Carrot Pumpkin Spinach Oat and Quinoa Concoction (just because I couldn't come up with a better name)

Morning snack: almond butter and raisins on a whole wheat English muffin, watermelon, honeydew melon and cantaloupe

LA's morning snack: carrot pumpkin spinach and quinoa concoction

LA's lunch: chicken, avocado, watermelon, honeydew melon and cantaloupe

Little LA has been EXTRA hungry lately.  And if you have ever been around him when he eats, you know that he's already a big eater.  So, it begins!  This little guy is going to eat me out of house and home before he even turns 1.  

Carrot Pumpkin Spinach Oat and Quinoa Concoction

Ingredients

Chopped carrots

Chopped spinach

Pureed pumpkin

Quick cook oats

Precooked quinoa

Onion powder

Low-sodium chicken broth

Method

Put everything in a pot and cook on medium to high heat until the vegetables have softened and the oats have cooked.  

I've made this for LA before and he absolutely loved it!  So hopefully I made it the same.  I really need to start measuring.

Adding a Crunch

Morning snack: cantaloupe and cottage cheese

Lunch: Triscuits topped with sharp cheddar cheese, turkey, avocado and red bell peppers, popcorn and clementines

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I personally enjoy foods that have different textures.  Instead of chips I like to add a variety of fruits, vegetables or popcorn to give myself a little crunch.  Some of my favorite vegetables to add are carrots or sugar snaps.  But my all-time favorite is popcorn.  What a great way to eat a whole grain!  

LA's meal: turkey, steamed cauliflower and skinned clementines

LA gets peeled fruit because he only has 2 little teeth.  But that doesn't mean that should stop him from eating all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables.

Back to Basics

Morning snack: Cottage cheese and Triscuits

Lunch: Turkey, cheese and avocado whole wheat roll up, cantaloupe and steamed broccoli

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It's been quite sometime since I made roll up for LQ but they have always been a favorite.  She told me the other day that she doesn't want chicken in her roll ups, sandwiches or anything.  So we're down to turkey.  Oh boy, protein intake is an uphill battle!

LA's meal: turkey, steamed broccoli and blueberries

Peanut Butter Apple Balls

Morning snack: watermelon and carrot cake muffin

Lunch: sharp cheddar grilled cheese on wheat, apple slices and peanut butter apple balls

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I had some left over shredded apples from yesterday's carrot cake muffins and for some reason I came up with this snack.  I don't have a recipe, but will come up with one if LQ loves them.  Basically it's shredded apples, peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, oats and the exterior crumble is Barbara's shredded wheat cereal.  Initially they were pretty sticky, but I placed them in the freezer and they came out perfectly!  I love them, now I'll just have to see if she does.

LA's meal: turkey, honeydew melon and broccoli

Carrot "Cake" Muffins

Morning snack: vanilla Greek yogurt and carrot "cake" muffin

Lunch: Avocado, chicken and cheese stuffed mini pita, blueberries and cottage cheese

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Here are two great things about today's meals, they're delicious and it only took 35 minutes to make everything.  Yes, this includes the muffins and grilled chicken!  To be honest, I'm not sure how I did it but it worked.  

Carrot "cake" muffins

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

3 TBS melted butter

1/3 cup agave

1 medium egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup finely grated carrots

1/2 cup finely grated apples

1/2 cup raisins

Method

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.  Combine wet ingredients in a bowl.  Combine the wet and dry ingredients.  Pour into pre-greased muffin pan and bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Enjoy!!

LA's meal - grilled chicken, steamed broccoli and cauliflower and blueberries

Baby Smoothies and Delicious Homemade Granola Bars

As I've said before, I like to send healthy snacks to LQs school about once a week.  I've been slacking lately because my school work is killing me, but my little LQ asked me to send something this week.  How can I say no to her sweet little face?  So I let her teachers know that I would be sending a snack tomorrow and asked if they had any special requests.  They did!  I've made these before, but I've included the recipe here again.

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White chocolate cranberry granola bar

Makes about 20 small bars

Semi-adapted from My Kitchen Escapades

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup puffed wheat cereal

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/8 cup agave

1/8 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

1/4 cup cranberries

Method

In a large mixed bowl combine oats, cereal and coconut and set aside.  In a small saucepan over medium-high beat melt the butter.  Add the honey, agave, brown sugar and salt.  Stir until combined then let boil for 2 and 1/2 minutes.  Turn off heat and stir in vanilla.  Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients.  Add the white chocolate chips and cranberries.  Place parchment paper in a pan and pour mixture.  Press down firmly to form bars.  Place in refrigerator and allow the mixture to cool for at least an hour.  Cut and enjoy!!

LA's morning snack: plum, apple and whole grain rice cereal smoothie

Lunch: turkey, peas, blueberries and strawberries

Smoothie

Ingredients

Peeled and steamed apples and plums

Whole grain rice cereal

Method

Peel and steam apples and plums.  Place the fruit and whole grain rice cereal in a food processor or blender and liquify.  

LA loves, loves, loves smoothies.  So I was thrilled to find these cool little Squeezer containers at Target.  I use them all the time for LA.  He doesn't need help having his smoothie when we use this container.

Eat the Rainbow

Morning snack:  quinoa porridge and raisins

Lunch: Turkey, avocado and cheese sandwich on a whole wheat English muffin, Greek yogurt and shredded baby carrots

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Nope, I'm not referring to Skittles.  

Eat the rainbow is a phrase commonly used to remind people that they should eat fruits and vegetables of every color.  This is something I try to practice on a daily basis without giving it much thought.  But I was reminded of the concept during a recent visit to my favorite grocery store.  Upon entering the store they have a form stand with lots of different food activities, mostly for children.  LQ picked up this form, which is helpful in tracking your consumption of fruits and vegetables.  It's also helpful in that it provides lists of the various fruits and vegetables and where they fall on the rainbow.  

Today I decided to shred the carrots, they somehow taste better this way.  LQ is a bit iffy when eating carrots.  Sometimes she'll get them, sometimes she won't.  But a few weeks ago I made carrot zucchini muffins with LQ and after shredding the carrots she asked if she could eat some of them.  She proceeded to eat about 1/2 a cup, which is likely more than 10 baby carrots.  

So, maybe changing the form of the food can encourage your little ones to eat something they are reluctant to eat.  Try it, let me know how it turns out!

LA's meal: Turkey, shredded carrots, broccoli and strawberries