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Healthy Meal Ideas for Picky Toddlers

Food blogger, I am not.  But I am the chef to two tiny, picky little eaters which is one of the most frustrating jobs in the world.  The moment I feel like we finally find a food that they love, we go to Costco to buy it in bulk and bam!  No way Jose, get that poisonous raspberry out of my face!  The only vegetable that my girls like are ones that they don't know are there, and broccoli (of all things!).  We call them trees.  Whatever works, right?  I swear we went months without McKinlee touching a vegetable, and we were actually pretty concerned.  We took her to the doctor and she basically just told us, "yep, that's a typical toddler for ya".  She gave us the advice to just keep putting it on their plate, even if it's just one spinach leaf.  Eventually, they might come around.  I've turned to hiding veggies in foods by blending it whenever possible.  One of their favorites are Kodiak Cakes (which are super good for you) and we blend up spinach and put them in the batter.  It turns them green too, which is fun.  Our doctor also told us to just give them whatever we are eating, but in way smaller portions.  If they refuse to eat it, put saran wrap over the dish.  If they ask for a snack or say they are hungry later, we pull out the plate of food and offer that and only that.  We've been trying really hard to stick with that method, and it has not been easy!

Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon a Farm sent us a few of their organic cold pressed baby food pouches to try out, and the girls have been loving them.  I always like to add a pouch to their meal because it give me peace of mind that they are at least getting something healthy in them!  If you haven't heard of Once Upon a Farm, you have to check them out.  They use high pressure pascalization, which means that they use extremely high pressure vs. heat to preserve the baby food which hold in nutrients, vitamins and enzymes better.  Their pouches taste so good (I've tasted them myself!) and they even make a chocolate version made with banana, avocado, raspberries and raw cacao.  You can purchase directly on their site and even sign up for subscribe and save.  They show up on your porch packed with dry ice.

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Toddler food pouches, organic toddler meals, healthy meal ideas, picky toddler, baby food, meal delivery

This is how your Once Upon a Farm will show up to your house, on dry ice

Our Favorite Toddler Tableware

We are in love with Re-Play Recycled's Sorbet line of plates, bowls, cups, sippy cups, utensils, and snack cups in particular.  This collection is so pretty and we are basically set for life!  We absolutely love that they are made of recycled HDPE plastic aka milk jugs.  Re-Play Recycled is american owned and operated as well as family run.  One of my favorite items is the sippy cup.  It is truly LEAK PROOF!  We've tried a lot of sippy cups and this one is perfect.

Our Go To Meals

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The above dish is the Kodiak Cakes mixed with blended spinach.  I know, they don't look very appealing but I promise they taste good and the girls love them!  Then we have organic turkey bacon and strawberries.  

Toddler food pouches, organic toddler meals, healthy meal ideas, picky toddler, baby food , re-play recycled

What kid doesn't love mac and cheese?  We buy these at our grocery store frozen and cook them in a skillet (super easy!).  We served a caesar salad and you know how much they ate of that, absolutely nothing.  But, at least we tried!  Madison is on a raspberry kick so I always try to have those on hand. 

Toddler food pouches, organic toddler meals, healthy meal ideas, picky toddler, baby food , re-play recycled

I've been trying to have a little more fun with their food "presentation" so I got some cookie cutters and made PB&J sandwiches and cut them into stars and a flamingo.  I also did this with some cheese.  We did mandarin oranges (which they didn't touch) and strawberries which they love.  

Another one of our recent favorite meals that the girls will actually eat is stir fry.  I love doing a huge stir fry with every veggie you can think of.  We buy an organic brown rice and quinoa blend from Costco that we microwave, add in a protein and some Yoshida's teriyaki sauce and they gobble it up.  We make a lot to have left overs for lunches too.

Hopefully some of this helps!  I know I am not a gourmet chef, but I love getting meal ideas from others that are super simple and mostly healthy.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you for reading!

XO-Chelsee

 

Toddler food pouches, organic toddler meals, healthy meal ideas, picky toddler, baby food , re-play recycled

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