Here are five delicious, healthy recipes with 5 main ingredients or less, that are fun and easy to make.

Smoothie

A balanced meal or snack that can be consumed on the go.  This smoothie is packed with vegetables, fruit and healthy fats, but it taste so good your toddler will drink it all!

toddler snackIngredients:

½ c frozen berries or banana

½ cup vanilla or plain Organic yogurt

1 handful spinach

1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk

1 Tablespoon all natural almond or peanut butter

Directions:

1.  Blend ingredients together until desired smoothness, and serve.

 

Oven Fried Chicken Fingers

This is a healthy alternative to traditional chicken fingers or nuggets, all of the flour without the fried unhealthy fats.

Ingredients:toddler meal

8 oz. Boneless Skinless Chicken Fingers

1 egg

¾ cup Almond flour

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1.  Cut chicken into strips or nuggets

2.  Coat in egg wash

3.  Combine almond flour, garlic, salt and pepper in small bowl and batter chicken until coated evenly.

4.  Bake in oven for 8-12 min. on 350 degrees or until chicken is cooked all the way through. Serve with all natural no preservatives added ranch dressing, honey mustard or barbeque sauce.

 

Apple Sandwich

A simple healthy twist to traditional peanut butter and jelly, more fiber, antioxidants and no refined flours or gluten.

Ingredients: toddler snack

1 apple

1-2 Tablespoons natural almond or peanut butter

½ Tablespoon of raisins or dark chocolate chips

½ Tablespoon shredded coconut

Directions:

1.  Core apple and cut top and bottom off the apple (use apple as “bread”), spread nut butter and sprinkle with raisins/ chocolate chips and shredded coconut.

 

Sneaky Spaghetti

Sometimes little ones will turn their nose up on vegetables if they are served alongside other foods on our plate, if we sneak them into a dish we don’t have to negotiate how many bites they have to eat because they will eat them without even knowing it!

Ingredients:toddler meal

1 c uncooked pasta of your toddler’s choice

6 oz. ground lean turkey or beef

1 c spaghetti all natural sauce

1/2 – 3/4 c pureed carrots or 2 jars of carrot baby food (keeping pureed “ice cubes” of vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and cauliflower in your freezer is an easy way to have them on hand and add them into several meals throughout the week).

Directions:

1.  Brown meat until done, add pureed sauce and carrots and let simmer for 3-5 minutes.  While meat is cooking prepare noodles as directed on package.  Combine noodles to sauce and serve.

 

Breakfast Cookie:

If your children have a sweet tooth for sugary breakfast treats, this is a great alternative, packed with fiber and healthy fats.

Ingredients: toddler snack

½ c plain oats

1 tbsp. almond flour

1 tsp. raisins, craisins, or dark chocolate chips

1 tbsp. nut butter (peanut, almond or sunflower)

1 tsp. raw honey

1 tsp. water (less or more)

Directions:

1.  Combine all ingredients in small bowl (may need to use hands) and cook in a small frying pan on both sides till slightly warm.

This is a preview to an article that will be featured in Positive Moms Magazine.  Check back for the full article.

Dr. Kantor’s greatly anticipated new children’s book, The Green Box League of Nutritious Justice, is now available. Be sure to order this highly reviewed book, filled with healthy living tips for the whole family. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

Dr. Keith Kantor

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