Bland to Brilliant
With all the different guidelines for when your baby is eating what, it is easy to forget about flavor and fun in their diet. Here we take 5 meals that your baby is eating throughout the day,and 5 ways to pump up the nutrition and yumminess.
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Low-fat vanilla yogurt and cut strawberries
Revamp it:
Apricot Yogurt Fool
Rather than stick to the basics with the typical breakfast, try this variation:
Halve and stone just over 1 pound of apricots, and put them in a pan with the juice of an orange, ⅓ cup of sugar, and 2 cinnamon sticks, and cover and cook for 15 minutes until the apricots are soft. Let cool, and spoon into greek yogurt with a bit of lemon zest. Top with simple oat or whole grain crunchy cereal to add carbohydrates, vital in each meal for your baby. And there you go! A crave-worthy meal that is packed with fruit, dairy, and carbohydrate for your baby’s development.
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Puffed Fruit Flavored Cereal
Revamp it:
Char-Grilled Hummus and Veggies
Try this popular dip as a way to put veggies and protein together in a delicious combo:
Defrost a ¾ pound bag of chargrilled veggies and combine with a can of chickpeas, a chopped garlic clove, juice from ½ a lemon, and 1 tsp. of olive oil. Add your favorite blend of seasoning, if you like, and whizz until it’s smooth. Dip with carrot spears and toasted pita. Beware of choking hazards, and try to offer your child a mix of tastes and consistencies for variety.
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Peanut butter and jelly sandwich bites, apple slices
Revamp it:
Open-faced turkey avocado sandwich bites, grilled bell peppers, small low-fat store bought oatmeal cookie
A half-sandwich is all your child needs at this age, and the healthy fats in turkey and avocado will keep them going all afternoon. Add healthy greens with bell peppers, and healthy fiber with an oatmeal cookie:
Toast one piece of whole grain bread, and spread avocado on one side. Add a slice of soft cheese and 1 ounce of turkey, and tomato if preferred. Cut into a fun shape, and let your child bite into their colorful lunch.
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Goldfish Crackers and Celery Sticks
Revamp it:
Dried Fruit Salad
In your child’s bowl, mix a couple dried
prunes, raisins, and dried cherries, as well as a couple slices of their favorite fresh fruit–apples, kiwi, or pear. Toss in lemon juice for a bit of tang. This fun finger food will allow your child to explore the different feelings of each piece of fruit, and aid in their sensory development.
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Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread bites, and peas
Revamp it:
Salmon nuggets with baked sweet potato and cinnamon
Let your child explore the tastes of salmon and sweet potato while also supplementing their diet with much- needed protein from fish, as well as vitamins from the colorful potato for a sweet dessert. Here’s how to make the finger food salmon nuggets: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put ⅓ cup of cornflakes in a bowl, and beat an egg in another bowl. Cut a half pound salmon fillet into chunky nuggets that will fit in your baby’s hand. Mix 1 tsp. paprika with 2 tsp. flour and sprinkle over the fish. Dip the floured fish into the egg, and then the cornflakes, and spread on a cookie sheet. Cook for 8 minutes, or until fish is cooked through. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, and a baked sweet potato with cinnamon.
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Sources:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/healthy-eating-what-young-children-need
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