ingredients for the new hawaiian storm: kiwi, orange, pineapple and almond milk

that’s right, my kitchen has basically been turned into a one-stop smoothie shop. little did i know a week ago when i decided to try and sneak some extra fruits and veggies into the boys’ diets that they would totally get addicted to the idea of a smoothie! thanks to my ninja blender, i’ve been sneaking stuff into their diets that they wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole otherwise. #momwin

let’s back up to where it all started: i’ve been thinking for a while now about just how few fruits and veggies my boys are getting on a daily basis. (and, i know because of their age and size, they don’t need the same amount that an adult does, but still. we’re talking minimal.) and, trust me, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. both boys just don’t eat a ton in the morning, and their lunches at school come home sometimes half-eaten due to time (and a fierce social butterfly streak in both of them). dinner is always where i have tried to incorporate more of the good stuff. even then, most of the time, they didn’t even get to the good stuff.

i’ve done the veggie plate appetizer plate for them (which works wonders!), but i wanted to incorporate something else for them that had some texture and that didn’t add any extra added sugars or processed stuff to their diets. so i took a leap. and, they are obsessed.

we call this one the mean green. (the boys think the green comes from green apple. nope.)

so obsessed that little mr. re-nest #1 is making a menu of all of our recipes, naming the smoothies, and is in the early works of setting up a smoothie stand this summer (we’ll see how this last thing goes). but for now, they are asking for a new recipe each night, and we’re having a great time playing fruit and veggie mixologists. (confession: they think that these are all fruit. i’m totally adding veggies like spinach, kale and carrot. and they have no idea. shhh.) 

here’s one of our current favorites that gets lots of vitamin c, fiber and other goodness into your kiddos’ day for you to try at home!

the orange bloomer smoothie (i’m using a ninja professional blender to make these, using the nutri ninja with the travel cup attachment to blend and serve)

2 medium sized naval oranges, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces

1-2 cups chopped fresh pineapple

1 full sized carrot (see, i’m sneaky!)

8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (or water)

add everything to the ninja travel cup, seal the blade, and choose the nutri ninja option on your blender. if you’re using another type of blender, i would go with a puree option to get everything blended nice and smooth.

and, if you want to follow along with more of our smoothie adventures, be sure to follow me over on instagram! i’m always sharing our latest concoction in my instagram stories + the boys’ ratings on the new blends! if you try smoothies of your own, be sure to share here or on instagram what you + your family are making and loving!