I still roll my eyes at the smoothie fad, but if it works for you great. There is a brand of grocery store smoothies that I buy for my mom primarily for the thicker texture vs fruit juice (she has dysphagia), the variety of healthy ingredients is a bonus.
I think anyone who had a picky child knows there are a multitude of ways to sneak healthier ingredients into everyday foods, there are even cookbooks devoted to the subject. Fruits are easier, I would try to not make any dessert that doesn't include fruits/veggies, apple crisp or zucchini muffins are always an easy sell!
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I'm not much into eating fruits/veggies. As an incentive to get my health back into shape, I bought one of those Magic bullet ...which has been sitting on bedroom floor waiting to be used. I checked out your simple recipes - which means not much Expensive ingredients required. I should be able to swing enough extra money to buy the simple ones. I'd like to give it a try - especially for breakfast since I usually don't have time to eat breakfast before rushing out of the house. Thanks for your tips on how to start off and what's your favorites - it's a great tip for a newbie like me. I'd try your "tastebuds" and then alter it to fit mine. Appreciate it!
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I did not have any difficulty at all getting my husband to eat fruits and vegetables the 10 years I accompanied him on his dementia journey. He always liked vegetables and especially fruit. No problem.

Providing fruit and veggies for my mom has been no problem. She likes a wide range of foods. I didn't know how she would take to kiwi but other than asking what it was she had no issues with it this week.

But ...

One of my sons eats virtually no fruits and vegetables except potatoes and tomato sauce on pasta. And he especially won't eat anything green. (He's married to a vegetarian, can you imagine?) So the thought of a caregiver trying to improve his nutrition in later years has me shaking my head. Glad it won't be me (the gods willing)!

Your suggestions are helpful, Taji, but I think they really require a willing care receiver. Glad I've been lucky to have that!
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I agree...smoothies are a great way to get fruits and vegetables into the diet. I use chia seeds in water as my base everyday, instead of a milk-type product. The chia seeds add a lot of fiber, good quality protein, and omega 3's. Add a banana, blueberries, a bit of raw chocolate powder, a large handful of spinach, kale or other greens, perhaps a bit of maca or other powder. I also take 25 different raw fruits and veggies in capsule form each day just to fill in any gaps.
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Cuizen makes a personal drink blender with several 16 oz containers with screw-top lids that is ideal for this situation. It is much quicker and easier to clean than a blender or food processer. Asian food markets usually carry large diameter plastic straws for a popular drink made with tapioca.

Drill a 1/2 inch hole in one of the screw-top lids to accomodate the large straw and very little can spill if tipped. This is excellent for soups and will even blend beef stew that can be drunk through a straw.
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Taji, I really appreciate your ideas.
Last year we needed to help my husband with digestion and weight gain.
Now each morning, I make three smoothies for the day:
1) A fruit smoothy using apple, seasonal fruits and prunes, flax and chia seeds and walnuts blended in water. It provides a gentle start to the morning with lots of vitamin C, some protein and a comfortable fullness from the chia.
2) A veggie smoothy made with an apple, carrots, celery, beets and greens, and flax, chia and walnuts blended in water. We drink this midday and though out the afternoon for a boost of vegetables that clear the head and give us energy.
3) A green powdered smoothy mixed with water in a shaker, which provides concentrated "protein, vitamins and minerals, probiotics and enzymes"
I sometimes mix this with our veggie smoothy for a refreshing and revitalizing boost of energy.
We also eat healthy, cooked foods, but the smoothies guarantee a nutritional balance and gut health.
I had forgotten about frozen banana ice cream. It will be great in the warm weather.
Thanks again for your insight.
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