The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, published in 1998, showed that children consumed an average of 29 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it is scary to think how much sugar they can ingest in a single day around Halloween and the holidays. Sugar breaks down the immune system and stresses the body severely – contributing to diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and a host of other health problems.

Halloween, however, allows a parent the opportunity to use the spooky goblin, monster theme to make new dishes seem fun and exciting. Did you ever think that green food is the perfect choice for a monster ghoulash, Martian moss drink or witch’s brew? This wonderful, raw, nutrient-dense food can help counteract all the sugar-dense foods they may be eating elsewhere.

Children’s organs are forming into their twenties, and the food they eat goes directly into the formation of these organs. Therefore, it is crucial that the foods they eat have a pure, nutrient-dense nature. This makes choosing organic food much more important for children than adults.

I highly recommend making this green smoothie, which is incredibly healthy. It can help adjust the bodies’ PH balance. It may sound spooky to you at first, but give it a try; you may be surprised by the taste.

We create and renew taste buds about every two weeks if we are healthy and eating well, which means we are creating new taste buds to adjust to what we are continually eating. So, if a healthier change of diet is desired, try eating the new healthful food for at least two weeks. This will give the body a chance to renew itself and add taste buds adjusted to the new healthier diet.

When adjusting a child’s diet to include better quality food, a helpful method of encouragement can be rewarding them for trying this new food (a few bites at least 10 times or for two weeks). There is a good chance that when those two weeks are over, they may actually like the new food. Gold stars, a special outing, playing a game with them or a morning of art can be wonderful rewards for children trying new and interesting dishes.

When your child comes down for breakfast on Halloween week, have this green smoothie – Goblin Ghoulash – ready in the fun spirit of the holiday and know that you’re giving them something nutritious.

It is best to make this drink in a good blender, because it can turn nuts, seeds, unskinned fruit and vegetables to a liquid more easily. This drink is rich in phytonutrients and vitamin C, so try to drink it within 20 minutes, because the nutrients begin to dissipate after that time.  Iron is more absorbable into the body when vitamin C is present, so if you use spinach, this drink will be rich with vitamin C and Iron. In addition, leafy greens, such as the ones in this recipe, are high in protein without the unhealthy effects of many types of meat. Spinach is actually 45% protein!

Goblin Goulash

 1 – 2 cups     Leafy greens (fresh baby spinach, romaine, watercress in any combination and torn into pieces).

2                  Whole fruits (mango, pear, apple or combination) chopped into chucks with seeds and stems removed.

3                  Dates (soaked in water to soften); seeds removed.

2 cups         Pure water (more water can be added to desired consistency).

1 Tablespoon   Flax seed oil (cold pressed)

1 Tablespoon   Lemon juice (freshly juiced and used immediately).

Directions:

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend.

Serve immediately.

Have a safe, healthy and ghoulishly fun Halloween!

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