Veggie-Fruit Fresh-Pressed Juice and Sensory Kids

Kids with SPD usually struggle with eating because it’s such a multi-sensory experience. A child with sensory processing issues has difficulties with food textures, flavors, and smells because they can be overwhelming. I think it’s ok to offer veggies processed in different ways other than just cooking in order to keep things varied.

​Our dinner table is not a battleground and I often make a green or red drink for dinner that includes vegetables like spinach, carrots, beets. It’s ok to improvise and tweak a recipe to your liking. Get your kids to “taste test”, which is my favorite way to get my kid to try anything. Our drinks may take the form of either a smoothie or a juice. A smoothie (blended) will retain the pulp while juicing will not. Both have soluble fiber but the blended drink will also have insoluble fiber, which keeps blood sugar levels from spiking. I usually opt for a smoothie because it’s faster and less sweet but sometimes it may be too thick for dinnertime. Try to keep the natural sugar content as low as it’s tolerated. Having half veggies-half fruit ratio is a good mix, and I like to add raw, local honey as needed.

Tools and Recipes

As far as tools, I use this NutriBullet for smoothies. I used to have a regular cheapo blender but making a silky smoothie without little teeny pieces makes all the difference whether my child will or will not drink it. Definitely a good investment. As far as juicers go, I got my Panasonic years ago on Craigslist—that’s a good place to look as well. As far as drink recipes, I have a TON in my Pinterest board and I’ve also enjoyed the free and upbeat 30-day challenge from Simple Green Smoothies (not affiliate link) last year, which is starting up again on January 1, 2016. That said, my son got tired of drinking so many smoothies and I had to take a step back. Some recipes have been part of our drink routine, though.
Here are two easy, inexpensive and tasty recipes, one in a juicer and one in the blender:

Green Juice (for the juicer):

• 4 oranges
• 4 carrots
• 1 cup baby spinach
• Optional: 1/4-1/2 cucumber, peeled
• Optional: 1/2 cup strawberries
• Optional: 1/2 beet (to make the juice red)

Directions: Blend everything and serve cold.

Green Juice (for the blender):

• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/2 cup frozen mango
• 1/4-1/2 avocado, peeled
• 1/2-1 banana
• Optional: 2 tablespoons of yogurt or kefir
• Optional: raw honey to taste
• Optional: hemp powder
• Liquid: water and dairy- or non-dairy milk

Directions: Blend the baby spinach in a 1/2 cup of water first to get it really liquified for about 10-15 seconds. Add everything else and adjust the taste as you go. You may use non-frozen fruit as well, but will need to add ice if you do.
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Enjoy!