I have heard rumors that certain toddlers will eat the same thing day after day. “They’re only rumors” I tell myself as Katie shoves away the very same spaghetti she gobbled up in heaps the day before.
Toddlers are fickle. Feeding them without resorting to junk food is practically an art form. On that note, here are some ideas that should keep them interested for awhile!
Homemade Creamy Tropical Popsicles
Photo by Aunti K
Recipe at The Nourishing Gourmet. If you’re not making your own coconut milk (I don’t), I highly recommend Native Forest brand because their cans are BPA free. Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk does contain BPA.
Nutrition Facts: Aside from being rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, coconut milk (the main ingredient) also contains highly beneficial lauric acid and capric acid. For more info on how these fatty-acids benefit health check out Dr. Mercola and this quick article by Rebecca Tait.
Crispy Sunflower Seeds
Recipe:
- Soak 2 cups raw sunflower seeds in warm water with 1 tbsp sea salt for 7 hours.
- Rinse, place in dehydrator and sprinkle with salt.
- Dehydrate at 105-150 degrees for 6-12 hours, turning occasionally.
Nutrition Facts : Rich in vitamin E, B1, and B5, folic acid, phosphorous (for bone health), magnesium, selenium and more, this is a handy nutrition-packed snack to have around.
Note: Dehydrators are a wonderful alternative to roasted nuts/seeds because they allow you to “cook” foods at low temperatures so that valuable enzymes, vitamins and minerals are not destroyed. If after reading this you decide you’re in the market for a food dehydrator, make sure you buy one that has a temperature control function.
Homemade Applesauce with Hidden Veggies
Most toddlers love fruit. Applesauce is a great way to leverage that love to get them to eat their veggies.
Recipe:
- Blend 1 1/2 cups roughly diced apples (skin on) in a food processor. When apples are the consistency of apple sauce pour them into a separate bowl.
- Blend 1 cup roughly chopped carrots until very fine. Add to bowl. Any veggie will do, but I recommend sticking to ones with similar coloring so your little one won’t be suspicious. Pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and yellow beets would all work. I would lightly steam the pumpkin, sweet potatoes and beets before using. They are difficult to digest raw.
- Add 1/8 tsp cinnamon (optional) to bowl and mix ingredients.
Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups/Fruit Leather
Photo by Spencer Holtaway
Recipe at The Sneaky Pigs.
Nutrition Facts: Varies. But hey, it’s fruit. Fruit is healthy!
Related Posts:
Healthy Snacks That Toddlers Love Pt. 1
Healthy Snacks that Toddlers Love Pt. 2
Healthy Snacks That Toddlers Love Pt. 4
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Healthy Snacks That Toddlers Love, toddler-friendly snack ideas
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Love this, thanks.
Okay, so I just did the applesauce carrot mixture today, but I also added some avocado to it. Zoe loved it!
Awesome! We are so sneaky ; – )
I love the applesauce/vegetable combination! I bet if you include a fruit like strawberries, you can “hide” more types of vegetables. I can’t wait to read the previous posts in your series.
Barb@My Daily Round´s last [type] ..7 quick takes friday
Great point, Barb. The color and strong flavor could hide quite a bit!
The sneaky pigs blog is only available to those who have npbeen invited to read the blog, so I can’t get the fruit leather recipe. Thanks.
Sorry about that, Vicki. I think they changed their privacy settings after I published that post