Eating well with your Toddler

Having trouble getting your little one to eat healthy foods?

Feeling like you need to hide nutritious foods in other not so nutritious foods just so your toddler will eat them?

Feel like you've waited too long to introduce healthy foods?

It's not too late!!

Check out this list of ways to make sure your kids are getting healthy foods!

Also be sure to check out my Pinterest Board - "Toddler Super-Food Snacks"

1 - Make your own baby food!

With the use of a handy-dandy Baby Food Maker, like Baby Brezza, you can combine fruits and vegetables into tasty purees to feed your child with a spoon, or even put into a pouch for on the go eating. Freezing in baby-food specific containers, similar to ice trays, will allow you to make bigger batches and have purees on hand for weeks at a time.

Always try new combinations, as this will get your child's taste buds accustomed to different flavors, and in the long run will help when they can make more of their own decisions. Some popular purees I have made include, but are not limited to: carrots, zucchini, sweet potato, butternut squash, apple, peas, beans, cauliflower, beets, and pears.

All you have to do with the Baby-Brezza is fill it with water, cut the fruits and/or veggies into 1/4"(ish) sized chunks, put them in the processor cup (after the blade, don't forget the blade goes first), and let the machine do the work. You set the timer to how long the vegetables get steamed (a reference guide is included), and the machine automatically blends the steamed veggies for you. The best part is, the water from the steamed produce stays in the mix (unless you have something really watery like zucchini, then you should drain it a bit), and you retain the nutrients.

2 - Grow a Garden!

Growing and harvesting vegetables with your kids will make eating them even more exciting! You might be surprised to see what your child is willing to try is they can pick it straight from the plant! Maybe even bring some hummus or peanut butter outside with you for dipping and have a little picnic right in your backyard!

3 - Make Veggie "Sauce" for Noodles

Combine steamed vegetables with a food processor to make a sauce to add to noodles. Use Nutritional Yeast and/or soaked cashews to make the sauce extra creamy and to taste like cheese! Some veggies that are good to make sauce with are: sweet potatoes, winter squash, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli.

4 - Give them "Dip" for their Veggies

Hummus is a great way for kids to have fun dipping their food in something that provides added nutrients like protein. Try a traditional or plain flavor first and once they enjoy that move onto something more flavorful like roasted garlic, caramelized onion, or roasted red pepper.

5 - Hide vegetables and sources of protein in baked goods

Muffins are a great way to mix fruits and vegetables into something that can be taken on the go or used as a snack.

Energy balls are another great way to provide nutrients in a fun snack - use chocolate or vanilla protein powders to add protein and additional flavors!

I have many great recipes on my Pinterest Board of nutritious plant-based muffins!

6 - Make it FUN!

Consider arranging the vegetables on the plate in a fun way - make a dinosaur, or a flower. Let your kids get a little messy, if it ensures they're eating.

Gluten Free Sweet Potato Muffins - a HUGE hit with the kids!