Fruit is abundant at the Farmer’s Markets in summer, so much that I often buy a lot and freeze the extras so they don’t spoil. Fruit freezes beautifully and when you blend it up, the ice gives you a nice slushy cold texture.

This is a recipe that the kids can do all on their own – the only supervision I do is plug in the blender and help put the top on. Otherwise, the kids fill the blender, push the buttons and have a grand old time!

Ingredients:

1 banana

1 cup frozen blueberries

2 cups frozen strawberries

1-1/2 cups orange juice (more if necessary)

Break up the banana and put it in the blender. Add the frozen blueberries, frozen strawberries and the orange juice.

Place the top on and blend until you get a nice consistency. You may need to add a little more orange juice to make sure it’s nice and smooth. You know a smoothie is ready when the mixture starts to ‘tornado’ or turn in on itself inside the blender. Once that happens you are ready to pour and serve!

This is a great alternative to those sugar slushies and a simple way to get your kids to sample fruits and vegetables. By making it themselves they get to enjoy a summer treat they can be proud of!

*   *  *

This summer, Ready. Set. Grow! and First 5 LA want you to Rethink Your Drink by choosing water and low-fat or skim milk over sugar-sweetened beverages. Be sure to visit www.ReadySetGrowLA.org/RethinkYourDrink for tips and activities to help kick the juice and soda habits in young children.

Potter the Otter wants to know: How do you get your kids to drink water or low-fat milk? It can be hard to get your kids to stop drinking juice and soda if they are used to it, and like it. Tell us in the comments section about a time you helped your kids make a better drink choice — and how — and you will be entered to win a Potter Prize Pack and may have your answer featured in an upcoming Ready. Set. Blog! post.

This week’s Potter Prize Pack includes four tickets to an upcoming LA Sparks game, a reusable Rethink Your Drink metal water bottle and a copy of “Potter the Otter: A Tale About Water.”

RULES: Contest begins July 21, 2011. Entries must be received by noon on July 27, 2011. A winner will be selected randomly from the entries and notified the afternoon of July 27, 2011. Multiple entries allowed. Previous winners are ineligible to win subsequent prizes. Prizes are non-transferable. There may be no cash or other substitutions of prizes by winner. Qualified winners will receive prizes within four to six weeks after they are notified of their winnings, unless otherwise specified. Only Los Angeles County residents are eligible to win.

Related posts:

1. One State Adopts Strict Rules for Food and Drinks in School
2. No More Tummy Troubles: One Benefit to Rethinking Your Drink (And A Giveaway, Too!)
3. How To Get Kids to Eat Bruised Fruit­­
4. Weekly Trip to the Farmers Market
5. justJENN Recipe: Cornflake Chicken