Toddler Food

Recipes Below:

Banana Muffins
Banana Prune Fool
Bananas with Maple Syrup
Bran Muffins
Rice Pudding
Vanilla Pudding
Yogurt Pancakes
Zucchini, Carrot Muffins

Snack Ideas

Snack time can be a challenge especially when we are on the go and need something quick and easy (and mess-free.) Personally, I struggle to come up with new and healthy snack ideas. For that reason, I thought I would share my ideas in hopes that I might be able to help others that struggle in the snack department and inspire people to share their ideas with me!

I should start by sharing my snack rule - a snack should include foods from at least 2 food groups (not including the Other category.) Below are some of my ideas for making snack time healthy, quick, and easy.

FRUIT
Have a variety of fresh fruit on hand at all times. Bananas, oranges, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi fruit, soft pears, peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe and thinly sliced apples are some of our favourites.

Bananas with Maple Syrup (Annabel Karmel)
1 small banana
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Melt butter in saucepan, add sliced banana and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute. Add maple syrup and cinnamon and cook for 1 more minute.

Banana Muffins
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large bananas, mashed (or 4 medium bananas)
3/4 cup white sugar (or dark brown sugar)
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted (or a little more than 1/3 cup applesauce)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans. Bake in 350 degree. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes.

VEGETABLES
*Ideas here would be much appreciated as this is an area in which I struggle! My daughter doesn't have enough teeth to manage uncooked vegetables unless they are grated (ie. carrots) and serving cooked vegetables alone just doesn't seem like a very appetizing snack to me.

Here is a great muffin recipe that incorporates vegetables! Thanks Gillian!

Zucchini, Carrot Muffins
1/3 c. skim milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. + 3 tbsp. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/4 c. shredded carrots
1 1/4 c. shredded zucchini

*You can also add broccoli to the recipe and put a little shredded cheddar cheese in the center of each muffin to make them more exciting!

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In small bowl, combine milk, egg, oil and vanilla. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add milk mixture all at once, stirring just until moistened. Spoon batter into 2" greased muffin tins.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

DAIRY
Yogurt - Always have a tub of plain whole milk yogurt in the fridge and add your own flavour. It is very hard to find flavoured yogurt that isn't filled with sugar. The individual containers of yogurt are very expensive when compared to a tub of plain yogurt, but I do keep a few on hand for when we are on the go.
Some of our favourite additions to plain yogurt are:

*mashed up banana/small pieces of fresh fruit

*frozen fruit (I keep a variety of frozen fruit in the freezer to use when the fresh fruit is running low and/or the fresh version is too expensive. You can puree/mash the thawed fruit or cook it for a few minutes to bring out the sweetness.)

*add crushed graham cracker and/or a little maple syrup to plain yogurt or along with fruit for added sweetness

*A great recipe that can also be used as a breakfast:

Banana and Prune Fool (Annabel Karmel)
5 canned prunes in fruit juice, pitted (or 5 dried prunes boiled in 2 tablespoons of water until soft)
1 small ripe banana, peeled
1 tablespoon natural yogurt
1 tablespoon cream cheese
Whiz the prunes, banana, yogurt, and cream cheese together in a blender with 1-2 tablespoons of the juice from the fruit.

I tried freezing this one day and because it is so smooth, it turned out like ice cream! It was a hit!

*Pudding is another favourite. I prefer to make my own pudding with whole milk.

Vanilla Pudding
1/2 cup sugar
3 tbsp. cornstarch
Pinch salt
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a small saucepan, combine with sugar with the cornstarch and salt. Mix together the eggs and milk. Stir the egg and milk mixture into the sugar-cornstarch mixture over medium heat; whisk to eliminate lumps, then stir almost constantly until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Pour the pudding into one large or 4-6 small bowls. Place plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding to prevent the formation of a "skin." Refrigerate until chilled, and serve.

*Cottage cheese and shredded or sliced cheese are also easy and healthy.

GRAINS

Rice Pudding

2 cups water
1 cup long- or short-grain rice
Dash salt
2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar, or more to taste
1 tsp ground cinnamon or cardamom

Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan; stir in the rice and salt. Cover and cook over low heat until almost all the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes.

Uncover (and increase to medium heat), pour in the milk and cook, stirring frequently, until about half the milk is absorbed (about 10 minutes). Stir in the sugar and spice and continue to cook until the rice is very soft and the milk is absorbed (about 10 minutes). About halfway through the cooking process, taste and add more sugar if necessary.

Spoon into custard cups (or one large bowl) and serve warm or cold, garnished with whipped cream if you like. This keeps well for 2 days or more, covered and refrigerated.

*I used whole milk so that it would be better for Lilah. I didn’t add any more than the ¾ cup of sugar because it was sweet enough and I used cinnamon. Another recipe I have also suggests stirring in fruit preserves before serving as well.

Cereals make for an easy snack (especially on-the-go.) Be sure to choose cereals that are not covered in sugar.
Toast with butter, peanut butter and/or sugar-free jam is also quick and easy.

OTHER
*Baked Goods - I don't do a lot of baking, but I do make muffins on a regular basis. When making a batch of muffins, I bake half a dozen mini muffins of the same variety and throw them in the freezer so they stay fresh. Bran muffins with raisins, blueberries or chocolate chips are favourites.

Bran Muffins (with blueberries, raisins or chocolate chips)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1.4 cup molasses
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup blueberries, raisins, chocolate chips

Mix all wet ingredients together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

*I don't like to feed my daughter much in the prepared snack department. Puffs were a treat early on, but Goldfish are the current favourite. There are a million varieties out there, but the whole grain goldfish are a good option. Rice crackers and graham crackers are also favourites.

Quick & Easy Breakfast Ideas

Oatmeal (add raisins, cinnamon and/or cranberries)
Cream of Wheat (add raisins, cinnamon and/or cranberries)
Scrambled eggs (add cheese)
French toast

Yogurt Pancakes(Annabel Karmel)
1 egg
2/3 cup full-fat yogurt
2/3 cup milk
1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp maple syrup

In separate bowls, mix together dry and wet ingredients. Combine. Serve with fresh fruit and/or maple syrup.

Quick & Easy Lunch/Dinner Ideas 

Grilled cheese sandwich (add tuna between the layers of cheese)
Egg salad sandwich
Tuna melts
Tuna sandwiches (mix in a little mayonnaise and some grated apple or add a little mayonnaise and sour cream...there are a number of different additions you can make to tuna)
Scrambled eggs
Pasta - There are so many things you can do with pasta. To name just a few...try making a variety of different hidden vegetable tomato based pasta sauces, cheese based sauces mixed with cauliflower, whole peas, spinach and/or broccoli, mix in tuna or chicken or prepare and freeze meatballs that can be added.