I love helping parents find creative ways to get their kids eating healthy. The easiest way is to start from their very first bite! When it is time for solids to be introduced into a little ones diet, there is no need for fancy or expensive baby foods, but rather providing them with foods such as avocados, sweet potatoes, steamed vegetables, and bananas is the most nutritious and simplest way to form their palate to crave these foods. Actually, research shows that our palates begin forming in the womb. What a momma eats tends to be what the little one later enjoys as well!
Providing our children with foods that will nourish their bodies, specifically whole plant foods, gives them vibrancy, health, and strength now and aids in preventing long-term diseases and disorders as they age. Many of my clients explain to me that “something happened” when they turned 35 for 40 and their health really began to suffer. In reality we all know that these things don’t occur overnight, but it’s the accumulation of our choices over months and years. Future heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and auto-immune disorders (just to name a few) can be prevented in our little ones as we start them young on foods that will nourish their bodies for long-term health.
But no need to be discouraged if your kids are a bit older and you’re just now introducing nourishing foods into their diet. There is still time! Let these five fun snack ideas guide the way!
- Veggie Faces – Arrange vegetables and fruit like a funny face and serve with hummus or guacamole. I created the above platter for an event focused on helping kids eat healthy and they loved it! Even the “picky” eaters were giggling and ready to try something new!
- PB&J Art – Use one piece of toast and allow your kids to create their own masterpiece! Consider using other nut butters to allow them to explore new tastes and diversify the nutrients they’re receiving. Almond and cashew butter are delicious and sunflower seed butter is a great alterative for nut allergies.
- Ants on a Log Revised– Allow celery or carrots to serve as your log but mix up the toppings with hummus, guacamole, and nut butters. The “ants” could be your typical raisins or try something new like nuts, seeds, diced dates, or halved cherry tomatoes with the hummus or guacamole.
- I love Ezekiel brand bread because its sprouted and loaded with nutrients. You could also use a rice cake.
- You can make your own nut butters to save on cost. Simply add the nut of your choice to a food processor and blend until smooth & creamy! (This can take 10+ minutes and you’ll need to stop the food processor occasionally to scrape down the sides.)
- Fresh Fruitsicles – Place cut up fruit to a popsicle mold, add coconut water, and freeze for a fun, refreshing, no-junk-added treat!
- Tasty Prep-Ahead Bites – Make a double, triple, or quadruple batch of Protein Power Bites or Lemon-Kissed Blondie Bites and store them in the fridge or freezer for quick and easy snacks your kids (and you!) will love!