Seuss Inspired "Do You Like Green Smoothies and Chips?"

I am very new to the blogging arena (under two months), so unfortunately I don’t have my timing just quite right yet. This post would have been great a couple weeks ago when everyone wanted Seuss related ideas. But, whether you are tired of Seuss or not – you get it today!

I’ve seen so many ideas for the Dr. Seuss book, Do You Like Green Eggs and Ham (mostly dumping green food coloring into eggs and/or ham and one cute idea for green egg candies.) But, what about a food coloring free idea for using Seuss to interest your children in some healthy green eating?

We recently bought our first Noisy Rabbit basket which contained kale. I know that kale is a super food and great for my kids to eat. But how do you get children to eat kale? My kids aren’t picky eaters, but even they don’t like stewed greens (plus, stewing the kale removes many of the nutrients!) But, what about . . . green smoothies and chips?

Seuss Inspired Green Smoothies Pin It

kale (cut off hard stems)
Strawberry yogurt
Plain yogurt
Milk (optional)
Berries (optional) 

Blend everything together and serve.

Seuss Green Smoothies

I didn’t give amounts, because . . . it doesn’t matter. Go easy on the kale though! I always mix plain yogurt with flavored because I watch sugar content, but you could leave it out if you like. (Note: The box is blocking you from seeing my cluttered dining room table. If Seuss were here he would say, “Would you eat it in a box? What about a messy house?”)

Seuss Inspired Green Chips Pin It

6 kale leaves, chopped with stems removed
1 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 tsp season salt

Rinse kale and drain well. Mix with butter and salt. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until kale is brown at edges (but before it burns).

Seuss inspired Green Chips

Most recipes I’ve seen use olive oil, but I decided to go with butter to add flavor so that I could lower the salt!

Green Eggs and Ham Activities for Green Smoothies and Chips

1.  Read the book Green Eggs and Ham before making one or both of the recipes.
2.  Talk with your children about the meaning of the book: Why would he not try the green eggs and ham? Did the green eggs and ham taste bad? Did they just look different? How do you think that they tasted?
3. Involve your children in making the recipe you choose. Explain that even though you are making something that looks different, it will still taste good.
4. Play a game of asking them if they would eat it in different places around the house. You could even chase them around just like Sam-I-Am. Even better if the places rhyme – but don’t stress over it! (Ex. “Would you like them in a chair? Would you eat them with your bear?”)
5. Then have the final taste test! If they like it – great. Let them eat as much or as little as they want with no pressure. Be sure to try it yourself! 

The Verdict on Green Smoothies and Chips:

Ben thought the smoothies were “the goodest smoothies ever!” I’m not sure the kale was the deciding factor in his decision, but he ate two servings! I could hardly taste the kale myself. It did add a little texture, but you could easily fix that by adding berries to distract from it.

He tried the kale chips but didn’t care for them (he thought they were too “crunchy”). But, I thought they tasted great! Maybe next time . . .

Do you like green smoothies and chips? “Try them and you may, I say!” 

Two (somewhat) related popular posts: Ten Ways that Good Reading Reminds Me of Good Eating
 and Dr. Seuss books for Read Across America