Soren's Purple Plate

Babies, kids, and parents eat together. Simple, healthy food ideas.

TEA FOR KIDS

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The winter here in New York is getting the best of all of us. It’s March and everyone is so thirsty for some sunshine yet the city was just covered by three feet of snow. Fun for one afternoon of excitement and sledding if you live by the park but not so fun going anywhere when it’s impossible to cross the streetdqs. It’s also freezing. Anyway, it’s just winter. We’ll get over it.

My family has been stuck indoors for a week now with a serious virus. Everyone is coughing and sneezing. We are now past the temperature point but throats still need soothing. Mom and Dad have been drinking tea all along but kids can be funny with it, right? Will yours drink tea? What kind?

Soren, my 2.5 year-old, refuses ginger no matter how I tried but I finally found a blend that he likes. I make my own blend with the loose herbs rather than brewing a ready-made bagged tea. I know exactly what goes into it and how much.

CAMOMILE, SPEARMINT and LAVENDER are considered safe for children. They calm the nervous system as well as comfort during a cold. I make a mild tea with 50% camomile, 40% mint and just a dash of lavender.

Add honey, squeeze some lemon and you have a wonderful warm drink for sick kiddos. Splurge on the honey to increase the chance of your kids liking it.

Hearty Green Smoothie

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BLW from 6 months (omit nut butter until 7/8 months). I was nervous to give peanut and almond butter to Soren but my pediatritian assured me that the earlier the better so I finally became brave and offered it to my son when he was 7-8 months. He was fine and loved it.

 

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Recently I have been inspired by a few Instagram moms whose kids drink fresh juices and smoothies every day, I decided to up my game and start making more smoothies myself.

My kitchen is very small and I often feel lazy dragging the blender out (I use Vitamix) and washing all the veggies but hey, healthy eating deserves a greater effort! ??????.

This smoothie is very satisfying and doesn’t taste “green”, for those of you who are not fans of drinking their greens.

INGREDIENTS:

3 large kale leaves
3 celery stalks
1 apple
1 tbsp of almond butter
1 banana
1/2 cup almond milk
Water and/or ice cubes

METHOD:

Wash and chop all the ingredients and blend on high for 30 seconds if using a Vitamix or longer if using a less powerful blender. Add 1/2 cup of water first and then see how liquid it is. Add more if needed. (I didn’t use ice today).

 

 

Hearty Green Smoothie
 
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Recipe type: smoothie
Cuisine: healthy, vegan, vegetarian
Ingredients
  • 3 large kale leaves
  • 3 celery stalks
  • 1 apple
  • 1 tbsp of almond butter
  • 1 banana
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • Water and/or ice cubes
Instructions
  1. Wash and chop all the ingredients and blend on high for 30 seconds if using a Vitamix or longer if using a less powerful blender.
  2. Add ½ cup of water first and then see how liquid it is. Add more if needed. (I didn't use ice today)

Green Smoothie with peanut butter

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Green smoothie: one for mama, one for papa and a few frozen pops for Soren. A pop like that (minus the peanut butter) was Soren’s first food when we started baby led weaning at 5.5 months. Babies learn very fast how to hold things and direct them towards their mouths purposefully. It’s a great first food and a self-feeding tool. I used Nuby Garden Fresh Fruitsicle Frozen Pop Tray , which can be purchased on Amazon.

Contrary to the old belief of having to wait until one to introduce nuts, these days it is believed that the earlier you introduce them, the better (if you don’t have nut allergies in family). I felt nervous giving peanut butter to Soren around 7 months and watched him closely every time he had it. Sometimes allergies show up after several times of having a certain food. He was fine though and liked it a lot.

Ingredients:

1 heart of romaine
2 celery stocks
1 apple with skin (make sure to buy organic. Apple is on the top of the “dirty foods” according to The Environmental Working Group or EWG)
1 banana
1 cup frozen peaches
1 tbsp ground flex seeds
1 tbsp peanut butter
A little water or even better coconut water

 

Method:

Place all the ingredients in a blender: soft and light ingredients on the bottom and heavy and hard on the top.   Blend until smooth. I use Vitamix because it really makes a difference. It’s an expensive piece of equipment but I think it’s invaluable in the kitchen.

 

Green Smoothie with peanut butter
 
Save Print
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Recipe type: smoothies, snack
Ingredients
  • Ingredients:
  • 1 heart of romaine
  • 2 celery stocks
  • 1 apple with skin (make sure to buy organic. Apple is on the top of the "dirty foods" according to The Environmental Working Group or EWG)
  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup frozen peaches
  • 1 tbsp ground flex seeds
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • A little water or even better coconut water
Instructions
  1. Place all the ingredients in a blender: soft and light ingredients on the bottom and heavy and hard on the top. Blend until smooth. Pour the smoothie into the
  2. I use Vitamix because it really makes a difference. It's an expensive piece of equipment but I think it's invaluable in the kitchen.