All About Eye-Healthy Smoothies

Just when I thought I was an expert on healthy eating, my family had a scare due to food allergies and my whole world has been flipped upside down.

My son was recently diagnosed with a condition that requires him to ‘diet eliminate’ in order to pinpoint possible food allergies. In order to do this, he will be going dairy and wheat free for 4 months. Sigh...

A balanced diet is a balancing act

This mama is feeling a little (or a lot) overwhelmed by all of this if I’m being completely transparent. I mean… I already watch my kids’ sugar intake, their protein intake, and am sure to include tons of fruits and veggies into their diets… all while trying to keep them happy by letting them eat delicious kid favorites.

Being sure my family sticks to a balanced diet has proven to be a balancing act for sure!

Deep breaths.

The importance of the right-fit diet

My son’s condition is an issue with swallowing and is caused by an allergic reaction to something he’s eating. So, on top of diet elimination and being sure he gets the right nutrients, I have to find a way to make his food swallowable.

Man, I thought I was really knowledgeable about diet and nutrition, but this has certainly knocked me down a few pegs. After all, I’ve spent years researching nutrition for the benefit of my eyes. This new diagnosis for my son just highlights the importance of a right-fit diet for each of us.

Phew!

Happy taste buds

This kid’s favorite thing to eat for goodness sake is cereal (what’s more dairy and wheat than cereal?). Good thing there are some really great options out there for him despite his diet limitations because happy taste buds are important! Especially for kids and teenagers.

The dairy-free part of all of this seems to be pretty simple. We are currently trying all the options to see which milk he likes best: almond, oat, Ripple… you name it! The good news is, he seems to like most of the alternate milk options enough to make this switch comfortably.

I was surprised to see how many wheat/gluten-free options there are out there for cereal: all Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Captain Crunch, and Chex just to name a few! We are thrilled about that (research is wonderful!). Delicious dairy-free cheese is proving to be a challenge, but that’s for another day. I’ll take the milk win for now.

AMD smoothies

It looks like my son is going to be eating a lot of dairy-free, easy-to-swallow smoothies and protein shakes for the next few months. This will ensure he gets all of his nutrients without eating or drinking the foods he’s needing to eliminate.

I plan to pack extra nutrients into his smoothies using frozen fruits.

Freezing fruit

My family makes a lot of healthy smoothies and protein shakes. Frozen berries are perfect for these in both flavor and nutrients! It’s a win, win. I love to hoard these fruits in the spring and summer while they’re fresher and cheaper so I can freeze them to enjoy all winter long! Freezing fruits and veggies while they’re in season is the way to go!

Helpful freezing tips

When I first started freezing fruit, I learned the hard way to lay the raw fruit in one single layer on a flat plate or baking sheet. This prevents the moisture in the fruit from causing it to clump together. Clumps are often impossible to break apart for smoothies or even morning fruit salads.

Eating the right diet is a lifelong process. It’s important to remember that what works for one person may not work for another. It’s extremely beneficial for each of us to eat the right-fit foods for our ever-changing bodies.

Eat well, live well.