BREAKFAST SMOOTHIES TO AWAKEN ORAL SENSES! {WITH BREVILLE'S BOSS TO GO}

As an OT and as a mum, I love seeing my kids become more independent.  I love seeing them in the kitchen learning skills for life.  I love seeing them planning, organising and making healthy choices.  The Breville Boss To Go™ Plus machine is a handy tool to encourage independence in the kitchen. 

I have created these simple breakfast smoothie recipes to help your kids start the day! Miss 9 loves using the  Breville Boss To Go™ Plus to make these herself.  The  Breville Boss To Go™ Plus is a personal blender with a powerful 1000 watt motor.  I really love the cafe style tumblers that it comes with that can be used to load up the ingredients.  The tumblers have a smooth edge which means Miss 9 can drink straight out of them after she makes her smoothie.  Travel lids supplied are perfect additions to the tumblers if we are running late in the morning! 

SENSORY BENEFITS - ORAL MOTOR INPUT
Oral motor input is important for the organization of the central nervous system (Williams and Shellenberger, 1994) and can help with regulating attention and mood (Oetter, Richter and Frick, 1993).  Using the "oral system" is therefore a great way to start the day!  ​​

You could also encourage your child to use a straw to drink their breakfast smoothie.   "Sucking is also a calming and organizing activity which requires closing the lips, lip strength and the ability to hold the jaw in a stable position" (Yack, Aquilla and Sutton, 2015).  Smoothies tend to be thicker than juices so require a stronger sucking action.  You could try a novelty winding straw to encourage even stronger oral input. 
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These breakfast smoothie combinations are milk-based.  You may use full cream or lite milk or experiment with alternatives such as soy or almond milk.  The fruit suggestions may also be changed according to seasonal preferences or your child's tastes.   The Breville Boss To Go™ Plus boasts up to 42% finer particle size compared to some popular personal blenders so you can blend your smoothie to your desired consistency.  I would also recommend drinking these smoothies straight away as they get really thick over time! Adding more milk or ice cubes will also help to make your smoothie thinner. 

We also made our own almond meal to add to the Mango Sunrise Smoothie using the Breville Boss To Go™ Plus to grind up a handful of almonds in the stainless steel tumbler.  It was so quick and easy to do!  

We have been making lots of non-diary juices and ice lollies using the Breville Boss To Go™ Plus! Stay tuned for more recipes to come.  

I hope you and your kids enjoy these breakfast smoothies! 
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Disclosure: The Breville Boss To Go™ Plus was gifted to Your Kids OT for review.  I did not receive remuneration for this review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.


References:
Williams, M. & Shellenberger, S. (1994) "How Does Your Engine Run?":A Leader's Guide to The Alert Program for Self-Regulation. Stillwater:PDP Press
Oetter, P., Richter, E. & Frick, S. (1998) M.O.R.E.:Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural Funcitons. Hugo:PDP Press
Yack, E., Aquilla, P. and Sutton, S. (2015) Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration (Third Edition).

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