Little Chickpea Food Wednesday: Snack Time- Banana Pudding

August 29, 2012 Arielle

Guess who is getting their very first hair cut today?

That's right!

I am happy to announce that she will no longer look like a homeless kid whose been running the streets begging for someone to buy her a donut.

Nor will she be confused with the child from the jungle book who hangs out with wild animals and walks barefoot in the dirt.

She will finally be able to see where she is going, and stop running into walls, tables, and chairs.

And more importantly I, her mother, will have to stop holding onto the fact that she's no longer a baby and big headbands and bows can't hide her baby rats nest hair forever...

Oddly enough I am actually excited for her newly styled hair...However, I am dreading the process.

Let's just say one press of the wrong button and she will go all Diva on you screaming obscenities such as, " You're bein' naughty, Go on timeout!" All the while pointing her cute little finger at you with a smirk on her face.

100% sass I tell ya...

Which is why in honor of Little Chickpea Food Wednesday:

I've decided to share a sweet treat/snack idea that can come in handy when your child needs some encouragement...

Or bribery...However you want to put it.

Banana Pudding

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 avocado-cold (set in fridge an hour or so before)

1 1/2 bananas-cold (set in fridge an hour or so before)

4 TB plain greek yogurt or 4 TB coconut fat from can

2 TB liquid sweetener of choice

1-2 TB non dairy milk

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Blend everything in a blender until creamy.

If you hear on the news of a young mom who was sent to timeout for eternity well then you can probably assume things didn't go as planned.

And if that happens, you can also assume that the little child running down the street in nothing but a diaper, fake plastic heels, and a huge knot in the back of their hair is none other than...

Boo.

**If you like the idea of avocado pudding, check out the Chocolate Version HERE**

Little Chickpea Food Wednesday: Deconstructed Omelet

August 22, 2012 Arielle

I get a lot of questions about the type of food I feed Boo, and how she does with healthy choices.

(Let's not forget she has her own opinion on healthy eating, which I wouldn't suggest following.)

A while back I did a week long series all about toddler food and picky eaters. (If you haven't checked it out, please do!)

But I feel like I need to do more than just a week long series and share some of the things that Boo eats on a weekly basis. That's why Every Week on Wednesday, I'm going to have a toddler food post called:

I'm hoping that I can share some of the things that have worked for us each week, whether it be:

I can't promise that it's going to be all unicorns and roses, and everything I post that Boo likes your child will like. You see, most likely getting Boo to eat some of the food took some MaJoR convincing, and a little Mickey Mouse hot dog dance to get her to try at least one bite...

But alas I'll share that all, and hopefully you will learn that there is no need to run to the nearest golden arches to save your sanity.

(Or in Boo's case, the nearest self serve Fro-Yo...)

Ok, so let's begin!

Today I'm going to start off with the most important meal of the day...

Boo is at that stage where she doesn't like her food put together, if that makes sense.

So for example, she would refuse to eat an omelet because in her eyes it's too un-familiar and complicated. So instead, I take everything that would be in her omelet and put it all separately on her plate.

Did I mention she's 100% Diva?!?

(If your toddler is fine eating it all together than by all means do so!)

Before I talk about the omelet, I should mention I try and incorporate each of the following into each meal. (Key Word: Try)

In this meal I am missing the grains, but I usually will makeup for that in the snack a few hours later so that's ok.

For the veggies and fat I used cherry tomatoes and avocado. Boo LOVES both, so I knew this would be easy to get her to eat!

(She's been eating avocado since 6 months, and recently after introducing her to tomatoes multiple times, she loves tomatoes.)

Berries is another favorite of Boo's. She could eat a whole flat of berries no problem...So could I.

(You can guess where our money goes...)

Obviously that was an easy one to get her to eat...

For the scrambled eggs, I cooked them in a little bit of coconut oil.

You must try eggs cooked in coconut oil!! It's amazing!

She was a little hesitant at first to eat the eggs, but I offered her a 'Big Girl' fork that was pink, and she was really excited to use it for her eggs. It's the little things for Boo that make eating not so stressful for her.

There you have it!

If there is anything you would like to see on Wednesdays, let me know!!

P.S.

I just love this little girl... :-)

Zucchini Bread

July 17, 2012 Arielle

It's been a while since I've spent some good quality time in my kitchen, especially to bake something.

The farther along I am in this pregnancy, I find my self bending and moaning with every cramp and movement of my VERY wiggly chickpea. Not to mention, I have to stand sideways at the counter since my belly gets in they way.

Standing sideways=Awkward position=Knocking things over=Swearing in front of your two your old..

And we all know how that turns out...

Recently I've had a hankering to make some sort of sweet bread to have on hand for breakfast/snacks. I've been there done that with banana bread, and wanted to share my favorite recipe for zucchini bread.

I love adding shredded veggies into breads (like zucchini, carrots, squash etc.) because not only does it add a healthy does of veggies and their nutrients, but it also brings about a moistness to bread that I LOVE.

Top that off with a sprinkle of chocolate chips and a healthy spread of nut butter and you have a pregnant lady's best friend!

Zucchini Bread

adapted from Baby Cakes

Ingredients:

2 c. spelt flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. maple syrup

1/2 c.coconut oil (melted/cooled)

3/4 c. non dairy milk (I used canned coconut milk)

1 1/2 TB. vanilla extract

2 c. shredded zucchini

1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 325. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients together. Next whisk in the rest of the ingredients except zucchini and chocolate chips. Fold in the zucchini and chocolate until incorporated.

2. Pour batter into prepared bread pan (I used a 4 mini loaf pan) and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until bread is cooked all the way through. Let sit in pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and let cool. Wait to cut bread until cool.

By cool, I really mean still a little warm. Eating fresh bread warm is way better than eating it when it's 'cool'...Am I right, or am I right? :)

By the look on her face, I'll take that as a HECK yes! :)

Healthy On-the-Go Snacks: Kid & Baby Mama Friendly

May 23, 2012 Arielle

Snack foods can be a mama's life saver.

Either because that mama is 7 months pregnant and every 30 minutes it's like she hasn't eaten in 13 years...

OR because, that mama is out at the park, taking a jog, running errands, or driving to a farther destination with a hungry child.

Hungry child=No fun.

A lot of times mom's always ask me what healthy food items I pack in my diaper bag when I am out for a day on the go. It's easy to throw in a bag of chips, packaged granola bars, cheese crackers, or fruit rollups, but obviously those aren't always the best options.

A lot of times when it comes to making choices for eating and children, parents love options that are fast, quick, and easy, and a lot of times we forget about those snacks being healthy and nutritious.

And no...I'm not talking about cheez-its made with whole grain.

Sorry hubby, that's not considered a health food.

Luckily with a little (yes just a little) planning, you can have hearty, natural, and healthy snacks ready for on the go runs whenever you need them!

Let's begin shall we!

1. No Bake Cookie Balls

I love love love raw cookie balls, or protein balls. It's basically a blend of nuts/nut butters, dates, coconut, cocoa powder, seeds, sweetener, oats, etc. Basically the combinations are endless and I consider them to be almost like a dessert.

When I make them I usually grind most of the ingredients really fine, (like the nuts), so Baby Boo can enjoy them with her little baby teeth! It's a treat any child will love! Imagine...Here baby, have a chocolate cookie ball!

Basic No Bake Cookie Balls

Ingredients:

1/2 c. cashews

1/2 c. walnuts

1/2 c. scant raw cocoa powder

1/2 c. almond butter

1 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 c. oats

1/4 c. cocoa nibs

1/2 c. dried apricots (Organic)

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. honey (scant)

1/4 c. maple syrup (scant)

Directions:

1. Using a food processor, blend nuts until fine and crumbly. Add the rest of the ingredients until well combined and the mixture is fine and can be formed into balls. Roll into 1 inch balls and store in the fridge or freezer and grab one when hungry!

Other cookie ball recipes:

Fudge Balls

Peanut Butter Balls

Citrus Cookie Dough Balls (Optional on the citrus part)

S'mores Balls (Top recipe on the blog!)

Store Bough Options: Larabars

2. Mini Sandwiches

If I have time in the morning I'll make a quick nut butter and jelly sandwich and cut it up for Boo to have as a snack later when we are out and about. Don't limit yourself to PB&J though, try hummus and cheese or hummus mixed with thinly cut veggies like cucumbers or tomatoes.

3. Raw Veggies

Every mom in the world might be laughing at me right now thinking that a piece of broccoli would qualify as a 'snack' to their toddler.

I understand it's different, but start your kids young on loving raw veggies (with fun dips), and pretty soon they won't mind munching a carrot in the stroller. You can also try cucumber slices, baby tomatoes chopped, celery with nut butters and etc...If you are able to, you can also pack a side cup of dip like hummus!

4. Fruits

When it comes to fruits the options are never ending.

Banana, apples, plums, pineapple, watermelon, berries, oranges, etc. Pack them pre-chopped, (and the skin off if necessary), in a to-go bag or container with an ice pack to keep them cool and refreshing!

5. Pre-made Baked Goods (Healthy/Natural/Homemade)

Pictured above: Chocolate Protein Breakfast Cake Bars

Usually once a week I bake some sort of muffin/cookie/sweet bread etc. I usually put half in the freezer for a quick treat in the future, and save the rest for snack time and on-the-go. The baked goods I pack are usually whole grain and made with natural ingredients and sweeteners.

Other options for healthy on-the-go baked goods:

Date Muffins

Grain Free/Sugar Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (Single Serving)

Cranberry Orange Loaf

Sugar Free Whole Wheat Banana Spice Muffins

Chocolate Chip Bean Cookies

6. Store Bought Items:

As much as I love food and treats made at home, I'm also a realist and I know that sometimes I'm not By Golly Miss Molly whose been baking away in my kitchen all week. After all, I've got story books to read, tea parties to have, and forts to build!

My advice for purchased goods is this: shop natural, whole, and sometimes organic when it comes to buying snacks. Make sure you can read and understand the ingredients and know what each one is.

Remember, organic Oreos are still...Oreos. :)

Pictured above: Peanut Butter Green Bars.

Despite that the picture above looks like marijuana granola bars, they are these insanely delicious PB bars that are sold at our local farmers market. (My husband even loves them!) Every time I go by I stock up and buy a bunch because they go fast! I show these because I think it's great to take advantage of local markets and companies that sell natural and whole foods/snacks. They come in handy for those days where you don't have time to cook/cut/and prepare, and you just want something ready to go.

Another snack we love are these applesauce packets. Baby Boo LOOOVES them! Sometimes you can buy them with veggies in them too, which is great! These can be a little pricey, so if I buy them I usually get them at Costco. Despite the price, I always buy them because they are such a yummy quick snack grab!

As for crackers and things, I aim for products that are whole wheat and minimally processed. Here are a few of our salty favorites:

Pretzels

Kale Chips

Popcorn

Pita Chips

Crackers (Simple ingredients)

Dried fruits are another favorite in our household. The freeze dried ones have a crispy/crunchy taste, which some kids love!

Other options include, but aren't limited too:

Dates

Appricots

Raisins

Craisins

Banana chips (Roasted)

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Last but not least, drinks.

I usually always have a water bottle, but sometimes Baby Boo loves other options. Who am I kidding, if I pulled out a cup of chocolate milk she'd be in heaven!

Here are out favorite drink options:

Coconut Water

Flavored Coconut Water

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So remember, whether your headed to Target to spend $100 or a fun day at the beach, there are always healthy options to have ready and on-the-go when you need them.

And when in doubt, chocolate is ALWAYS an acceptable snack :)!

Hint of Lime Kale Chips

May 7, 2012 Arielle

This weekend my husband took a quick celebratory vacation to Vegas for his birthday.

Vegas wouldn't necessarily be my choice for a 'vacation' because for one I don't drink, I don't gamble, I get sick at the smell of cigar smoke, and a 7 month pregnant woman in a nightclub just...doesn't go. Not to mention, there are boobies everywhere...Like, old and young ladies boobs are hanging out all over the place.

It makes my itty bitties feel...insignificant. :)

My husband however has been begging me to take him to Vegas, so I knew this would be a perfect treat for his bday. (I did put my foot down on the hooters hotel though, no matter how good he says their 'wings' are...)

For Hubby's Birthday dinner we dined at Bobby Flay's restaurant, Mesa Grill. We got our selves ready, I put on makeup and Hubby brushed his teeth, and we went out for a night on the town.

Mesa Grill was...AMAZING.

I went in 7 months pregnant, and came out looking 12 months along.

We started with a Mexi Goat Cheese fondue dip, which I basically wanted to bath in.

Then we ordered tamales, roasted chicken, a side of freakin-a-mazing corn, and ended it with churros that you could dip in chocolate and dulce de leche.

I'm almost positive nothing was healthy.

The rest of the time was spent sunbathing, eating some more, and watching my husband pretend he knows how to play blackjack..

If you can't read the dollar amount in the corner of the screen it says $0.00.

Over all I had an incredible great trip, and it was much needed. Having a husband work so much only makes me miss him more, so it was nice to catch up and spend one on one time with each other.

Since being home, I haven't let go of Baby Boo because I missed her so much... Even though she keeps calling me grandma and asking me for ice cream...

[Mom if you are reading this, I am being completely serious. I have a feeling she called you mama and you liked it...:) ]

But instead of ice cream, I quickly whipped up a batch of kale greens just to get something good into all our systems, because truth be told, this weekend I ate quite a bit of food , and I have a feeling Boo did too.

And I'm pretty sure her food rhymed with rice ream...

Hint of Lime Kale Chips

*Kale is a scary yet amazing green. If your kids or even yourself are unfamiliar or un-easy trying kale, these chips are the perfect trial run! They are a SUPER quick and easy prep snack that your kids can help you make. Once done, they are a crispy and delightful snack that may take place of those potato chips your always craving!*

**Side Note: Kale is a great source of Vitamins A, C, and K!

Ingredients:

1 large bunch Kale

1 medium lime-juice and zest

1 TB. olive oil or melted coconut oil

sprinkle of sea salt

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven 350. Remove the leaves of kale from the stems. Rinse leaves under cool water, then completely dry leaves. I use a salad spinner to dry my greens because it's fast and easy. Otherwise you can pat the leaves dry and let them sit until they aren't wet any more. Be gentle with the leaves.

2. Once the leaves are dry, place them in a bowl and add ingredients. Massage the ingredients into the kale leaves, almost like your kneading dough. Make sure every leaf is coated.

3. Place leaves on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or baking sheet. Spread the leaves out so they aren't all clumped together, and place cookie sheet in oven. Bake kale for 10-20 minutes, until the chips are crispy all the way through. The leaves will shrink a little. Some leaves you might have to toss once so they bake all the way through.

4. Once they are done, pull out of the oven and try to control your self from not eating the whole tray.

I should probably warn you that doubling the batch is a necessity...Because one batch isn't enough for a hungry family starving for goodness.

But since I'm grandma now I am all about respecting your elders, which means I get first dibs.

Now excuse my while I put on my granny panties and have me a kale partay!

Homemade Whole Wheat Garlic and Herb Soft Pretzels

April 30, 2012 Arielle

The mall is a dangerous place for a woman such as myself.

Between the Nordstroms' shoe department, H&M, and Baby Gap, I can't help but find myself in deep doo doo a few hours later.

And even deeper doo doo when I try and explain to the Hubby why Baby Boo's pants cost more than a date night dinner for two.

"If you really must know these actually were on sale, so you should be congratulating me for finding SUCH a good deal!"

Yea...NEVER works.

On top of taking away any chance of Baby Boo's college being paid for, my pregnancy senses seem to go hay wire each time I set foot into the mall.

I swear my butt gets bigger just walking by Cinnabon.

I've never so badly wanted to take a bath in Hot Dog on a Sticks Lemonade than I do when I go to the mall.

And hot dang all mighty the smell of those soft buttery salty pretzels seriously makes me salivate to the point where Baby Boo is having to wipe my face with her burp cloth.

Those pretzels have been on my mind for some time, and since I love carbs so much I practically have to walk a different path in the mall just so I don't break down and buy 15 pretzels and eat them in a corner like a hungry beast.

So what do I go and do...

I make them at home instead with good ingredients...

Then continue to eat them in the corner, while growling at anyone who comes near me to have a bite.

It's not my most attractive quality...I blame it on the hormones.

Whole Wheat Garlic and Herb Soft Pretzels

Adapted from: Here

Ingredients:

2 TB. brown sugar

1 1/2 c. luke warm water

1 pkg. yeast

6 TB. melted coconut oil-make sure it's luke warm and not hot

1 1/2 c.-2 c. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

1 1/2 c. -2 c. White Whole Wheat Flour (Spelt is a great alternative, but I was out of town and this is all I had on hand.)

1 1/2-2 TB. finely chopped parlsey

1 1/2 -2 TB. finely chopped thyme

1 1/2 -2 TB. finely chopped rosemary

1 tsp. crushed garlic

1 1/2 TB. salt

3 quarts water

2/3 c. baking soda

1 egg mixed with 1 TB. cold water

sea salt

2 TB. melted coconut oil mixed with 1/4 tsp. crushed garlic

Directions:

1. In a mixer fit with a dough hook add sugar, water, yeast, and melted coconut oil. Stir just enough until combined, then let sit about 5 minutes until yeast gets foamy.

2. While the yeast is setting, chop up herbs. Once the yeast is set, sprinkle salt, flour, herbs, and garlic over yeast mixture. Start with 1 1/2 c. of each flour. With the dough hook, stir until dough begins to pull away from the side of the bowl. If its too wet, add more flour by the TB's. Wheat dough is a lot tougher, so you don't want it to be too dry.

3. Remove dough from bowl and kneed dough into a ball. Grease a bowl with melted coconut oil and place dough ball in side, turning around so the dough is coated with the oil too. Cover bowl and let sit in a warm place for at least an hour so the dough rises to double in size.

4. Once the dough rises, and take it out of the bowl and divide it into 8 parts. Bring the 3 quarts of water into a boil while prepping the pretzels.

5. Roll out dough balls into a long rope.

6. Once you have a long rope, form into a pretzel.

7. When the pretzels are all ready, place 4 on each baking sheet at set aside and pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

8. Slowly add the baking soda to the pot of boiling water.

9. Slowly add pretzels to boiling water and boil the pretzels 1-2 at a time for 30 seconds, all the while using a spoon to slash water on top of the pretzel.

10. Remove pretzel with a large slotted spatula, and place on baking sheet while boiling others. (4 to a baking sheet)

11. Brush tops of pretzels with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt.

12. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

13. Brush with melted coconut oil and garlic mixture and place pretzels on wire baking rack. Dig in while hot!

Next, grab the pretzels and sit in the corner of a room...and eat.

Eat all of them.

And don't go hatin' and thinking because these are whole grain that they will be dense and hard as a rock...

No my friends...Nothing rock hard about these. Just pure carb deliciousness.

What is it about delicious food that makes us do crazy things?

To each their own right?

White Bean Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

April 20, 2012 Arielle

There are only a handful of veggies that I am okay with eating plain.

Carrots aren't a problem, but if you hand me a bowl of plain spinach and told me to start munching, I would probably cry. So normally, you will find me dumping some sort of dressing on my greens, or dipping my veggies into a big bowl of creamy goodness...

Whether this is to mask the fact that I am eating veggies is unknown to me...But for now, let's just say it isn't and I'm awesome...Veggies don't scare me, not one bit... :-/

Naturally when I discovered the ever so delicious hummus, I knew that eating veggies, sandwiches, salads, and pita chips would never ever be a problem again. Let's be real...Eating pita chips have never been a problem.

It's a carb for goodness sake, my favorite!

Hummus has become the new ketchup, and I'm being honest when I say that you can put that stuff on anything. It's the perfect compliment to any sandwich, wrap, burger, or bagel. And if you have tried a huge glob of hummus with a big hunk of naan bread, well then by all means you my friends have tasted heaven.

What about breakfast? You must pair it with eggs...You must! You must! You must!

Trying to avoid the mayo, try hummus!

Want a jiffy salad dressing? Hummus and balsamic vinegar mixed together make me want to wet my pants! (With excitement that is...Understand please, I'm 6 months pregnant with my second child. Certain things are harder to hold...in.)

And finally, if you have never been a fan of plain raw veggies, and ranch ain't an option...Well, by all means try hummus!

Did I rub it in enough?

White Bean Sun Dried Tomato Hummus

Ingredients:

1 can northern (white) beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 c. Tahini

2 TB. Lemon Juice/Juice of one lemon

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/3 c. roughly chopped parsley

1 tsp. chopped garlic

3-4 finely chopped sun dried tomatoes (2 TB.)

1/3 c. (roughly) olive oil

salt (optional) and pepper * Be careful on salt because tahini and tomatoes are salty already

Directions:

1. Throw everything into a food processor and blend until creamy. Scrape down sides every so often. (This may take a few minutes.) Add more olive oil if you desire more creamy-ness.

2. Once done, store in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week.

Be careful.

Hummus never last long, so you might find your self making multiple batches.

Or if you lived in are house, each person gets their own batch.

And trust me, let's just say never touch another person's hummus...

You DON'T want to go there!

(A Better For You) Homemade Shamrock Milk Shake

March 15, 2012 Arielle

They say if you catch a Leprechaun on St.Patricks day he will lead you to his pot of Gold and bring you lots of luck.

I remember as a kid, my brothers and I would set a huge trap to catch the little Irish man, including placing a video camera nearby so we could have it all on film. Unfortunately instead of finding a pot of gold, my mom pranced around a stuffed Leprechaun who gifted us with gold coins and a box of lucky charms...(Yes! I love marshmallows!)

I thought about what kind of treats I would leave for Baby Boo from the luck of the Irish, and I knew that I had to avoid those coins and marshmallows at all cost. One being that I would be the one to eat all those gold coins, and two I would be the one to eat that box of cereal...And I have to prepare myself for Peep season which is coming up in April...

Oh my lanta I love Peeps.

So instead, I tried my best to think of a treat that went well with this holiday. As I was watching (or shall I say fast forwarding) through the past bachelor episode that I never want to talk about again, a commercial popped up for the McDonalds Shamrock Shake.

I wanted it.

I'm not sure if it's because I love green foods, or if it's because I really like milkshakes. Like hard core...

(Especially when you dip fries in it...Shhhhh, it's my naughty secret!)

But unfortunately the only green thing about the shake was it's artificial coloring and flavorings.

I decided that I could do better...I had to do better. And besides, I was feeling kind of lucky!

(A better for you) Homemade Shamrock Milk Shake

Ingredients:

1/2 c. coconut milk (from the carton)

6-7 frozen coconut milk ice cubes (from a can...I'll explain in the directions how to do this)

1 frozen banana

large handful of fresh mint leaves

1 tsp. vanilla(optional)

1 tsp-TB agave nectar (or other sweetener)

Ingredients for whipped topping:

Full fat can coconut milk

1 tsp liquid sweetener or other choice of sweetener

Directions:

1. Open up a can of full fat coconut milk. Using a spoon, scoop the thick cream part into ice cube trays. should make about 5-6 ice cubes. If you need more, just use the coconut water at the bottom and freeze those as well. (If you don't want to use the coconut from the can, you can easily freeze the milk fro the carton, or even soy milk.)

Add your ice cubes to your blender:

2. Next, start adding ingredients into your blender.

Mint Leaves:

Then your frozen banana:

3. Then add your milk, sweetener, and vanilla:

This is the coconut milk that I use (from the carton), it's my favorite!

4. Blend until creamy! You can add more milk if you need to.

Directions for whipped topping:

1. Open a can of full fat coconut milk and set in fridge overnight. Do not stir! In the morning the cream will have hardened.

2. Scoop out desired amount of thick cream into a bowl and mix with a little bit of desired sweetener. (I used about 2 TB. of coconut cream and added a little dab of agave.) Next, add on top of your milk shake!

It's pretty much the most amazing and refreshing mint drink I have ever had, and there is nothing artificial tasting about it! I hate when things taste like fake mint...Yuck!

Another positive:

Perfect pick me up snack!

It seems like Baby Boo won't be missing those gold coins after all...

As for those marshmallows...I will not deny or confirm I may have already bought a box of peeps...

And it's only the beginning of March.

Hubby Meals: Simple Turkey Meatballs over Spaghetti Squash

March 13, 2012 Arielle

Every Saturday, a nearby city holds their weekly Farmers Market.

And, like any other farmers marker, there is an abundance of local produce, fresh flowers, random tidbits, and if you lucky...

The green juice guys.

Despite what my husband believes, I only have somewhat of a minor (ok, maybe major) crush on this group of men selling fresh green juices out of their little organic looking booth.

(Group of men...Sounds classy.)

Rugged, mountain, green juicing men waking up early every saturday to juice a bunch of goodness to sell it to the local citizans. On top of everything, they are constantly promoting health, wellness, really good movies, and green living.

My guess it that they grow their own gardens, raise rescued and adopted adorable puppies, and eat tofu and rice bowls for date night dinners. :)

Not to mention, their beards are sexy.

Ok...You catch my drift.

And each week as I walk up to their booth, with my big pregnant grin, my husband stands far back with Boo admiring my ever so non-obvious crush as I ask..."I'll have one really big juice please..."

My husband and I joke constantly about my crushes, and how I secretly am turned on by the thought of a man working a juicer...and by all means this is true. (Oh baby!)

But I love my husband, despite the fact that he wouldn't know how to assemble, let alone take a part my juicer if his life depended on it. I still love him even if though he prefers little sleazies pizza or McDumps for dinner, and constantly asks for a side or ranch and tabasco with every meal. And even though his Jersey Shore look alike white shoe collection far exceeds more than you want to know, I still think he is sexy.

Bottom line, we all didn't marry Green Juicing guys.

Our husbands (or spouses/partners/or even yourself) aren't going to jump with excitement when we suggest a restaurant with vegan/vegetarian healthy options for date night.

And more often then not, we can only pull of tofu, bean, and veggie meals for so long before they go running for the nearest drive thru.

Which is why I have decided to start a series called Hubby Meals.

Unlike my meat loving hubby, I haven't eaten red meat in over two years. I try to make most of our meals have a variety and balance, and I really try to limit the meat/animal products we consume on a daily/weekly basis. But there are nights where my husband does want meat, and I make it for him. I feel that if I make it homemade, and pack it with tons of nutrients, that he is better off than ordering a double double from In n' Out.

(Even though he probably had that burger for lunch.. :/)

Despite our extremely different food preferences, it's still my job to feed my family, and keep them running back to that freaky abnormally red headed guy named Ronald who wears too much red lipstick.

(Ya...I went there.)

Simple Turkey Meatballs over Spaghetti Squash

Adapted from: How Sweet it is

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lb. organic ground turkey (I always buy straight from the butcher)

1 beaten egg

1/3 c. freshly grated parmesan cheese (plus 2-3 TB. more for topping)

1 piece of whole wheat bread pureed into bread crumbs (done in a food processor or blender) (or 1/3 c. breadcrumbs)

1/3 c. finely shredded carrot

1/3 c. finely shredded zucchini

1/3 c. finely chopped basil (plus 1-2 TB. more for topping)

1/3 c. finely chopped parsley (plus 1-2 TB. more for topping)

2-3 diced garlic cloves

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 c. Marinara Sauce

1 TB. melted coconut oil or butter

1 large or 2 medium spaghetti squash, little olive oil, dash of salt and pepper

Directions: (for squash)

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wash and dry outside of squash and place on baking sheet. Place in oven (yes, without cutting) for 45-60 minutes, or until squash has become browned and squishy on the outside. Cut off ends of squash, then cut straight down the middle. Scoop out seeds and then using a fork, scrape out the inside of the squash. Place spaghetti strings in a large bowl and toss with a little salt and pepper, and olive oil if desired.

Directions: (for meatballs)

1.Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl combine turkey, egg, cheese, carrot, zucchini, basil, parsley, garlic, and spices. Fold ingredients together with hands, but be careful not to overmix. Too much mixing can dry out your meatballs. Then set aside.

2. Next, get a casserole dish ready. It needs to be a larger one, something like 9x13. Brush down bottom and sides of dish with melted oil/butter. Pour marinara sauce into dish, and then grab your bowl of meat.

3. Roll your meatballs into about one inch thick balls and place evenly through out casserole dish.

Once all balls are in place, sprinkle with left over cheese and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked all the way through.

4. Pour meatballs and sauce over spaghetti squash and top with remaining basil and parsley. If you want, you can feel free to add more sauce or cheese.

Using spaghetti squash in place of regular pasta is one of our favorite things to eat. It's so light and soft, and doesn't leave you filling like you have eating your weight in carbs.

It's also a great way to get your kids to eat a vegetable, especially if they like spaghetti. You can go 50/50 with whole wheat pasta and spaghetti squash and they won't even know the difference.

And if you make your husband delicious meals every once on a while, he's bound to give other things a chance eventually... :-)

Toddler Food and Picky Eaters

February 15, 2012 Arielle

Whew!! This post has been a long time coming due to all the info I want to share! I was this close to posting this post as a Christmas special... :-)

I've been working hard these past few weeks documenting the things my daughter eats, tracker her eating habits, and really focusing on dealing with her picky-ness.

First things first...I am a new mama, and I'm pretty sure things will change with the next baby. Of coarse, I also believe some things will stay the same, but every child is different. So what works for one child, may not work for another. Also, the more kids you have, the less time available. Things will need to be quicker, faster, and easier than they are now...

I don't really know how that's going to happen, but let's pretend for a second I've got this all under control.

Ok, so if you have missed the previous entries of Kid's Food Week/Month/Decade then here are the posts so you can catch up:

Why and Where To Begin With Kids Eating Healthy

Stocking a Healthy Pantry for your Kids

Baby Food 101: 6-12 Months

And today we will be talking about Toddler Food and Picky Eaters!

So, I obviously can't discuss Every.Single.Type of food that your toddler/child can eat because there are truly so many options and creative ways. But I am excited to share with you a handful of recipes and tips that I have gathered over the past few weeks, along with the trial and errors of those foods!

I'm not going to get into statistics because I'm not a doctor and I don't want to lead you astray, but I will touch base on a few things.

This is a crucial time in your child's life, in where they are needing the right components to grow strong and healthy bodies, and they are able and willing to learn and soak up healthy eating habits. If there is one thing that I have noticed, it's that my daughter notices and copies a lot of what I do. Now is the time to truly be an example and teach your children how to treat and respect their bodies, and help them love and understand healthy eating habits.

In general you want to make sure your kids are getting enough:

-Fruits and veggies

-Calcium

-Protein

-Healthy Fats

You want them to also eat a variety of foods so they can get a variety of nutrition from different sources.

(Want to know what NOT to do....Keep reading).

A few months back Baby Boo would barely eat anything...I'm talking maybe a handful of foods and that was it! I tried every type of food, dance, distraction, and creative measure I could to make food seem appealing to her...But no way, she just wasn't interested.

It wasn't till a visit with Baby Boo's NEW doctor that everything changed.

When Baby Boo went in for her 12 month checkup, her old doctor told me she needed to drink more sippy's (or bottles) of milk. He told me I needed to give her lots of glasses through out the day because she wasn't eating a lot. So I did just that, even though I wasn't sure. (If you read THIS post, I want you to know that by NOW I have learned to really listen to my motherly intuition...) But, being a new mom and trying to do what the doctor said, I started increasing her liquids. She drank soy milk, and sometimes whole milk. Pretty soon, if she didn't eat a big breakfast, I would give her a bottle with milk so she would have something in her stomach. Then following lunch and dinner, I would give her a bottle again...Mainly because I was worried she didn't have any thing in her stomach.

At this point I was a wreck. Foods to Baby Boo were on the back burner, besides a few unhealthy snacks that outside family members had introduced to her, and she loved her Ba-Ba's...I knew I was doing things wrong, and I didn't know how to break the habit. I was supposed to be someone who enforced healthy eating, yet I resorting to giving Baby Boo the foods she would eat JUST so she would have food in her belly.

But I was soo soo wrong.

Finally after switching doctors, we went to Baby Boo's 18 month checkup. The doctor kindly shared with me a lot of information, and let me know that I am like a lot of mom's out there. That was really nice to hear, especially since I felt like the worst mom in the world.

First she told me to take away the bottles...So I did.

Then she told me to stop placing so many foods on Baby Boo's plate...So I stopped.

Next she told me to introduce foods slowly, and put 1-2 foods on her plate she likes, and one new food. If she doesn't touch the new food, keep introducing it often, and eventually she will try it...So we did just that.

What happened next?

Things changed dramatically.

Within days Baby Boo started eating all the food off her plate and asking for more. And I felt a lot better that I wasn't pumping her stomach full of 'dairy' and that she was getting SO much more essential nutrients.

-That being a first time mom isn't easy, but it's normal to make mistakes.

-I should always trust my motherly intuition.

- Not everybody is perfect, even for people who profess a healthy lifestyle..aka me! :-)

-Don't introduce unhealthy foods to your kids, because in the end, it's all they are going to want.

- Put your foot down when it comes to your children. I know how much grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren, and that's fine...But limit the spoilage. Make sure they get a variety of foods, not just the junky ones.

First thing I did was make a list of all the foods Baby Boo liked to eat, and then incorporated those into her meals on a daily basis.

Here are the things Baby Boo didn't have a problem eating: (P.S. I am slightly embarrassed)

-Hummus

-Berries/fruit in general

-Yogurt

-Cheese

-Crackers

-Smoothies

-Avocado

-Rice

-Macaroni and Cheese

-Spaghetti

-Rice

-Pudding

-Muffins/Baked goods

As you can see maybe a few items are healthy, and the rest are quick snack foods that she was introduced to and fell in love with. Next, I took the foods she loved, and incorporated them with new foods too. (I also said goodbye to those bad snacks, because to me there was no need for them.)

Baby Boo LOVES avocado! I truly believe that she fell in love because my husband and I eat avocados with practically every dinner during the week. She saw that we loved it, and wanted to try it too and fell in love!

Veggie Guacamole

1-2 small avocado mashed with shredded cucumber, zucchini puree, or pea puree. Dash of cumin and tad or salt (optional).

I love mixing greens into her guacamole. Obviously I don't want to get in the habit of hiding everything, but adding veggies or other wholesome goodies to foods that children already love is a great way to give them extra nutrition that they need.

I paired this with barley (which is similar to rice, just a little fatter and chewier) that had cut of chickpeas mixed in.

Veggie Avocado served with Barley mixed w/ Chickpeas

With this plate, I knew I had given her two options which she was familiar with and liked. Then I threw in some diced chickpeas just to get her familiar with them.

After I introduced chickpeas, I would roast them with a little seasoning and we would snack on them during the day and she loved this!

As the weeks went on I started to slowly introduce more beans and legumes to Baby Boo.

Her favorites so far are chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, and lentils.

Another favorite food of Baby Boo's was yogurt. Depending on what I had on hand, which was either an organic milk yogurt that was flavored or a non dairy soy yogurt, she wouldn't have a problem eating either. I decided that I wanted to stop buying the flavored yogurt because I knew it only came with extra additives and sugars, so I stuck with simple and plain, and our favorite happens to be greek yogurt.

Yogurt Parfait

Bottom Layer: Plain greek yogurt, non dairy yogurt, or plain yogurt

Blueberry Fruit Sauce: 2 TB. blueberries pureed with 1 TB. Maple Syrup

Next top with banana chunks and chia seeds,wheat germ, or ground flax seeds

I quickly learned that Baby Boo loved cold and easy to eat foods on weeks when she was teething, because her mouth was in so much pain that it often took away her appetite. (We will talk more about this latter.)

Another thing I tried was incorporating flavors she loved into certain foods.

I knew she loved spaghetti and avocado, so I tried combining the two.

Creamy Avocado Spaghetti Squash

For the sauce recipe, I used THIS amazing one from Ohsheglows and added 1/3 c. of Northern Beans to it and a little more olive oil. To bake the spaghetti squash, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wipe down outside of spaghetti squash and place the whole squash on a covered cookie sheet. Place in oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until outside of squash has browned and become soft and squishy. This is a great meal the WHOLE family can enjoy!

Obviously this was completely new to Baby Boo, so I was expecting a little bit of hesitation, but once she took her first bite she was sold.

Whether she wanted to eat with her hands or a straw I didn't care...Just as long as she was happy and eating!

A lot of times I became so frustrated that it would completely ruin my mood, and I know that Baby Boo could tell. Eating time had become a stressful event and a lot of times it turned Baby Boo off from eating to the point where she would cry the second I placed her in her high chair.

Since then I have learned to not worry, and that if Baby Boo doesn't eat something, then I should't freak out. Simply move on and try again the next time.

I've also really focused on talking with Baby Boo about the foods she eats on a regular basis, asking her questions about what eat one is and their color. Taking interest in the food has in turn made her interested in it as well.

When I first introduced broccoli to Baby Boo, she was not interested in it at all. After a few minutes of talking about it 's name and color (all the while remaining happy), she tried it. After her first few bites I told her how happy I was, clapped with joy, and gave her a high five.

This may sound ridiculous but...

Eating that broccoli become a not so scary thing!

Here is another example:

Baby Boo likes chicken, and she is familiar with it enough that she isn't scared to try it. So during dinner one night I paired chicken with broccoli, which she was becoming comfortable with, and some seasoned and baked polenta cubes.

I allowed her to eat at her own pace, checking to see if she would try the polenta. Then after a few minutes she picked a piece up and said, "what's this?"

:-)

So we named it, talked about the color, and told her it was made of corn and then she tried it. She only took a few bites, but it didn't bother me. Now she knew what it was, and each time I give her polenta, she will become more comfortable with it.

A lot of things can put a damper on the child's appetite, and you have to take that into account on certain occasions. Here are just a few things that can change a child's eating habits:

-Teething

-Sickness

-Grumpy/Overtired

-Unknown? :-)

I threw the last one in there because sometimes for whatever reason your child may not want to eat a lot, or anything really. Unfortunately when they are so young they can't tell you what is wrong and what they want. Just do your best to help ease whatever the baby is going through.

When Baby Boo is teething she loves smoothies. They are cold and require no eating or using her gums. We don't have one smoothie that she drinks every time, we just kind of make it to include what I have on time. I always try to incorporate some sort of protein, grain, fruits, and veggies. Here is an example of a smoothie she loves:

Toddler Breakfast Smoothie

I posted this recipe on my Facebook page. For the recipe click HERE. For other green drink ideas check out my recipe page HERE.

Another favorite for Boo is pudding. It's another sweet and cold food that easily requires no use of teeth or gums when she is in pain.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Recipe HERE.

Chocolate Tofu Pudding

Blend the following in a blender or food processor: 1 c. silken tofu, 1/3 c chopped banana(i used frozen), 4 tsp. cocoa powder, 2 TB. maple syrup, 2 tsp. coconut flour.

Screen shot 2012-02-15 at 7.28.55 AM

One of the biggest things that has worked for me with Baby Boo is letting her cook with me.

It's a great learning lesson for her because she sees me cutting, stiring, pouring, mixing, cooking, and baking. On top of that, we talk about each of the ingredients and a lot of times she will see me taste them, and in return she wants to try them.

I'm not sure if your child is a fan of PB/nut butter sand whiches, but Baby Boo wasn't. That was until one day we were making nut butter cookies and she wanted to try the peanut butter, so I let her.

She made me repeatedly dip that little spatula into the jar asking for "more" each time. Now, if I tell her there is Peanut butter (or any other nut butter) in her sand which (her favorite is Almond/sunflower butter with bananas and chia seeds) she eats it right up, and sometimes licks the bread! Whatever works right?

:-)

Actually now she prefers pancakes topped with a nut butter rather than Maple Syrup!

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

I usually always use pre-made pancake mixes because it's a lot easier and time saving. I always buy a 100% whole wheat, buckwheat, spelt or gluten free mix. Then, depending on the amount of servings you are making, add some non dairy milk, an egg (or chia/flax egg) a little bit of cinnamon and banana chunks. Cook on stove, then top with creamy nut butter and serve.

Another benefit to cooking with your children is that they are more likely to want to try the finished product since they helped bring it together. A favorite of Baby Boo's to make is muffins, which she is constantly cooking in her own mini kitchen.

Chocolate Chip Blueberry Banana Muffins

I originally posted this recipe on my Facebook page. For the recipe, click HERE.

And lastly, don't be afraid to give them a bite of food that you make for yourself. A lot of times Baby Boo is so curious as to what the adults are eating and would rather try our food, which has resorted in her obsession with avocados and hummus.

Recently I let her try a cereal I was making for myself quite often, and now she is addicted just like her mama!

Popped Amaranth Cereal

Sweetened with a drizzle of Maple Syrup and Fresh Blueberries

In a medium/high heated saucepan add 1-2 TB. amaranth. Put a lid on the pan and shake the pan around on top of the heat. Soon after, you will hear a popping noise like popcorn. After 15-30 seconds, the amaranth will have been all the way popped, it will look puffed and white, and then pour it into a bowl. Continue to pop more amaranth until you have reached the amount you wish. For better instructions on popped amaranth cereal check it out HERE from edible perspective!

Everything on this page is nearly a suggestion, not something that works for every child. I've known mom's with kids who could place anything and everything in front of their children and they would have no problem eating it, and to those mom's I say, "You are so freakin' lucky!" :-)

Whether or not your child is a picky eater or not, the main thing I want you to take from this post are these few things:

And more importantly....

I hope this post what somewhat helpful to new mom's out there. I tried to touch base on lot's of information, but I couldn't hit everything. So these are the topics I feel have stood out the most to be and worked best for Baby Boo. Talk with your doctors first before anything, and take into account your own motherly instincts and your child's needs. You can't go wrong when your trying to do what is best for your child! :-)

Now..I'm semi glad this whole post is done because I am so ready to get back to regular posting and normal food....

:-)

Baby Food 101: 6-12 Months

February 7, 2012 Arielle

I promise that I'm going to stop making promises...

I mean, I can barely keep the simple ones. Things like, calling someone back, returning an email, or even promising my husband I'm going to shave my legs WAY more often than I do.

Unfortunately I made a promise that everyday last week would be Kids Week. Meaning...7 days...one week...

I guess it's not surprising that last week I posted 2 times out of seven, and that Kids Week is turning into Kids two Weeks...

But seriously, if I come back next week and say, screw it, let's do this all month...Please email me and tell me I'm cooky loco...

I PROMISE i'll email you back!

Ok, let's get back to business shall we!

I've been trying to decide the best way to split up these posts because there is SO much information! I could do a whole post on foods for 9-12 month olds and so on for each age....But we've got things to see and places to go...

And I made a promise that this wouldn't take forever.

So today we are going to focus on the little tykes...And tomorrow (or the next day...don't hate) we will get into toddler food. Sound good?! Ok!!

**Before I begin, please know this...I am not a doctor. The advice I give on the blog is given and learned from my own personal experiences and knowledge. ALWAYS consult a doctor first when it comes to the appropriate time, age, and what it is that your baby needs to eat.**

I remember when it came time to get Baby Boo ready for solid foods, I couldn't help but feel nervous. I know, sounds crazy, but I was just so happy nursing her that I didn't want to really add any thing else that might make things more difficult. It was a little after Baby Boo had turned 4 months that a lot of people told me I should start feeding her rice cereal. I was indifferent because my doctor, as well as many books I had read, had said to wait till 6 months.

But of coarse I gave into peer pressure and tried introducing rice cereal to her early on, and it was hell. Not only did I soon learn she wasn't ready, but it stressed me out because I was constantly worried and trying to force her to eat. Every meal time was a struggle, and she would cry every time we would sit her in her high chair. Soon after, she stopped breastfeeding (also because people told me I should introduce a bottle) and she was refusing any type of solids.

Time after time I was listening to other people's advice and comments, and not my own (and my doctor's) instincts and recommendations...In the end, it didn't work out the way I had hoped.

How has this had an impact on Baby Boo's eating habits now?

Call me crazy, but I truly believe that I kind of messed things up in the beginning. If there has one thing I have learned about being Baby Boo's mom, it's that when she is ready to do something she will do it...And when she isn't, she won't. In my heart, I truly felt that it was too early to start feeding Baby Boo solids, and that she wasn't ready. Sometimes I think if I would have waited a little longer and took a slower approach that it would have been easier, and not as stressful, for her to eat.

So, when is the best time to start?

Every child is different. Some children may do well trying solids earlier than other babies, but do what you feel is best. Listen to your doctors advice first and foremost. Next, listen to your motherly instinct. If you feel your baby isn't ready, don't force it. Take it slow and don't stress it. Even if you only introduce foods every so often, eventually in time it will increase.

Typically though, most babies are introduced solids around 6 months.

Making homemade baby food can seem hard to do at first, but with the right tools and knowledge it's really easy!

First off you need a good food processor. It doesn't have to be expensive, because there are great cheap blenders out there. When Baby Boo was first born I used a Magic Bullet all the time. It was only $40, which is a great price!

For homemade cereals:

1. Whether it be brown rice, spelt, barley, etc., simply ground it into a flour using your blender.

2. Store in fridge in air tight container. When ready to use, bring a pot of water to a boil (roughly 1/4-1/2 c. cereal to 1 c. water) then add cereal and cook for 10 minutes until soft. Mix in formula, breast milk, etc..then serve when cooled.

For homemade veggie puree:

2. Steam veggies in a vegetable steamer. (Always steam veggies separately) Once veggie are soft, transfer to a blender or fod processor and puree until smooth. Once cooled serve to baby.

3. You can store extra puree's in the fridge or freezer in an air tight container.

Store bought baby food:

I love making baby food, but you don't always have time when your on the go and busy. That's why it's great to puree lots of food and store in the fridge or freezer for those busy days. When in doubt, don't fret because you can use store bought food too.

1. Buy organic and nothing with additives.

2. Use whole grain organic cereals with simple ingredients.

Babies are brand new to food, and the last thing you want to do is start giving them preservatives and un-wholesome ingredients. So always try homemade baby food, but when needed buy natural and organic brands. (This includes formula!) :-)

The first time a baby taste solid foods, it's definitely an experience. You have to remember that every food you put in front of them is something that have never taste, seen, or experienced. Take it slow with each new food, introducing each one at a time. Introducing foods slowly and one at a time also helps you learn if the baby is sensitive or allergic to certain types of food.

(6 Months)

- Rice Cereals

-Pureed Avocado

-Pureed Apple

-Pureed Pear

-Pureed Banana

-Pureed Sweet Potato

-Pureed Butternut Squash

-Pureed Zucchini

-Pureed Green Peas

( 7-9 Months)

Your baby still won't be eating a lot of solid foods, but these next months will be a time when you can introduce different flavors an food combinations. Always try the foods first on their own to make sure baby isn't allergic, and then go ahead and combine them with other foods. During this stage some babies might be getting teeth as well, so some chunkier foods mixed with pureed foods is great to introduce during this stage. Here are a few examples:

-Make your own homemade veggie stock, which can be added to vegetables being pureed. Great way to add extra vitamins and minerals.

-Sweet potato and banana

-Fruit puree combo such as peach and plum, or blueberries and prunes.

-Pureed potatoes mixed with beets, zucchini, etc...

-Cereal with plum puree

-Avocado with cucumber puree

-Lentils and veggie broth (This would be along the lines of a chunky food.)

-Pumpkin and rice

-Potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, and carrot puree mixed with a little veggie stock.

-Quinoa with veggie or fruit purees mixed in

-Rice pudding, made with a coconut milk

-Meats pureed w/ veggies and broth

-Egg yolks

Examples:

Pumpkin Carrot Quinoa

Ok, on to the next stage!

This is the stage where you don't have to puree every single food item, and you can switch to more bite size and chunky foods. Instead of pureed bananas, give your child small cut up bananas.

At the beginning of each week I like to cut, wash, and cook a bunch of foods to have on hand through out the week. Having cooked beans in the fridge for easy snacking for your little ones, pre-cut fruits, and pre cut veggies that can be steamed and easily eaten makes your day so much easier. Having these items on hand can also make meal time easier for the adults. When you have cooked beans, rice, and fresh veggies etc. prepared in the fridge it's easier to make a meal.

Here are some examples of easy finger foods and bites for this age:

-chopped fruits such as bananas, raspberries, blueberries etc..

-Cooked rice mixed with chopped avocado, steamed carrots

-Tofu cut into small cubes served plain or tossed in ground flax seeds or wheat germ

-Cubed soft cheeses or yogurt (plain, nondairy, sweetened with natural fruit)

-Lean meats, organic, finely diced

-Soft crackers that are easily dissolved when sucked on. I like to make my own from THIS website.

-Bite sized homemade muffins (with pureed veggies inside, no processed sugars or refined flours)

-Cut up soft pancakes (can add lots of veggie purees to pancakes too!)

-Green smoothies

-Oatmeal

The important thing is not to stress when making meals for your baby, and more importantly don't make separate meals. Take apart the main meal that the family is eating and feed it to your baby. So if your meal is a stir fry, set aside some rice/quinoa steamed veggies and a protein without all the sauces for your baby to have. Make it simple! :-)

There are so many food options when it comes to feeding the babies, and I could have writen a really super long post...But then it would take me longer than a few days to write. :-) These tips are just the basics to get you thinking. Consult your doctor first before giving your baby any types of food, and do your research. I have read tons of baby food books which have truly helped me out early on, and have given me the ideas I have needed!

If you think I missed anything, or there is something you think should go on this list and that has helped you please leave a comment below and share! :-)

My next post will be toddler food!! I have tons of recipes for that, pictures of food ideas, and well...lot's of messy face pictures! Thanks for your patience during these next few days!

Stocking a Healthy Pantry for your Kids!

February 1, 2012 Arielle

Sometimes the grocery store can be a scary place, especially for my husband.

It's not because he has a hard time finding fairly easy food items which are always located in the back of the store such as MiLk..But more so because he has a minor panic attack every time I come home with groceries and hand him the bill...

He usually cries.

And no, it's not because I finally broke down and bought him that stupid box of strawberry poop tarts he's been asking me for, but the real reason being I spent $$$$$ to get back at him more making me buy them.

Poop Tarts=Mucho Dinero Hombre.

But besides wondering if you should really break down and buy a bag of juicy grapes for 2.99 a pound, stocking up your pantry and fridge can be a nightmare, especially when you are trying to stock up on healthy AND tasty ingredients...

That everyone will eat...

And that everyone will like.

I'm sure many of you have come home with a bag of vegetables, only for it to go to waste in a matter of a few days because no one touched them, and the animal crackers taste so much better than carrot sticks, and gosh darn by golly if there was a tub of ranch dressing maybe eating those carrot sticks would go down a lot easier .

Well my friends, today your in luck. I've made a few lists of foods to stock your fridge and pantry that every family should have on hand for healthy, natural, and hearty meals for the children. You don't have to have everything, this is just a basic guide line of different varieties of food to have.

My next post we will be talking about what ages will be eating what foods, as well as some recipes so don't worry if you don't know what some of these foods are and how to prepare them. Through out the week be sure to try and talk about everything I can!

Okay, let's begin shall we!

*Side note: Whether you are a meat and dairy eater, vegetarian, vegan, or have certain allergies, you can modify the list according to your families lifestyle and diet.*

There are so many vegetables out there with a wide variety of benefits for kids and thier growing bodies. A lot of kids, and even adults, have strong dislikes for these bad boys, so they can be somewhat of a struggle to get your kiddos to eat. I'll go further into picky eating on another day and ways to get kids to eat their veggies, but for now focus on picking out, or even growing veggies as a family. It's best to shop at farmers markets where produce can be somewhat cheaper, your supporting local farmers, it's not sprayed with pesticides, and it's a fun family outing! Always buy what is in season, and if possible organic or not sprayed with chemicals.

-Greens: This can be spinach, kale, swiss chard, lettuce greens, etc...

-Potatoes: Sweet, red, white etc. Potatoes last forever, and are great for pureeing.

- Squash(yellow, acorn,butternut, spaghetti) and Zucchini : Easily shredded and pureed, great for adding into baked goods

-Carrots and parsnips: Great dippers for yummy sauces

-Tomatoes and Cucumbers: for mini sandwhiches, dippers, etc.

-Peas, corn

-Bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower

-Beets

-Vegetable stock

*There are definitely a lot of vegetables out there, and you don't have to have every single one in your fridge. Although, it's always best to have a wide variety to have on hand when you need them. Some of these make great purees that can be frozen and used at a different time in the future.

From natural sweeteners, to perfect snacks and sweet cravings, and perfect puree for little ones, fruits are all around amazing. A long with veggies, they are best to be purchased at a famers market, or at least buy them organic when they are in season.

-Apples

-Pears, nectarines

-Berries

-Avocados

-Bananas

-Apricots, plums, prunes

-Peaches

-Dates

With the right kind, grains can be a hearty wholesome carb that keep you full and give you energy, protein, and good amount of fiber. Make sure you switch up your grains, and just don't stick with brown rice. There are a lot of tasty grains out there that want to be loved too! :-) (Most of these grains and be ground into fine cereals for your little baby too!)

-Brown Rice

-Quinoa

-Amaranth

-Millet

-Barley

-Spelt

-Whole wheat pastas

-Whole wheat, grain breads. (Ezekial is my favorite)

-Flours: Whole wheat pastry, spelt, almond, coconut flour, garbanzo flour, etc..*You don't have to stock up on every type of flour. Buy one to try, and when that one is done, try another flour. Start with whole wheat pastry since it's pretty similar to AP flour when cooking, then later on experiment with other grains.*

Holy Canoli! I love beans!! :-) Amazing source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, etc.!! Great for adding into foods, pureeing for little ones, and quick snacks for toddlers when seasoned deliciously! Have a variety in your pantry to throw into any meal! Also, if you buy dried beans, they are WAY cheaper than buying canned!

-Lentils

-Black

-Pinto

-Navy

-Garbanzo

- Split peas

If you can't have dairy, there are some great alternatives to use. Even though some of us in out household aren't allergic to dairy, we still mainly eat/drink non dairy foods. Everything in balance. Also, always buy animal dairy products organic, due to less added preservatives.

-Greek Yogurt

-Full Fat cottage cheese

-Full fat milk (for young babies)

-Tofu-hard and silken (Not dairy, but a great substitute)

-Non dairy milks: soy, almond, coconut, hemp, rice, etc. *We buy a variety of non dairy milks and switch it up each week, that we get a nice balance of different essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins that each milk offers.

-Non dairy yogurts or plain yogurts

-Full fat cheese or non dairy cheese

-Eggs

If you don't eat meat than you can skip this section. If you do, then make sure to buy meat organic, local, and eat it sparingly.

-Lean meats, fresh from the deli

-Salmon

-Avoid bacon, sausages, packaged deli meats, etc..Get lunch meats from the deli where it's freshly cut.

-Chia Seeds

-Cocoa powder

-Nuts and nut butters

-Flax Seeds

-Mild seasonings like cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin etc...

-Flax oils

-Wheat Germ

-Coconut oil

-Hummus

-Fresh herbs

-Honey, Maple Syrup, Agave

-Onion, lemons, limes, and garlic to taste

-Salt and pepper for taste

Wait! What about packaged/boxed/frozen foods?

I'm a mom...and I'm not crazy. (Despite popular belief..)

If I could make every single meal every day by hand, well then by golly miss Molly I'm freaking amazing! But then, sometimes dishes wouldn't get done, I wouldn't get to snuggle with my hubby for a movie, and well, I wouldn't always be able to shower. I understand life is crazy, and with kids it get's crazier. Some days you don't have time to make something homemade, and that is understandable. If needed, buy organic, natural products. Make sure you know what each of the ingredients are listed on the box. And when in doubt, add pureed veggies to things like mac n' cheese!

I hope this post helped somewhat! If I forgot anything, please feel free to add it into the comment section below! Stay tuned for the next post where we will finally get into some recipes!! :-)

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Welcome to The Diva Dish! My name is Ari and I love Kale Salads and Chocolate Cake. I also love to blog about it...