A Miracle! Food My Toddler Eats!
I blogged a while ago about how small Bean is (5th percentile for weight and height) and how little he’s eating these days. I decided it was time for me to bulk up what food he was eating so that if he was only going to eat a little bit, at least that little bit was really healthy. I pulled out a book that I’d bought when Bean was first eating table food called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron.
This book is pretty awesome if you’re going to be making homemade baby food. I made all of Bean’s baby food and I used this book to help me learn what to make, how to make it, when it make it, and how to store it. I like it because it’s so much more than just a recipe book. It gives you a lot of information about infant and children nutrition and most of the recipes it has involve ingredients that can be found in a regular kitchen. I remembered that it also had a whole section in the back on toddler meals and snacks, so that’s the part I’ve been using for Bean lately. And I have found some awesome food ideas.
Most of these are things that Bean eats anyway, but it’s made in a way that allows me to add ingredients that pump up the nutritional value.
For example, Bean loves all fruit, but this recipe for fruit bars combines fruit with grains and orange juice and protein, so his fruit snack becomes really hearty and extra healthy.
He also loves broccoli and brown rice, so making this SUPER easy (seriously, it’s ridiculously easy to make) broccoli and brown rice casserole added cheese for calcium and egg for protein. Plus, I added chicken to the recipe for an extra little bump in protein. Bean loved it! He ate it with applesauce and it was a great, balanced meal. Also, this one freezes really well, so I froze a couple servings for him, too. The book goes into great detail on freezing and storing food, which is so helpful when the recipe makes a whole casserole.
I haven’t tried this one yet, but next on my menu is this sweet potato casserole. Bean loves sweet potatoes and yogurt, but combining them means that he gets both when he might normally only eat one and then be done. I might even add some local honey to this to sweeten it up. Also, see that part in the recipe that calls for Healthy Extras? There’s a whole section in the book on these things. They are sort of like healthy toppings that can be added to pretty much any recipe or feed to boost the health content. I have the list on my fridge and keep a couple of them in my fridge and pantry now. It’s super easy to toss them into what Bean’s eating and add some extra nutrition. Bean’s favorites are blueberries and, just recently, sunflower seeds.
This week I made the sweet potato loaf and so far it’s been a big hit. Bean loves any kind of flavored breads (banana and zucchini are his favorites), so I told him this was sweet potato bread and he dug right in. I thought I’d share the recipe since it went over so well with Bean. It is super healthy and packs a big nutritional punch, so if Bean only wants this bread for a meal, at least I know he’s getting a lot of good, healthy food in him.
It looks gross, but, trust me, it’s a new favorite of Bean’s.
Sweet Potato Loaf
5 tablespoons melted butter or oil
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup cooked mashed sweet potatoes
1 beaten egg
1 cup ground oatmeal
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons molasses (I used honey instead)
1/2 cup ground nuts (I used sunflower seeds instead)
Mix ingredients in one bowl. Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake on 350 for 40-45 minutes. Done!
Mine came out kind of lumpy because my sweet potatoes were diced and I didn’t mush them enough. I thought I’d actually messed up the recipe because it wasn’t very bread-like. It was a little mushier. But I think that’s why she calls it a “loaf” and not sweet potato “bread.”
Anyway, however it was supposed to be, Bean loves it and I know when he’s eating it that he’s getting extra nutrition than if he were just eating a steamed sweet potato (which is another favorite at my house). So, if you’re struggling with a picky eater or trying to bulk up your toddler, I highly recommend this book. Some of the material she writes about is pretty dense and detailed, but most of it is straight-forward and helpful.
And now I’m off to make applesauce animal crackers. Wish me luck!
18 Comments
Alyssa
I’m so glad you posted this. Yesterday my son ate 6 grape, 2 wax beans, and about 4 mini shells of pasta…all day. He’s just given up eating. I know when he’s hungry he’ll eat but when he does decide to finally eat I want some nutrition in there! I’m going to have to look for that book.
Heidi
Thanks for posting this and reminding me I have this book. I got it for Christmas a few years ago and forgot all about it! I already grabbed it off the shelf. I need to feed my picky 2 1/2 year old something besides noodles. That is all she ever wants!
Sarah
thanks for sharing this book! I hope to make 100% of my future baby’s food. this book sounds great:)
Ann G-B
Thanks for posting this! We have the same issue over at our house – except we didn’t make the 5% for weight. I remember that post… I have had the same reaction as Chris – I wanted to buy ice cream and fruit loops!
Melissa @ Just Another Day
I’m totally going to try that sweet potato loaf! Thanks.
Jen @ Caved In
Thanks for the ideas! I’m making Sully’s food right now and kind of running out of ideas. I’ll have to check this book out
Waiting for Bulgaria
Andrew will eat almost anything, but I’m going to try that broccoli and rice casserole. It looks really good.
Meredith
THANK YOU!! Lydia’s been a nightmare recently with food. We can’t seem to get her to eat ANY fresh veggies and she still will not eat rice or noodles. I’m hopeful that this one might offer me some more. Thanks Katie!
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
you are a ridiculously creative/hands on mom…it’s honestly really impressive
Casey
I am going to Amazon right. now. to order this book! Eli is just getting to that point where he only wants to eat his favorites (he’s 13 months). These recipes seem like a great way to pump up the nutrition. They all look like yummy things for Mom & Dad, too!
Andrea
I have been researching these sort of cookbooks. My kids eat pretty well and I hide veggies in some of there food already but was looking for some new ideas. I’ll give this one a try! Another tip if you are interested, when baking I substitute plain applesauce in recipes when they call for oil. It comes out just as tasty and is that much more nutritious! Thanks again
Ashley @ A Recipe for Sanity
Wow, good for you! It’s so nice to see moms invested in their children’s nutrition (not that there aren’t a lot of you, but I’ve seen a lot of bags of chicken nuggets and not enough veggies)! Bean is really getting some awesome meals..I’ll have to remember that book when it comes time to me to have kids!
Summer
Loved reading this!!! E has FINALLY graduated from 0% to 1% in weight–lol. Food is a daily struggle, so Im excited to check this book out–any try the recipee you posted 😉
Ann G-B
Just ordered it from our library!
Becky
Thank You!!! My dd is low in weight gains too, and is a picky eater to boot! It seems like she won’t eat any veggies or meat, but loves fruit! I will have to look for this book. It is a challenge trying to figure out what to feed her so she will actually EAT something.
Brooke
Thank you so much for the recommendation. I actually had this book in my amazon wish list, but I deleted it because it seemed like it lacked pictures (something that I strangely find necessary for me to use a cookbook). My 13 month old son has a genetic disorder where his body doesn’t produce enough enzymes to process the fat in his body for energy. Every meal I am trying to feed him something that will stick with him. This book sounds perfect for me! Thanks Katie.
Corinn
Thank you for this!!! My Porter is a pretty good eater {most days} but I am ALWAYS looking for new, healthy, recipes for him. Thanks!
Amber
I have this book too and I love it!! I make all of my 8 month old’s food right now and am looking forward to using it as he gets a little older!