Little-man smoothie

I have to admit, working around hundreds of food allergies (my toddler's and my own) has reduced me to tears of frustration more than once this past year. It'd be so nice to not think so hard about every meal; to not perform gymnastic feats in my kitchen; to go out to eat once in awhile and order blithely. And then order a big fat piece of gooey chocolate cake to-go....

That would be divine, right?

Not necessarily. Because the very thing that has pressed me to my limits and twisted my brain into knots, has also taught me the beauty of self-control and discipline. And it's gifted me with hours of creative pleasure and the satisfaction of riddles solved. For example, how do you meet the nutritional needs of a toddler who's allergic to more than 200 foods--with a recipe that's both simple and tasty?

Introducing the Little-man Smoothie.

Not only is this treat nutritious and simple to whip up, but it's also become a precious afternoon ritual for the two of us. Jeremy sits in my lap, and we sip our smoothies and watch an old musical till he drains his cup dry. (I'm not sure what Jeremy loves more--songs or smoothies. I wish you could see his 15-month-old version of "Step in Time." Watch out, Dick van Dyke.)

Please note: I'm no children's nutrition expert. I have only one son, and we have health issues that are different from yours. This is not a prescription, but a catalyst for creating your own tasty-n-nutritious smoothie. Try the recipe below and then adapt it to your own needs. Enjoy!

Little-man Smoothie
Makes 2 large smoothies

Ingredients
8-10 ounces rice milk (or milk of your choice)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2-3 tablespoons flaxseeds
1 cup organic pumpkin
1 medium ripe banana
1/4 cup peanut butter (barring any allergies, of course)
1 handful of gluten-free oats
8 drops liquid Stevia (or sweetener of your choice)
1-2 cups ice
**Occasionally I'll throw in a teaspoon of vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, etc. You could also add protein powder or raw cacao powder, and so on.

Directions
Add ingredients, in the order listed above, to blender and blend till smooth.