Healthy Ranch Yogurt Dip {Snack Recipe}

Pin It

My family is absolutely obsessed with ranch dressing. If the kids have veggies, they want to dip them in ranch. So I've tried to change up the way we make ranch and have ditched the sour cream!

Now sour cream isn't bad. I love the stuff. But by swapping out sour cream with greek yogurt I not only am cutting calories but I'm increasing protein! All in all I'm very excited about the swap and the kids can't seem to tell the difference.

Ranch Yogurt Dip

• 1 cup greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons ranch mix (see below for ranch mix)

Mix ingredients together until well combined. Let sit in the fridge overnight. Serve with your favorite veggies or chips.

Ranch Dip Mix

• 2 tablespoons dried parsley 
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 
• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt 
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme

Combine ingredients and store in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Feel free to double or triple and use as needed.

Tomato Zucchini Soup {Lunch Recipe}

I love simple lunches. Something I can whip up or reheat easily is key. So when I was figuring out what to do with all of the tomatoes we have coming in right now from our garden, I knew that a soup would be perfect. Now I normally roast my tomatoes with some other veggies to make the base for my marinara sauce so I thought why not roast up some tomatoes for a soup as well.

This recipe, from start to finish, takes 30 minutes and can easily be made in larger quantities to store for future lunches (or dinners!). It'd go great with a grilled cheese and a salad. The kids loved it as well!

Tomato Zucchini Soup

• 4 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 2 medium zucchini, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 handful fresh basil, stems removed
• Salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line rimmed baking sheet with foil and lay tomatoes and zucchini on sheet.

Mix olive oil and garlic together in a small bowl. Drizzle over vegetables. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden.

Remove veggies from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Add to Magic Bullet, food processor, or blender (your choice!) and blend for a few seconds until just combined. Add basil and salt and pepper. Blend until it's at the consistency you like.

Pour and serve. This soup can be served cold, lukewarm, or hot. It tastes good either way!

Serves 2-4 depending on portion size

What type of soup do you love? 

Quick Toddler Lunches: 5 Easy Solutions

One meal that I find the hardest to make for my children is lunch. I don't know what it is but every time I go to fix lunch my mind draws a blank. So I've come up with 5 easy solutions for quick toddler lunches. That means that in less than 10-15 minutes your kids will have a healthy, delicious meal to eat for their mid-day meal.

Frozen Foods and Pasta

Grab a bag of pasta out of the cupboard. Or let the kids decide what pasta they want. Then go into the freezer and grab a few hot dogs and some frozen veggies. Now you're ready to make lunch in under 10 minutes! 

1. Boil water
2. Add Pasta and set timer (cook for however long the bag says)
3. 1/2 way through, add frozen hot dog - cutting up is optional*
4. When 2-3 minutes remain, add a handful of frozen veggies
5. Drain and serve!

Usually takes less than 10 minutes and the kids love it!

Change it up! Don't want to use hot dogs? Toss the noodles and veggies in some olive oil or butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Toss some pepperonis or deli meat in for a change in flavor or cube up some cheese.

Mmmm!

*If cutting up the hot dog, remember to cut up length wise first, then width wise to reduce the chance of choking. 

Roll Ups and Fresh Fruit

Another lunch idea that takes less than 10 minutes. Simply pull out some lunch meats and cheeses and put them on a plate along with a few veggies. When your kids are deciding what to put in their roll ups, wash and cut up some fruit to go on the side!

Once they've decided it's time to start building! Here's what you do:

1. Place a slice of meat down
2. Add some mayo or mustard (or other spread)
3. Add cheese on top
4. Sprinkle with veggies (easier to slice up or shred)
5. Roll up and eat!

Serve with some fruit on the side and enjoy.

Quesadillas 10 Ways

Quesadillas are super easy. The most work spent on them is the time prepping what goes into them. And that can be done in as little as 5 minutes. You just have to know what you want in them! Here are a few suggestions for what to put in your quesadilla:

Now it's time to make your quesadilla!

1. Heat up pan and butter one side of tortilla. 
2. Put tortilla in heated pan, butter side down
3. Sprinkle with cheese and other ingredients
4. Fold over into a half moon and cook until golden brown
5. Flip, cook other side, and serve!

I love serving my queadillas with some left over rice and some ripe avocado and salsa. The kids love theirs with apple slices and tortilla chips.

Pizza Perfection

What kid doesn't love pizza? In our home pizza comes in all shapes and sizes. Don't have pizza dough? That's ok! Grab one of the following to get started:

1. Base
Tortilla
Pita
English Muffin

Then move on to the sauces. I love just grabbing whatever jarred pasta sauce we have in the pantry:

2. Sauce
Pesto
Marinara
Meat sauce
Alfredo sauce

And for the fun part!

3. Toppings! Toppings can range anywhere from veggies to meats to cheeses. And variety is key. When you give your kids a few options you'll be surprised to find what they choose for their pizzas.

Simply go in this order: Base, Sauce, Toppings when creating your pizza pie masterpieces.

Then just use the oven (or a toaster oven) and cook at 400 degrees for a few minutes or until cheese is bubbly and slightly golden brown! Looking for a great pizza dough recipe? Check out this one here.

Salad Bar

Just because your two year old hates lettuce, don't rule out the power of an awesome salad bar! And as always, get hte kids involved. Ask your kids to pick 5 fun toppings to add to their salad. I suggest having fruit, veggies, nuts, and some sort of crunch for them to choose from.

Then give them a few lettuce options. Spinach is a favorite in our house with romaine coming in close second. But they also love the crunch of cabbage and the pretty shapes and colors in micro greens.

Here are a few great ideas for Salad Bar fixings:

Once the kids have chosen their 5 topping choices I give them dressing choices as well. From oil and vinegar to ranch dressing and everything in between, giving them 2-3 options makes our salad bar a success.

What's your favorite lunch time fast fix?

Coconut Oatmeal with Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil {Breakfast Recipe}

We're always trying to find great alternatives to classic favorites in this home. Since my daughter consistantly eats oatmeal for us for breakfast we wanted to continue our luck with the one meal we know she'll finish. So when I received my Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil I knew exactly what I'd to do try it out... put it in our oatmeal!

When I was done making the first batch of coconut oatmeal I went into the fridge to grab the kids some milk for their sippy cups. I looked over and saw an open package of mini chocolate chips from my husbands latest baking adventure so I grabbed the bag and sprinkled a few chocolate chips over the top of each bowl for an added treat. OMG! This oatmeal tasted exactly like my favorite chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. Delicious!

I cannot wait to start using Tropical Traditions coconut oil in other recipes. Added benefit? We can use it as cloth diaper friendly diaper cream too! Who knew? Plus there are so many other ways to use this stuff. Go here to find more!

Coconut Oatmeal

• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon Tropical Traditions coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips (optional)

Pour milk into a small saucepan and heat on medium.

Stir in coconut oil and coconut flakes. Stir until oil is completely melted. Add in oats. Sprinkle on cinnamon and continue to stir. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

Pour into a bowl and sprinkle with chocolate chips for an added bit of sweetness!

Serves 2 (or 1 adult, 2 kids)

Do you use coconut oil? I'd love to hear how! 

Disclaimer: I received a 32oz jar of Tropical Traditions coconut oil for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal {Breakfast Recipe}

As I mentioned yesterday, my daughter now has to take an iron suppliment. We've had great luck over the first few days with making her smoothies when it was time to take her suppliment but now she's no longer interested.

So this morning I thought I'd put a spin on her favorite breakfast meal. I added her two favorite foods and threw in a third food she enjoys on occasion to find that this finger-licking good meal would be completely devoured before my eyes!

The results were exactly what this mama wanted.

The first time since we started her iron suppliments and she actually finished a whole dose! In the form of peanut butter oatmeal, of course.

And an even better bonus is the fact that one serving is only 4 points. Paired with a banana this makes a delicious breakfast for my kids and me. And it's a bit faster to whip up than my baked peanut butter and banana oatmeal squares.

Pin It

Peanut Butter Oatmeal 

• 1/2 cup water 
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats 
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter 
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar 
• banana to top, optional 

Add all ingredients to a small saucepan. Cook on medium low heat stirring frequently. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until oatmeal is creamy and all ingredients are incorporated. 

Spoon into a few bowls and enjoy this delicious breakfast! 

Serves 2 | 4 WW+ Points

First my daughter tried eating her oatmeal with a spoon.

When that didn't get it to her mouth fast enough she went with her hands and got much more!

The oatmeal was so good she licked each finger clean after finishing her bowl! Now that's a success.

Green Monster Smoothies {Breakfast Recipe}

Pin It

One of my favorite new ways to get greens into my kids is by blending them up into smoothie form. And this smoothie started it all. Now this is just your basic Green Monster. There are so many different variations of this smoothie and my kids and I love to experiment with what we put in it when we make it.

For some awesome ways to shake up the original recipe check out my friend CB's Green Monster journey over on her blog See Cupcake Run. Just search for "green monster" since I'm not sure how to link to one of her categories. 

Green Monster Smoothie

• 1 cup milk
• 1 ripe, frozen banana, peeled
• 3 handfuls organic spinach
• 1 tablespoon ground flax
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 4-5 ice cubes

Add 1 cup of milk to the blender.

Now add in the chia or flax (if using) and nut butter.

Next, add in the spinach followed by the banana on top.

Blend until smooth.

Add in your ice cubes and blend some more.

Serves 2

Chick-Fil-A's Newest Menu Addition {Healthy Kids Meals}

Chick-fil-A is offering a new Kid’s Meal, which is anticipated to be one of the most nutritious in the country, featuring Grilled Nuggets as an entrée. Compared to an “average” hamburger kid’s meal offered at fast food restaurants, the new Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meal (4-count grilled nuggets, fruit cup and low fat milk) contains almost 60 percent less calories and an estimated 85 percent less fat. The chain also is enhancing its side choices by adding Buddy Fruits Pure Blended Fruit To Go applesauce.

This is a huge step for Chick-fil-A to further expand healthy menu options for families. When we visit Chick-Fil-A for lunch or dinner we always get the same thing for the kids. We order a 4-count chicken nugget meal with french fries, milk and an extra side of fruit. The fries are shared by the whole family (you read that right... a kids meal fry split between our family of four) and the fruit and nuggets are shared between my daughter and son. Now with the addition of the grilled nuggets I'm even more inclined to stop by Chick-Fil-A when we need a meal on the go.

My son recently celebrated his 3rd birthday so for lunch last week I took him on request to Chick-Fil-A. And while I normally don't order chocolate milk I couldn't resist his birthday pleas. So he suckered me into getting him chocolate milk and french fries. But don't worry, his sister made sure to eat all of the fruit we got from our side order. Mommy enjoyed a delicious grilled chicken salad. Full of flavor and no guilt! Their grilled chicken sandwiches are super tasty too. Order it with a wheat bun to make it a tad bit healthier. Or skip the bun all together and go for a lettuce wrap.

We don't usually eat at fast food restaurants but when we do it's at one of two places. And the first place on our list is Chick-Fil-A. Tasty food, healthy choices and great service are what will help keep us coming back time and time again. I don't feel like a bad mommy for letting my kids eat here and I enjoy the options I have too. Have you tried their berry balsamic dressing? YUM! 

An added bonus for the kids is their toy-for-ice cream trade. If your son or daughter isn't into the toy they received (or you just don't want another toy around the house) they can trade it for a kids size ice dream cone. My kids love this and know exactly what to do at the end of their meal.

Have you tried Chick-Fil-A? What menu item do you love? 3 lucky readers will win a coupon good for one free kids meal at Chick-Fil-A. Simply fill out the rafflecopter form below for your chance to win.

Food, Nutrition and Health Tips for Kids

One of the biggest problems I have when it comes to my toddler and eating is that he doesn't eat meals like I do. He would much rather snack all day then have large meals. So in order to get him to eat during the day I let him have small snacks every two to three hours versus a set breakfast, lunch and dinner. And because it's so easy to grab a pre-packaged snack from the cupboard I needed to find some simple, quick, healthy snack ideas to keep him fueled throughout the day.

Below are quite a few more nutrition-packed snack ideas courtesy of the American Dietetic Association. I've mentioned healthy snacks on the blog before but only gave the first five suggestions from the list of 25 healthy snacks. Having some simple ingredients on hand to make these fun snacks with your kids will make snack time engaging and healthy.

Some of these snacks are easy enough for your child to assemble themselves but some require a mom, or dad, to help. I find that allowing my son to assemble his own snacks leads to healthier eating choices and a positive outcome for everyone. Enjoy!

20 More Healthy Snacks for Kids*

1. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.

2. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.

3. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.

4. Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.

5. Spread peanut butter on apple slices.

6. Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.

7. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.

8. Sprinkle grated Monterey Jack cheese over a corn tortilla; fold in half and microwave for twenty seconds. Top with salsa.

9. Toss dried cranberries and chopped walnuts in instant oatmeal.

10. Mix together peanut butter and cornflakes in a bowl. Shape into balls and roll in crushed graham crackers.

11. Microwave a cup of tomato or vegetable soup and enjoy with whole grain crackers.

12. Fill a waffle cone with cut-up fruit and top with low-fat vanilla yogurt.

13. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on hot popcorn.

14. Banana Split - Top a banana with low-fat vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with your favorite whole-grain cereal.

15. Sandwich Cut-Outs - Make a sandwich on whole grain bread. Cut out your favorite shape using a big cookie cutter. Eat the fun shape and the edges, too!

16.  Turkey Roll Ups - Spread mustard on a flour tortilla. Top with a slice of turkey or ham, low-fat cheese and lettuce. Then roll it up.

17. Mini Pizza - Toast an English muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce and sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese.

18. Rocky Road - Break a graham cracker into bite-size pieces. Add to low-fat chocolate pudding along with a few miniature marshmallows.

19. Inside-Out Sandwich - Spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap around a sesame breadstick.

20. Parfait - Layer vanilla yogurt and mandarin oranges or blueberries in a tall glass. Top with a sprinkle of granola.

And if your children are anything like mine, then they love to dip! Most dips are high in calories and fat so choosing low fat and low calorie options keep their snacks healthy and filling. Below are a few bonus snack ideas that include different snack and dip pairings.

Dip it! Bonus Snacks

• Dip baby carrots and cherry tomatoes in low-fat ranch dressing.
• Dip strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt.
• Dip pretzels in mustard.
• Dip pita chips in hummus.
• Dip graham crackers in applesauce.
• Dip baked tortilla chips in bean dip.
• Dip animal crackers in low-fat pudding.
• Dip bread sticks in salsa.
• Dip a granola bar in low-fat yogurt.
• Dip mini-toaster waffles in cinnamon applesauce.

* Tips courtesy of The American Dietetic Association. ADA is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.



*** If you haven't already checked my new Facebook page out then please do so! I'd love a few likes from readers ***

Great Snack Ideas for Kids {Tips and Tricks}

You know the saying, "Variety is the spice of life"? This really holds true when it comes to toddlers and food. I sometimes get in a rut when I go grocery shopping. I buy the same fruits, veggies and snacks over and over again. And I notice that after a few weeks of the same handful of choices my son starts to lose interest in those foods. He even started to turn down berries for breakfast or dessert so I knew things had to change.

This summer I have been buying strawberries, grapes and apples weekly. On a quick trip to Trader Joe's with my son he saw the oranges from across the store and literally ran to them with glee. He practically begged me to buy some for him. So I obliged and threw in a bag of oranges. I asked him if any of the vegetables looked tasty and he grabbed a crown of broccoli. We got home and immediately he asked for an orange. I peeled it and he devoured it in minutes. Then at dinner time he asked to help make the broccoli so I let him break some up to put in the steamer. He ate that as well (along with a few bites of chicken).

It seemed as though having him choose a few items that he was willing to try lead to him eating more than normal. So I started looking for great suggestions to keep him excited about the food we served him so he would be more willing to eat. Now I don't expect him to eat like a champ every day. Toddlers eat like cavemen. They scavenge for a few days and just snack a tiny bit and  then they have what I call eating days where they seem to not get enough. Eating days maybe come every 4-5 days... Below are a few tidbits I've found from various sources that now help me keep things exciting for him when he does decide to eat.

1. Get the Kids Involved in Meal Planning
Starting the week off with a list of meals to make each day not only saves time but ultimately helps save money as well. Adding the kids into the mix will also save tears and aggravation at dinner time when your child doesn't like what's been put in front of them. Let your child help you meal plan so they can choose what they want to eat. Perhaps start by letting one choose one meal a week. Or if you have younger children like me, let them choose the side dish (carbs, starches or veggies). If my son has chosen his veggie than he more than likely eats at least 3 bites of it when served to him at dinner.

2. Take the Kids Grocery Shopping
I know, I know. It's a pain to take the kids in the grocery store. I used to dread shopping with both of mine and would wait till the weekend to do all of my grocery shopping alone and kid-less (plus I got to indulge in a coffee that wasn't cold while I shopped). But then, like I mentioned before, my son got excited about eating the food he chose. And I've been taking him alone without the baby so he feels like he has my complete attention when I shop. It's a great bonding time that I actually look forward to now! Plus as your children help choose the meals and then see what ingredients go into the meals they may just start to get interested in making the meals.

3. Let the Kids Help in the Kitchen
Grab that stool from the garage or closet and push it up to the counter. Find odd jobs while prepping for dinner that are safe for your child to do. I purchased a child-safe knife from Pampered Chef that my son uses along side me to chop up herbs while I chop up veggies. He also helps rip up lettuce for salad, add pre-measured cups of ingredients to the bowl and crack eggs. When he starts cooking with me he gets excited about the food he is working with. He's even taken to eating lettuce and salads without prompting because he prepares the salads for mealtime.

All of these three things will lead to your child not only being proficient in making meals for your family but will also help your child stay on the healthy track. By giving your child the opportunity to make smart choices about food, and then showing them how to prepare the meals to eat, they will know what to do when they get older and have to think about food on their own. My greatest challenge to myself right now is to try and lead a healthier life for my children so that I am the role-model they look to when they choose how they're going to eat and live.

A great tidbit I heard in a panel discussion at BlogHer'11 from one of the speakers was that the old saying "Do as I say, not as I do" holds no value. What you do says a lot and kids are going to follow your lead. So keep a variety of healthy choices available for your children and get them involved!

The New Food Pyramid

I know everyone's probably already seen the new food pyramid. Or should I say the new food plate. I'm actually really happy about it. I have already decided that I want to do my best to educate my kids about the food they eat as well as nutrition and exercise in general.

Last year we took Ethan to go pick apples and I plan to do so again this year (with Molly too!). I also want to go berry picking next year as well with both kids. And Joseph and I are already planning on building a raised bed for a vegetable garden. I think that getting my kids involved in the preparation of the food we eat might help them not only understand where food comes from but also get interested in eating the right kinds of food.

You don't know how excited I get when I put a chicken nugget, bowl of fruit and a french fry in front of Ethan for dinner and he goes for the fruit first (C'mon! No judging. We went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner the other night). Or when I ask him what he wants for dinner and he says broccoli. Yes, some nights he asks for fruit roll ups or ice cream for dinner but for the most part he is really good about eating a well balanced diet. And I'm happy to say that he's also started eating more than just hot dogs and bacon for protein.

And I believe that starting young will really help us in the future. If you've always had access to fruits and vegetables wouldn't you be more inclined to choose them when planning out your meals at a restaurant or when you want to make a meal for dinner.

Now I'm not knocking sweets or fast food (obviously since I just admitted to serving Chick-Fil-A nuggets and fries to Ethan) but I really think that we need to start working on moderation and variation. I'm on Weight Watchers. My goal every day is to eat at LEAST 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day. That means my breakfasts, snacks, lunches and dinners all contain at least one serving of fruit or veggies. And I've been really working on including a variety of vegetables to our every day routine. Not just salad or broccoli.

So when I see the new food plate I get excited. I hope that when my kids take a nutrition class or learn about healthy eating in school (do they still do that?) that they will just hear what they already see at home. And if you have any ideas or suggestions on how to continue down this path I'm all ears!

Dinosaur Train Giveaway on Toronto Teacher Mom!

As many of my readers, family and friends know, my son is OBSESSED with Dinosaur Train right now. It's just about the only show he still requests daily. So I had to pass this info on from Toronto Teacher Mom's blog. I'm sure she won't mind that I copied her text for you guys! Enter for your chance to win: 

This March, the American Dietetic Association is celebrating National Nutrition Month® which focuses on nutrition education and the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The theme this year is “Eat right with Color,” which aims to encourage everyone to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on a daily basis.

We all know how a healthy diet is important to our well-being. This month, Dinosaur Train invites you and your child to prepare a vegetarian or herbivore picnic full of healthy foods by visiting Dinosaur Train on PBS.org. Further resources for parents can be found on the American Dietetic Association site at www.eatright.org/nnm where you can download a PDF list of healthy snacks for kids. Here is a sampling:

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy
sandwich.

Next, Buddy can help you and your child prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic with The Have A Brachiosaurus Picnic activity which "helps young children to learn what foods fit into an herbivore's diet (fruits and vegetables); reminds children about the importance of hand washing before eating; and also creates an opportunity to discuss why all animals need to eliminate waste from their bodies (a.k.a. “poop”)." This activity is aimed at children ages 3-6 and includes a list of the required ingredients for fun foods such as:

• Brachiosaurus Super Salad: The kids will have fun tearing up green leafy veggies into bite-size pieces and mixing ranch dressing with green coloring to make a tasty topping.
• Sauropod Sandwich: With a plastic knife, cut pieces of whole wheat bread in the shape of a favorite dinosaur and spread with cheese spread or peanut butter.
• Herbivore Herb and Spinach Spread: Mix frozen spinach, dried onion soup mix, sour cream, celery sticks and crackers
• Green Juice: Fill a child’s plastic cup with apple juice and add green food color to make a green beverage fit for an herbivore.

In addition to celebrating National Nutrition Month with fun healthy ideas, Dinosaur Train is offering one of Toronto Teacher Mom's U.S. followers a copy of DINOSAUR TRAIN: PTERANODON FAMILY WORLD TOUR ADVENTURE DVD, which will be released on March 15 from Paramount Home Entertainment and PBS Kids. The hit television series Dinosaur Train® airs daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings).

Adventures in Toddler Food: Veggie Bites

E has been pretty bad at eating his veggies lately. With the vast fluctuation day by day of his appetite we have had very little luck getting the greens in him. He's much more interested in the colorful fruit we've been bringing home this summer. A little too interested...

So I went out in search of a good veggie bite recipe and found a lot online. I got bits and pieces from a lot of different recipes and kinda pieced them together to form this one. And I am quite happy to say that it was a recipe he loved.



Veggie Bites

• 1 bag frozen broccoli & cauliflower, steamed & chopped
• 1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 2/3 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix chopped veggies, bread crumbs, cheese & eggs together until moist and able to form. Using either a small cookie scoop, a spoon or your hands form about 20 small balls the shape of a chicken nugget. Place on a foil lined cookie tray and bake at 20-25 minutes. Turn over after 15 minutes and press down with a spatula to evenly brown.

Cool a bit and enjoy! If your toddler needs their bites cut up (like mine did) just cut into 4s before serving.


Veggie bites prepared into balls and placed on the tray to bake


All cut up and ready for lunch


I don't know about this, Mom...


Ok, maybe they're kinda good...


Mmmm... better than the chicken nuggets



After 2 minutes of eating he had eaten 1.5 veggie bites, 1 cut up piece of chicken nugget & 2 fries. He polished off the rest of the veggie bite pieces and called it a day for lunch. Oh, the finicky toddler. One day he'd polish off a plate full of food and the next just bits and pieces.

You can also see this post on my cooking blog