Tips to Incorporate Fruits & Veggies, 16 Months

16

months

tips to incorporate

FRUITS & VEGGIES

Your little one may be starting down the path to neophobia, or rejection of new foods. Make serving fruits and veggies (and other foods) easier to accept by placing them on baby’s plate with other known foods.

Make veggies fun...

by being creative with veggies. Make smiley faces out of thin bell pepper sticks, and have your little one practice dipping veggies into dips like yogurt or hummus.

Have fruits and veggies washed and available. Softer foods like berries and bananas are easy to quickly serve your little one.

Role model eating veggies and fruits yourself! Babies this age love to eat what they see you eating.

If you are able to, grow a little veggie garden or visit a friend or relative who has one, or even visit a ‘pick your own’ farm. Picking berries or tomatoes off plants can be very exciting to a little kid!

Convenience can be OK: no sugar added applesauce, steam-in-bag veggies and microwaved butternut squash “fries” without added salt or sugar - these are all easy and nutritious in a pinch. Just keep in mind that fresh fruits and veggies should still be a mainstay in your child’s diet.

Try to include a fruit and/or vegetable at every meal, and even some or all of baby’s snacks.

Remember that it can take 10 or more times before your child will accept a new flavor. Just keep trying!

This tip is from our Happy Mama Mentor Andie, RD, CLC and mom to Soren & Addison Also available to chat at: happyfamilyorganics.com/chat

HIDDEN-VEGGIE CARROT & ORANGE popsicles

recipe by

@babyfoode

These naturally sweetened frozen treats are a fun and tasty way to serve a fruit and veggie to your toddler - great for snack time or dessert!

Makes 9 small popsicles / 9+ Months

What you’ll need: 3-4 baby carrots, roughly chopped 1 orange, peeled 1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple, if using frozen thaw first 2 tablespoons whole milk yogurt, plain

How to make it STEP 1: Place the carrots, orange and pineapple in a blender and blend on low for 20 seconds or until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

Once incorporated, blend on medium high until completely smooth, scraping down sides as needed.

STEP 2: If using yogurt,

spoon 1 teaspoon of yogurt into the bottom of each mold.

STEP 3: Pour liquid into popsicle molds.

STEP 4: If using yogurt, gently swirl the yogurt and popsicle liquid around with a small spoon.

STEP 5: Freeze for at least 4 hours.

Tip - This recipe makes roughly 6 oz of liquid, so you may need to double this recipe depending on the size of your popsicle mold.