It’s common for  parents to struggle with getting their children to drink green smoothies. There are several green smoothie web sites and raw food parents who have spoken about this topic with some of the following creative suggestions…

• Hide the green color with a fancy cup, maybe one with a lid.
• Use a special smoothie straw.
• Start making smoothies that aren’t green, like a strawberry smoothie. As time progresses, add one leaf, then two leaves. Eventually the kids will understand that the color never detracts from the taste.
• Give the smoothie a creative entertianing name like ‘Power Blaster Drink’ or ‘Green Monstor Slurper’
• Make the smoothies “slushy” by adding ice and/or frozen fruit, they think they’re having a Slushee or Icee.
• Tell them it’s a scientific experiment.
• Use green smoothies as a delicious treat.

In one of her past teleconferences, Victoria answered a question from a lady who’s daughter refused to drink green smoothies. While briefly addressing the above solutions, Victoria’s response was also from a deeper level, inviting adults to look at the relationship they have with their child and what responses it is creating. Parents are an authority, if your child is saying ‘no, I don’t want to drink that smoothie’ they are not saying ‘I don’t want to be healthy’, they are saying ‘I don’t want to be told what to do’. As Valya Boutenko says ‘If your children are revolting to the idea of health food, it means they have a will of their own. It is a sign that they want to choose for themselves, and this is a blessing’.

VICTORIA BOUTENKO, FROM 2008 TELECONFERENCE:

It’s a sad question when parents ask how to get their child to drink green smoothies, because I know most children naturally love them. There could be two answers: maybe you could make more delicious green smoothies or maybe she has a preconception relating to raw, healthy food. Perhaps she’s been pressured by other adults in her life and doesn’t want anything to do with it, even if she likes it. Try to find others who can introduce greens and raw foods into her life. Perhaps she can get together with others who eat raw food and be invited to participate without you being present. Perhaps you could buy her own cheap equipment or involve her in preparation. You could say “Let’s make one together that you will like? What is your favorite fruit?” Go to the market and have her choose her favorite green. Praise her when she makes one herself, ask her how she feels and explain to her that greens are liquefied sunshine. There is something amazing about them! If that doesn’t work, just love her and remember to be a good example.