My 2 year old loves popsicles, ice cream and cupcakes likes the rest of them. The thing is, I’m perfectly fine serving them to him for breakfast, lunch or dinner because they are always homemade with fruits, veggies(!), healthy fats and no added sugar.
I’m hoping this will help him develop a healthy attitude toward eating, since there are no forbidden foods and no, “eat this first, then you can have that.” This leads kids to believe that dessert is a reward for being good and eating food they don’t like, and also sets the stage for power struggles with toddlers asserting their independence.
He hasn’t reached a vegetable shunning stage yet, but I brace for it every day. In fact, yesterday I was reading in Super Baby Food that between 1 and 2 years of age is the most important time to shape your baby’s taste buds. This is the time to introduce them to a vast array of tastes, consistencies, colors and healthy foods. After their second birthdays most children are very reluctant to try anything new.
I recently read a list of the most nutrient dense foods that you should aim to give your toddler at least once a week. This morning when my son brought me a cup, a lid and a straw and asked to make a smoothie, I thought- why not try to pack as many of the foods on that list as possible!
Here’s what we put in his mid-morning snack:
1/2 cup Whole milk yogurt
1 Banana
Almond Butter (about a tablespoon)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach
coconut oil (not sure how much- i just poured a little in)
A little water to make it easier to sip
1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast
He helped me with the whole thing- he really enjoys pouring all of the ingredients in and holding the immersion blender
It turned out great- he gave me half of it… Yum!
Next time I’ll take photos!