Carrots, Zuchinni, Fruits & Veggies .. OH MY!

What do you do when all your toddler want to eat is Pizza? Some children can live off of their favorite foods; Chicken Nuggets, Mac n Cheese, Yogurt or Banana's ALL THE TIME! Let me just get this small disclaimer out of the way... IT IS MORE THAN OK! As long as your child is eating, they are in good health. Most toddlers go through phases or eating strikes. It bothers the parents more than it will ever bother your child ;) However, as a mother it drives you completely nutty. I understand the struggle.

After some trials and tribulations some great idea's to help get your toddler to eat is to hide fruits and veggies in their food. They will never know their meatballs have applesauce, shredded carrots & zucchini in it! YES, YOU HEARD ME CORRECTLY MOMS. Insert your happy dance now!! You can make breakfast muffins that incorporate Strawberries, Bananas & Blueberries. There are so many fun and colorful options for your toddler. Not to mention super easy and fast recipes!

Another great tip that I have found to work well with toddlers is, if they won't eat their meatballs plain, throw some sauce on it! Kids LOVE sauce! There are plenty of no sugar added marinara sauces out there. Many great flavors such as, Tomato and Basil. I promise that it tastes wonderful! Always try to make your child's plate colorful and fun for them. They will at least want to try it just once. Don't forget that as your child grows they want to expand their palate. They want to now eat what Mommy and Daddy are eating. They even want to sit at the big table with you too! Incorporate them into your mealtime or sit at the table with them while they eat their dinner.

If you find that your toddler is still a bit picky, a great thing to do with them while they eat is to read books to them. It is a great distraction for them and they will learn during mealtime as an added bonus. Work on their ABC'S, or teach them how to count by using their food. You can work on all the different colors that lay right on their plate! When you do read them a story you will notice that they just shovel the food into their mouth! It leaves your child with a full tummy & it certainly makes a happy parent!

As a nanny my employer and I are constantly trading recipes for the little guy! Here is one of Thomas's favorite dinner recipes...

GREEN MAC N CHEESE

Recipe & Picture found at Weelicious

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1. 1 pound of elbow macaroni (or any macaroni that you wish!)
2. 3 cups whole milk
3. 1 cup fresh packed spinach
4. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5. 2 tablespoons flour
6. 4 cups grated white cheddar cheese
7. 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
8. 1 cup peas

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2.  Cook pasta in salted water for about 3 mins less than package directions. Reserve half a cup of the pasta water & strain.
3. While the pasta is cooking, place the milk and spinach in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
4. In a large pot, melt the butter and then add the flour. Whisking continuously over low-medium heat for 2-3 minutes to make a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk mixture and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally, 3-4 minutes, or until sauce is gently bubbling and beginning to thicken.
6. Add reserved pasta water and cheese and whisk until melted. Stir in the pasta, broccoli and peas.
7. Transfer to a greased 13" x 9" baking dish and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the pasta is set.

As always, these tips will not always work for every child. Just keep trying to introduce new foods and don't give up. Eventually, they will start to be less picky and eat more. What has worked for you and your picky kid? If you have any of your favorite recipes for everyone's little ones please feel free to comment and post!

-D