Now that we’re heading back to school, even with hectic mornings, I’d still like some healthy fruits and veggies to keep my kids alert, focused and energized while they’re in class. One of my favorite ways to sneak those dark leafy greens into their diet is in these homemade juice recipes with veggies in them. (Just don’t tell my kids about the veggie part.) Here are five of my favorites which are especially helpful if we end up running out the door with granola bars in our hands. Because let’s be honest, it happens.

These recipes should be made with a juicer, not a blender, for the smoothest consistency. (I recommend the Cuisinart Juice Extractor, which is on a huge sale at Amazon right now.) Make a big batch at the beginning of the week and store it in Mason jars in the fridge for a quick drink that’s ready to go in the morning. As we’ve recommended before, you can even store them on a low shelf to make them kid-accessible so they can get breakfast started themselves.  Or, pour them into a blender with some ice for a delicious smoothie.

All three of these juice recipes with veggies from the Small Fry blog (at top) are tempting, but my kids are particularly fond of green juice and the cucumber and kiwi juice recipe in particular seems like a fresh, light treat.

Strawberry Soiree juice recipe by Handmade Home is a bright, delicious juice made with veggies that tastes mostly of strawberries, but it’s got a handful of spinach in there that blends so well, your kids don’t need to know about it.

This triple-berry spinach smoothie recipe from PBS Kitchen Explorers also makes use of the magic of spinach, but it has a bit of tartness from the raspberries and orange. Really yummy.

This bright, colorful beet juice recipe from Pure Kitchen is a huge hit with my kids. Whether or not you say the word beets out loud it should be a hit with your kids too. The beets give it a bright red color, apples sweeten it, and the ginger, lemon and parsley give it a bit of tang that we all really like.

What kid doesn’t like carrots? Which is why it’s perfect in smoothies and juice drinks. Tis carrot, pineapple and ginger juice recipe from Migalha Doce is absolutely gorgeous, and we’ve found that carrot is a favorite base for our juice recipes.

If you want even more back-to-school snack ideas to keep your kids healthy, we have lots to check out. Good luck!