Snack Idea

Imagine showing up at the next playdate with these adorable snacks in tow:

I can just about hear the "oooohs" and "aaaaahs" from the mamas as the kiddos excitedly grab their very own little portion-sized (and adorable) snack bag ... filled with cheese and fresh fruit.  I mean, really, who needs Teddy Grahams when you can put a nutritional snack in packaging this cute!

There's an official "recipe" here, but I think you can figure it out from the photo.

Question of the Day - 2

As moms (and dads), we are suppose to have ALL the answers, right?! The big ones like the hows and whys. And the more mundane wheres - like my shoes? I tell ya, Alex Trebek's got nothing on the moms of the world!

It's a good thing we have each other to rely on. To share what works and what doesn't. To suggest a new approach. To tell about the latest and greatest and the oldies-but-goodies. To speak from experience. To learn from mistakes. To impart wisdom. To provide ah-ha moments :)

Allow me to pose a few toddler-related QUESTIONS for you to ponder. If you have some insight, please leave a comment ... start a dialogue ... let's build up our arsenal of ANSWERS.

What does your toddler eat for breakfast?

I am in a total breakfast rut. And I know I rely too much on carbs because that's what I like in the morning. Typically, my toddler eats multi-grain pancakes or waffles, half a banana or a few apple slices, and about 8 ounces of milk. Some mornings I make scrambled eggs with cheese or french toast. Sometimes NHV will tolerate a bowl of oatmeal, but it's not her favorite. Any ideas? Does your toddler eat the same thing day-after-day? What options do you offer?

Can't wait to get some ideas about breakfast for toddlers!

Today's Toddler Lunch

Been awhile since I did this ... and I always get ideas from your comments.

Today's lunch was an interesting combination.

Aside from the veggies, it was well received :)

Eating Right Kids - Whole Wheat Pasta Rings in tomato and cheese sauce

(a healthier version of Spaghetti-Os from our childhood)

Cottage Cheese, Green Beans, & Apple Slices

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Your turn. Give me some ideas to expand my toddler's lunch repertoire.

What did your little ones eat for lunch today?

Smooth(ie) Operator

Are you ready for your weekly dose of Food & Fun here at ToddlerBrain? What's more fun than a bunch of fruit smoothie recipes? And they're food-like, too, right?

Not to jinx myself, but I am making some progress with getting my toddler to eat veggies. However, I continue to count on smoothies as a sure-fire way to increase her daily fruit intake. If I am being completely honest, my fruit intake and my tastebuds are thanking me, too :)

Berr-i-licious Smoothie
1 banana
1 handful of raspberries
1 handful of blueberries
1 cup milk
1 cup yogurt (your favorite flavor)

Add the banana, raspberries, blueberries, milk and yogurt to the blender. Blend well. Enjoy.

http://www.easy-kids-recipes.com/healthy-smoothie-recipes.html

Apple Smoothie Recipe
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 cup apple juice
1 carton apple yogurt or other flavor
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup ice cubes
Mix ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
1 cup frozen strawberries
2 cups orange juice
1 banana, cut in pieces
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
Add ingredients together in blender and blend until smooth.

Blueberry Fruit Smoothie
Carton of Blueberry yogurt
1 Cup of milk
1 Cup frozen or fresh blueberries, strawberries or peaches
½ cup ice cubes
Add all together in blender and blend until smooth.

http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/simple-smoothie-recipes.html

Feeling adventuresome? Feeling autumnal? Feeling a little Jack .. O'Lantern?
Give this one a try ... I double-dog dare you ... and be sure to tell me how you and your toddler liked it :)

Pumpkin Smoothie
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 ice cubes

Combine ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/recipe/famf0900pumsmooth/

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Random Bit of F-U-N: A quick Google search for the title of my post, produced this delightful result ... a game that allows you to make (and name) virtual smoothies. More fun than you can shake a stick at, I tell ya!

Planet Science: Smoothie Operator

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Also, be sure to enter my "What the Heck?" Giveaway. Just comment on ANY post and you're entered to win :)

Energy Balls and Cell Phone Fun

Hey! Hey! It's FRIDAY!

Here's a double dose ... both FOOD and FUN ... just for you!

First up, a recipe for ENERGY BALLS (mainly because the word "balls" makes me giggle!)

• 1/4 cup finely grated carrots
• 1/4 cup rolled oats or Granola*
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 3 Tablespoons peanut butter

Mix and roll into balls. Easy carrots in the tummy!

*Granola makes these Energy Balls more tasty and adds a nice crunch!

http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/toddlersnacks.htm

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And here's a way to have a little FUN this weekend. I am thinking this will be the perfect game for daddy to play while I sleep in on Saturday morning! *I don't usually allow my toddler to play with my cell phone, but in this case, I'm willing to make an exception.

Cell Phone Hide-&-Seek

Hide your cell phone under a pillow, in a drawer, in the bottom of the toy bin, in another room ... and then call it from your home phone (or another cell phone). Let your toddler find the ringing cell phone. Each time you play, change the ringer.

It's a fun way to teach your toddler to listen and follow a sound! (Just be sure to put the keyguard on so that your toddler doesn't make any calls.)

Another Idea: If you have the feature available to set a time/alarm, you can do that instead of calling from another phone.

http://www.toddlertoddler.com/todays_cell_phone_game.htm

Please let me know if you try either of these; I'd love to hear your input :)

Lunch in a Muffin Tin

I really and truly tried to come up with a more delightful, perhaps even alliterative, title, but ... that's what it is ... Lunch in a Muffin Tin. And sometimes, not often, I just tell it like it is :)

Anyhoo ... this is an idea I came across on Fun Finds for Moms, a website you really should check out. At the time, my little one was not ready for this type of dining experience. The next thing you know, I forgot about it, something recently jogged my memory and now I am giving it a try ... mainly because I am at my wit's end with my toddler's finicky approach to eating.

Here's where I've been with the whole "lunch thing" lately. I verbally offer about a dozen different options at lunch time, and she often replies, "No," to pretty much every one of them. I get frustrated, throw a handful of options on her plate, and walk away. Essentially, Lunch in a Muffin Tin is the same idea - minus the frustration and with a much more pleasing presentation, a combination I am hoping will take us out of our lunch funk!

I actually bought a six-muffin tin - 12 seemed a little overwhelming to me - and filled it with:

1. cucumber
2. goldfish crackers
3. avocado
4. raisins
5. hummus
6. cubes of colby jack cheese

My toddler's first reaction was excitement over the "new" plate she was getting to use. And, in the end, I do think she ate more - and definitely greater variety - of foods than she does at an ordinary lunch. She also spent some time rearranging and mixing up the foods in the various cups, which was fine with me - not the point but fine. If I had two kiddos for lunch, I would probably go with 12 cups because you could always double-up on a favorite. Also, I am hoping to work fruit into the mix, and with more cups, perhaps NHV would be less likely to notice.

Overall, I would say this is worth a try.

Today's Toddler Lunch

My toddler continues to be what I consider a "finicky" eater. She is also not a "big" eater; meaning she doesn't consume tons of the foods she does like. And fruit really is not an option. I can't even put it on her plate; it's one of the few times she "throws a fit." It's a struggle, I tell ya!

So, I thought I would start posting about the meals I am "preparing" for her. Keep in mind, I use the word "prepare" lightly, very lightly because I am not much of a cook.

Today, my NHV had ...

a serving of carrots with humus (ate about half)
half of a small avocado
a serving of meaty pasta leftover from last night's dinner
a cup of whole milk

What did your little dumplings have for lunch today?

Kid Kabob Recipe

Considering how much time - everyday, all day - toddlers spend eating or snacking, it's clear that food is pretty darn important. And providing a variety of foods that are high in protein and nutrients, well, that's pretty darn important, too. When it comes to feeding my little monster, I have two priorities: Meals that are easy to make and fun to eat.


My dear friend Missy, momma to Emmett, sent me this recipe just the other day, and I am passing its simple brilliance and yumminess on to you ...


Just skewer frozen chicken pieces or nuggets (thawed in microwave for a minute) with squash or zucchini (or whatever veggie your toddler will tolerate) and a can of biscuits halved. Bake in oven according to biscuit instructions and top with a little melted butter and honey (or let your toddler dip them).


Did you catch the fact that these kabobs include biscuits? You know the truly delicious kind you POP out of their cute little can? 'Cause she had me at "biscuits," if you know what I'm saying! Kid Kabobs, nothing; I'll be eating a kabob or two myself!