You all know by now that I Iove making smoothies and green juices. Well, making them with my three children is even more enjoyable. It’s the perfect time to educate them about the importance of drinking real juices. They love juicing whole fruits and vegetables, my kids just find it to be very cool. I have a Breville juicer so it’s big, shiny, and loud. They have a blast juicing whole apples and carrots. Then, at the end they have their own wonderful healthy juice to drink.

My boys, Justin (11) and Nicholas (9) are not huge fans of the my green vegetable juices, and that’s fine. They will only drink the carrot juice. My daughter on-the-other-hand Lily, who’s 3 by the way, enjoys drinking them. They call her my little minnie-me. She eats and drinks anything raw like her mother.

Allowing my children to assist me while making fresh juices gives me the perfect teaching opportunity. I think it’s important to expose them to real juices. All children should know the difference between real 100% juice and the store bought box juices that are loaded with artificial flavors, dies, and additives. Exposing children at an early age makes them appreciate the real taste and flavors of real juice. Plus, you want them to adapt the same healthy lifestyle habits when they grow up and have their own families.

Also, teaching children about washing produce is just as important and going over why they should always wash fruits and vegetables before eating and preparing them. They need to learn the unfortunate side to that which, are the pesticides that are used on the majority of today’s fruits and vegetables. Unless, you’re buying all organic produce the exposure is less. I always buy organic fruits and vegetables especially, the ones on the Environment Working Group’s list , and shop at local green markets for seasonal fruits and vegetables.

This basic knowledge starts at home. What you eat, cook, and where you shop, and where you choose to dine out is also a learning experience for children. Please choose wisely!