I recently brought 'Feeding Fussy Kids' which you can learn more about here if interested and i am just so rapt with this recipe book! I have so many feeding toddler and baby type recipe books and they are all much the same....not great for Ruby who still does not do much finger food other than crunchy type crackers, crispbread etc and prefers her meat and veg still mashed!
Yep that's a cruskit stuck to Ruby's head!
Tara the vegemite kid!!!
This book has some wonderfully sneaky ideas to help boost iron, protein and vitamins using foods that the toddler will already often eat whether in snack form, crunchy, soft or just sweet!. I could go on but this isn't a book review, i just wanted to share a little of my excitement (can you tell that getting Ruby to eat something other than crackers may be taking over my life a little at the moment.....i don't really get out much either come to think of it......)
Ah well, i am getting distracted thinking about my lost social life! Back to the food...I started with some basic snacks that pack a punch of goodness undetected by the fussy toddler!
These are 'Eat your Greens' Chocolate Muffins....don't they look yum...how could any toddler resist?
They actually include a cup and a half of green vegetables! You can slightly smell the broccoli when taken out of the oven but after that they tasted just like a choc muffin to me. Of course they still have sugar in them so not an all the time snack but really so clever!
Here's the recipe....
Healthy Choc Mini Muffins
2 Eggs
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup broccoli finely grated
1/2 cup zucchini finely grated
1/2 cup white self raising flour
1/2 cup wholemeal SR flour
3Tbsp Cocoa powder 1 teasp baking powder
1 Tblsp low fat milk.
Whisk eggs, oil and sugar together in large bowl. Add vegetables, flours, cocoa, baking powder and milk and mix well.
Spoon into greased (or paper lined) mini muffin trays and bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes.
Because Ruby tends to at least pick up round, crunchy foods even if new to her i also tried these Mini Cheese Crackers......
Hard to see in these photos i know but they end up with the crisp texture of croutons or mini toasts but they have the goodness of cheese, eggs and LSA (Linseed, sunflower and almond seeds ground finely so basically undetectable) Ruby loved them with some cream cheese... a good boost for fibre, calcium and carbohydrates.
Here's the recipe if you want to give them a try!
Mini Cheese Crackers
1 Cup wholemeal pl flour
3/4 cup white pl flour
1/2 teasp baking powder
2 large eggs
1/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 Tblsp LSA mix
1 egg white lightly beaten
Sift the flours and baking powder into a bowl. Beat the eggs and sugar until thick, pale and doubled in bulk....use electric beaters!!
Using a large metal spoon fold in flours, cheeses and LSA mix. Do not overmix.
Knead gently on a lightly floured surface to bring dough together..add extra water if required.
Divide the mix into thirds and roll into 3 logs. Place logs onto greased trays and brush with egg white.
Bake in moderate oven(180 degrees) for 20 mins, turn over and bake for another 10 minutes or until firm and light brown. Cool on a rack for 5 minutes. Reduce oven to 160 degrees.
Slice each log very thinly into slices. Place the slices back onto lined trays in a single layer and cook for further 20 mins or until crisp and dry.
Great for sustained toddler energy!
I'll be trying some Toddler Fruit and Coconut Balls next which are filled with fruit, oatbran, wheatgerm and lots of other goodies. I really worry about the iron and protein Ruby takes in as she will not as yet pick up or eat cut up meat, cheese, sandwiches and many other finger foods although i have really tried every homemade trick in the book, including nuggets, fish fingers, lentil patties, vegetable and beef croquettes....gosh i have a freezer full of homemade goodies.....but i have to keep trying and maybe we will keep having a few little wins along he way!
Food did manage to give us another special moment yesterday as the toddler twosome finished dinner and i said 'All gone' as i always do, this little voice muttered 'gone' . It was just such a beautiful moment.....finally Ruby uttered her first real word although i could see it was with much difficulty.....the look in her eyes was easy to read though...she was as proud of herself as i was and even her twin looked over and clapped......a special, special moment for the 3 of us. Who would have thought it would be during my most stressful part of the day!!
She is perhaps getting a little tired of Mummy now saying 'gone' all day though!
Have you had any wins when feeding your toddler? Do you have any ideas for dinner food that is crunchy and perhaps round that i might try for Ruby? Love to hear your thoughts as always!
After visiting some fantastic blogs joining in with the Kid's Co-Op linky last week i see that i wasn't the only one with food on my mind!
Make Do and Friend made these fantastic Fruit Kabobs with a little pot of gold at the end to celebrate St Patrick's Day....if only my twins would give them a try...they look like so much fun to make!
B. Inspired Mama joined with her kids in the kitchen to make these yummy looking Banana Bear Puddings
And Taming the Goblin kept the illness blues away with comfort food and baking fun at it's best.....i just loved the pictures of little goblin making these Easter Egg Nests
Time now to link up for this week....i can't wait to see what gems i discover this time! Please link any play, activity or craft post from toddlers to teens and enjoy visiting other fellow bloggers for inspiration! You can also visit the new Kid's Co-Op Facebook page to look through an album featuring all of the participating Kid's Co-Op hosts' own blogs....and who knows...perhaps you could be featured on one or more of them next week!!!
Have fun linking up and enjoy your weekend!!
Warm Wishes...
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So glad you have had some success in the eating department. One of the best books I've read was "My Child Won't Eat" - it is published by La Leche international. At the time, I was being hounded by the child health nurse because Ginger wasn't gaining weight at the rate she should. The book gave me the peace of mind to trust my own wisdom in knowing Ginger was getting enough food and nutrition (Dr Gonzales argument is that provided you give your child healthy food options they will eat what they need for their own health). It turns out she is just a slight child. These days she eats lots in the morning and hardly anything at night:)
ReplyDeleteOh, and Ginger is still a meat spitter too. Chicken is about all she will eat un-obliterated. And that, has only been very recently.
I may have to look that one up, sounds interesting...thanks for the tip! I can already see that Tara is going to love her food and probably take after me (poor love!) wheras Ruby seems to stop immediately when full and has a much smaller appetite...very interesting really!
DeleteAt least Ginger is trying some chicken now....yay!!!
Jode, one of my fussier eaters loved liverwurst on bread or toast! Go figure!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, i can't even stand the smell of that so don't think i will be able to try that one, lol! But isn't that interesting...you really can't pick what they will like can you?
Deleteone time I made zucchini brownies..I wouldn't recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI just mentioned that recipe book in my previous comment, oops, it is a great book isn't it. I made those muffins too, very tricky and yummy too no one knew what was in them except me;) Both of the girls are a little fussy, the big one not as much these days but I find plain food their favourite, a roast, spaghetti, fish and chips and salad. xx
ReplyDeleteWhen my son was eating mashed food I would always mix baby multigrian cereal and Greek yogurt in it to make sure he was getting enough iron an protein. Does daughter like spreads on her crackers? Maybe Greek yogurt, avocado, or coconut oil and cinnamon? Maybe shredding some veggies in her crackers? Good luck momma I'll be trying your recipes for my son!:)
ReplyDeleteI pinned these! Gonna have to try to make some for my picky eater. He loves chocolate and hates veggies. Hopefully this will be a hit!
ReplyDeleteInstead of using the 1/2C of the two different flours, do you think you could just use 1C of regular all purpose flour? What are your thoughts? Thanks! (Trying to save some $$ and use ingredients I already have :)
ReplyDeleteYou could definitely just use one cup of flour rather than 2 different ones...i have when i have run out and they still work fine, just don't have as much fibre in the muffin! I think your all purpose flour is equivalent to our plain flour? If i'm right i would add another teasp of baking powder to help them rise....otherwise ignore me if i have that wrong!!Good luck with them...thanks for stopping by x
ReplyDeleteHello! Probably a stupid question, but the broccoli and zuccini have to be cooked right? Want to make these today for my picky little girl. Thanks so much
ReplyDeleteSo sorry i missed this comment but for anyone else reading through you don't need to cook the broccoli and zucchini before adding...because they are grated they cook in the cake.
DeleteI love the zuchinni and brocolli muffins. i just made them for my daughter and she can't get enough of them. She has no idea. I did change the recipe around some. I added mini chocolate chips to the batch. This is a great idea. I can't wait to try the ham, cheese and veggies muffins!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked the muffins Amber!!Feels so good watching them eat the goodies and not knowing doesn't it!!Hope you have as much success with the ham, cheese and vegie muffins!!
DeleteJust made the muffins. My 2yo keeps asking for more ;)
ReplyDelete