7 Kid-Approved Organic Vegetable and Fruit Smoothies

We already know the importance of children getting enough fruit and vegetables into their daily diet. However, finding a way to get little ones to eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables every day can be tough — sometimes beyond tough if you have a child that turns their nose up at any food that’s green or has stems. Sneakiness is needed for these picky eaters, and you can help your child get the recommended daily amounts of both fruits and veggies with smoothies. The milkshake-like drinks are perfect picky eater fix because you can throw green vegetables in with fruit, fruit juice, and yogurt – your child will never be the wiser. I serve Eben one of these smoothies after breakfast to drink on the way to school. It gives him the added benefits of vegetables right before the start of the school day. Jump over to Inhabitots for my top seven organic vegetable and fruit based smoothies that your children will devour — photos included.

HOW TO: Make a Recycled Juice Carton Snack Container

Everyday when I pack Eben’s snack for school, I remind him to remember to bring back my nice glass or stainless steel snack containers. However, sometimes this doesn’t happen and my nice, expensive food containers go missing in the elementary abyss – never to be seen again. That’s why I decided to find an alternative and started to upcycle leftover juice and milk cartons into snack boxes that he could take to school without me worrying. If it gets lost, hopefully someone will toss it into the recycling bin. You can design these snack containers to be as large or as small as you like, making them perfect for toting all types of treats. Jump over to Inhabitots for my photo step-by-step directions on how you can make a set of these simple recycled juice carton snack containers, so you can keep your nice containers around for awhile.

6 Video Games with an Environmental Focus

Even though I would rather always see Eben outside interacting in and with the environment instead of sitting inside playing videos games, at least there are several video games available on the market today with an environmental and socially responsible focus. These video games with an environmental focus will show kids ways in which we have impacted our environment and what can happen if we choose to change our ways. Some games teach about different eco systems, problem solving, preservation of our natural resources and even encourage kids to slow down and reflect. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn about six video games with an environmental focus that you won’t mind seeing your child play every once in while.

HOW TO: Make a Puppet Theater from a Recycled Box

Puppets give children the opportunity to become an active participate in their own entertainment, and you can help kids make their own puppet theater from a recycled box. A DIY puppet theater will give kids creative control of the theme, design, colors and concept. It’s a fun way for your child to play director, actor, set designer and screenwriter all in one day. Your children will spend countless hours putting on plays for their friends and family, all of them inevitably ending with everyone reduced to giggles of course. It’s a splendid way to spend a rainy spring afternoon and this puppet theater is sturdy enough to play with over and over again. Eben really can’t get enough of his — we had all kinds of fun with it over our spring break. Jump over to Inhabitots for my step-by-step photo instructions for a recycled box puppet theater.

7 Unique Eco-Friendly Spring Break Activities

Spring break is just around the corner, and even if you’re not lucky enough to get away on a family vacation, you can start planning a few fun and eco-friendly staycation ideas instead! There are plenty of ways to keep the kiddos entertained during a full week off from school — and you can find many right in your own neighborhood or backyard. If long days of “Mom, I’m bored!” give you a mini panic attack, relax. I have seven unique and eco-friendly ways for you to enjoy your spring break close to home without spending a lot of money. These ideas pack a huge fun factor for the entire family, jump over to Inhabitots and get ready for a great, green spring break!