The Keep-the-Doctor-Away Smoothie
By Karen Barski
With a pandemic roaming the globe, the one thing on all parents’ minds is making sure kids stay healthy. As a nurse for 25 years and a wellness coach, I can tell you this: When it comes to keeping the doctor away, you can’t beat smoothies. The best time to have one is first thing in the morning, when the stomach is empty and this superfood immunity-boost can go right into the cells. The body has been sleeping all night and is not digesting any food, which means it has more time to do what it should: keep your organs clean, healthy, and functioning at their highest level to prevent sickness and disease. Here are two recipes kids will love. Both serve 2–3 people. Just blend the ingredients in a blender or VitaMix and drink away.
Keep-the-Doctor-Away Smoothie
1 cup organic frozen mixed berries
1 banana
2–3 scoops of vanilla protein powder (we choose dairy-free, plant-based)
2–3 tablespoons chia seeds or chia/flax blend
2–3 big handfuls of greens like kale or spinach (try Earthbound Organics Power Greens from Costco)
1 ½ cups of water or almond/soy/nut milk (avoid dairy)
Kid-Approved Purple “Green” Smoothie
1 whole lemon peeled (seeds and all!)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 cup leafy greens (kale or spinach)
1 cup coconut water
¼ apple
½ cucumber
1 small celery stalk
½ cup frozen berries
½ banana (can be frozen, too)
Karen Barski has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years. She is also a wife and high-energy holistic mom of five (including twins) plus one angel child. She is an Infant Care Specialist, wellness coach, and inventor of the global swaddle brand Woombie. Through her Woombie social media and her blog, Juiceboxes + TEQUILA, she connects with parents about raising happy and healthy kids. Find her at woombie.com and karenbarski.com.
With a pandemic roaming the globe, the one thing on all parents’ minds is making sure kids stay healthy. As a nurse for 25 years and a wellness coach, I can tell you this: When it comes to keeping the doctor away, you can’t beat smoothies. The best time to have one is first thing in the morning, when the stomach is empty and this superfood immunity-boost can go right into the cells. The body has been sleeping all night and is not digesting any food, which means it has more time to do what it should: keep your organs clean, healthy, and functioning at their highest level to prevent sickness and disease. Here are two recipes kids will love. Both serve 2–3 people. Just blend the ingredients in a blender or VitaMix and drink away.
Keep-the-Doctor-Away Smoothie
1 cup organic frozen mixed berries
1 banana
2–3 scoops of vanilla protein powder (we choose dairy-free, plant-based)
2–3 tablespoons chia seeds or chia/flax blend
2–3 big handfuls of greens like kale or spinach (try Earthbound Organics Power Greens from Costco)
1 ½ cups of water or almond/soy/nut milk (avoid dairy)
Kid-Approved Purple “Green” Smoothie
1 whole lemon peeled (seeds and all!)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 cup leafy greens (kale or spinach)
1 cup coconut water
¼ apple
½ cucumber
1 small celery stalk
½ cup frozen berries
½ banana (can be frozen, too)
Karen Barski has been a registered nurse for more than 25 years. She is also a wife and high-energy holistic mom of five (including twins) plus one angel child. She is an Infant Care Specialist, wellness coach, and inventor of the global swaddle brand Woombie. Through her Woombie social media and her blog, Juiceboxes + TEQUILA, she connects with parents about raising happy and healthy kids. Find her at woombie.com and karenbarski.com.
