Super Quick and Tasty Smoothie
Getting children to eat a healthy breakfast can be challenging. This green chocolate smoothie is loaded with nutrients and best of all it’s quite tasty!
Spinach is considered to be a super food, which means it is loaded with vitamins and trace minerals. Research has shown children with ADHD and autism have deficient iron, magnesium, and zinc. Iron and magnesium are important for mood and sleep regulation. Good news is spinach is a great source of both iron and magnesium!
Apples are full of antioxidants, including vitamin C and B-complex vitamins. Vitamin C helps block damage from free radicals (damaged, problematic cells) and enhances the immune system. B-complex vitamins help keep us calm and are good for the nervous system.
Bananas are high in potassium and contain tryptophan. Tryptophan, an amino acid, improves mood and memory. Additionally, the London Imperial College found that children who ate a banana a day had a 34% less chance of developing asthma. Wow, improved mood, memory, and ability to breathe all by eating a banana!
Start your child’s day off right by giving them a green smoothie. Remember to buy organic to avoid pesticides. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, think of what an apple, spinach, and a banana can do!
INGREDIENTS
2 bananas, cut up and peeled
1 apple, cubed and cored
1 tablespoon flax seed
1/3 cup coconut water
2 tablespoons cacao powder
½ bunch spinach, rinsed and stems removed. If you have a Vitamix blender include the stems for extra health benefit.
DIRECTIONS
- Add bananas and apples to the blender first.
- Next add spinach and flax seed, pushing it into the bananas and apples.
- Finally, add coconut water, cacao powder and a few ice cubes, blend.
- Optional. Drinking a thick smoothie is good for oral motor sensory input. To thicken do not add coconut water. Drink through a straw to maximize sensory input.
Reference:
Okoko, B., Burney, P., Newson, R., Potts, J., and Shaheen, O. (2007) Childhood asthma and fruit consumption. European Respiratory Journal, 29 (6), 1161-1168.
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