie, and more