Feeding picky toddlers who don't seem very interested in eating, much less healthy meals, can be a challenge. But patience is the key, and reintroducing new foods many times will help them to give it a try. And the pay off is huge. Children who develop a taste for healthy foods are more likely to avoid getting sick, as their immune systems will be stronger. My 22 month-old daughter has not had one ear infection in her life!
The photo above is of one of my daughter's lunches. You might think, "Whoa, where are the french fries?" But believe me, she enthusiastically chows down on very healthy meals. I made little rolled up rice logs wrapped in, believe it or not, nori seaweed. She LOVES that stuff, as most kids do, when introduced to it early on. Small amounts of sea veggies help to provide minerals essential for healthy teeth and bones. For protein, I made creamy white beans with carrots, seasoned ever so lightly with a teeny bit of white miso. Children don't need added salt in their diet, so I used a very light touch with the miso. The little pile of greens is finely chopped bok choy, sauteed in sesame oil. Children require more fat than adults. Give them healthy fat sources such as sesame oil, flax oil (unheated), hemp oil (also unheated) and tahini sesame butter if they don't have nut or seed allergy issues.
When it comes to weekly menu planning, variety is the key! Each day I vary the types of beans I make for her, and provide healthy carbohydrates such as cooked brown rice, whole grain pasta, and Ezekial brand low sodium cinnamon raisin bread. I provide an array of organic veggies, both green and orange, cooked soft and chopped into small pieces.
Most children have a sweet tooth, which can be satisfied with fresh organic fruit such as chopped, seedless grapes or peeled, diced pear. Oatmeal with raisins and a touch of maple syrup can also be a breakfast treat. I make her homemade cookies when I can, but sometimes I run out of time. So when I'm in a pinch I give her Barbara's Bakery Wheat-free Oatmeal Snackimals animal cookies.
For her liquids I giver her the Bionaturae peach or pear nectar mixed 50/50 with spring water. I also make her almond milk using soaked and sprouted almonds mixed with hemp seeds, tahini and a touch of maple syrup.
I hope these ideas give you some inspiration to feed your little one wholesome, tasty meals that will help them grow big and strong and stay healthy and happy!
2 comments:
Wonderful blog! I love the great ideas for kids. Another way I get my daughter excited is to involve her in the meal planning, buying, and prep. She has a sense of ownership and control and eats lots of good things. She is begging for tomato plants and is only 3-years-old! Here's to the power of real food!
Wow, that is too cute that she is begging for tomato plants! Adorable. Great that you mentioned involving them in the meal planning. Kids are so sensory that the hands-on piece is essential! Thanks for the comment and I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the blog. I seemed to get a lot of good feedback from this article so perhaps I'll write more about children. Let me know if you have any particular interests!
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