by Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman
I created an original smoothie recipe that helps with weight-gain for kids. (Editor’s note: as a mom to an underweight, picky eater, I can’t wait to try this one!). My daughter is a great eater now (tries new foods and loves fruits and veggies), but things weren’t so easy when she was a baby. From 6 months, when we started her on solids, until she got her first molar at 15 months she pretty much ate only Cheerios, yogurt and cheese. She was never at a point where she was underweight and needed to gain weight but I saw other parents of very picky eaters and could sense how frustrated and worried they were. This smoothie is very sweet and is absolutely not appropriate for diabetics, but is an excellent way to get a kid to gain weight, as it is high in calories and carbs. Dates are are especially high in calories and natural sugars. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and are a good source of fiber. If you have a picky eater who refuses to eat meat, consuming dates is important as they also contain a high amount of iron. Bananas are loaded with potassium and almond milk contains vitamin E, calcium and Omega-3 fatty acids. You can add a little water to dilute it and make it less sugary if you want.
Banana Date Smoothie: Terrific for Weight Gain in Kids (dairy free) #pickyeaters
Ingredients:
1 cup Medjool dates (about 11) pitted
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
Directions:
Place dates in a Tupperware container along with a cup of water. Leave overnight in refrigerator.
Add contents to blender along with banana and almond milk. Blend. (I just pressed ‘whole juice’ on my Blendtec blender).
Makes 3 servings.
More Smoothie Recipes:
https://www.themamamaven.com/pink-grapefruit-punch-smoothie/
https://www.themamamaven.com/avocado-green-smoothie-recipe-o-cedar-promist-mop-review/
https://www.themamamaven.com/jenna-helwigs-real-baby-food-and-smoothie-licious-cookbooks/
Contributing Blogger Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for twelve years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to two kids (ages 5 & 3) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.
Because almonds are naturally very nutritious, almond milk doesn’t need to be fortified. You can make almond milk yourself at home, and it will have the same nutritional value as the almond milk available commercially.