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Hey Green Parents!

You’re always nagging your kids to eat their fruits and vegetables, but with our increasing understanding of the harmful health effects of pesticides it’s harder to do so with out some trepidation. Scientists now believe that even small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can be especially damaging during fetal development and early childhood. While the health benefits of eating a diet rich of fruits and veggies outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure, we all want to keep our kids as safe as possible. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a great Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides that makes for a handy list of which produce are low in pesticides and which to stay clear of, or better yet, buy organic.

You can download the guide here and be sure to check out the full list here.

With the heat of the summer fully upon us, those of us lucky enough to have a garden or live near a farmer’s market are reaping the rewards of the summer harvest. Making snacks from fruit and veggies fresh from the garden is a great way to teach kids about where their food comes from…and may also be just the trick to get picky eaters to try new foods! Bring your kids along to the farmer’s market or the garden and discuss how vegetables and fruit are grown as you make your selection.

Try out these fresh from the garden recipes that your kids will not be able to resist!

Mini Pizzas

1 Tomato chopped

Several leaves of basil chopped

1 Tbsp Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Mozzarella or parmesan cheese

Several slices of toasted bread

Combine chopped tomatoes, basil and olive oil in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Place one spoonful of mixture on each slice of toast. Top with cheese and bake in the oven at 350 degrees until cheese is bubbly.

Tip: Add any additional veggies as toppings to make your pizza even more nutritous!

Smoothies

Making smoothies is a great way of using up those items in your fridge that are in what I call the “use it or loose it” category. Creative combinations of fruit (frozen or fresh), juices, veggies, yogurt, milk, grains such as oat bran or wheat germ, sugar or honey, nuts and even peanut butter can make delicious blends of smoothies. If getting your child to eat vegetables is like negotiating peace in the middle east, try sneaking in some carrot or celery and chances are they will drink it up without batting an eye.

Try some of these recipes from KidsCookingActivities.com or simply invent your own!

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1 cup frozen strawberries

2 cups orange juice

1 banana, cut in pieces

½ cup milk

2 tablespoons sugar

Add ingredients together in blender and blend until smooth.

Kiwi and Raspberry Smoothie

2 kiwis peeled and cut in half

1 cup raspberries

1 cup yogurt

½ cup milk

1/2 cup ice cubes

Add all together and blend until smooth.

Mango smoothie

2 soft mangoes

1 cup of milk

2 bananas

1/2 cup of strawberries

1/4 cup coconut (optional)

Add to blender and mix till smooth