Healthy recipes for toddlers - Vegetables in disguise

You should always have fresh fruit, raw vegetables and other nutritious snacks on hand for toddlers between meals. These healthy snacks will help satisfy their hunger while supplying the vitamins and other nutrients they need.

 

Many toddlers are fussy eaters and refuse to eat some nutritious foods. For these children, it's oftentimes beneficial to "hide" foods such as vegetables inside delicious muffins, cookies, breads, meats and sauces. Eventually your child will start acquiring a taste for these healthy foods and you can begin re-introducing them in their raw forms.

 

Here are a few healthy recipes for kids that will satisfy even the most picky eater in your family.

 

Oatmeal Carrot Muffins

Ingredients

 

 

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 toddler size jar carrot baby food
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
  

Directions

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir by hand until combined.
4. Line muffin tin with paper liners.
5. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.
6. Bake 16-18 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
   

Makes 12 muffins.
Allow toddlers to "frost" muffins with fat-free cream cheese, if desired.

 

Zucchini and Carrot Cookies

Ingredients

 

• 3/4 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Directions

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cream margarine and sugar in a large bowl.
3. Add egg and vanilla, mixing thoroughly.
4. Mix shredded zucchini and carrots.
5. Combine remaining ingredients in a separate bowl.
6. Add these dry ingredients to the large bowl, stirring until well combined.
7. Drop teaspoons of dough approximately 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheet.
8. Use 2 spoons to drop the dough by teaspoonful into a greased cookie sheet.
9. Bake 10-12 minutes.
   

Makes about 20 cookies.

More Vegetables in Disguise

If your child is extremely fussy about eating vegetables and other nutritious foods, you can find plenty of ways to disguise them in everyday meals.

 

You can puree broccoli, cauliflower and carrots and add the mixture to spaghetti sauce. You can also add canned pumpkin or shredded carrot to brownie mix, or grate vegetables and include them in meatloaf.

 

With a little creativity and patience, you can have your toddler eating his veggies in no time, even if the vegetables are in disguise.

 

Healthy Kids

• Healthy lunches for toddlers
• Getting toddlers to eat veggies
• Dealing with fussy eaters