Somehow, my little tiny baby is now almost halfway into her twos. Now that she’s completely off formula and nearly done with milk, it’s important for me to make sure she’s getting complete nutrition. She’s so picky, that for a while, I found myself giving her whatever she wanted JUST so she would eat. It wasn’t too long until the mom guilt started to set in and I knew I needed to research some ways to get her to get the nutrition she needs.
After chatting with my circle of mom friends (and a little trial and error), I’ve found 5 foods that keep Elia happy and make me feel like I’m supermom because I know my daughter is getting the nutrition that she needs!
Dino Buddies
If you are a Mom and haven’t heard of Dino Buddies, you’re about to have your whole world changed. My freezer is FULL of these delicious, dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. Not only are they an absolutely adorable way to get Elia to eat more protein, but I feel really good about giving them to her! They are antibiotic free, made with all-natural ingredients and a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
They also couldn’t be easier to make. They are already fully cooked (so there’s no worries about undercooking) and you just need to heat them and serve. I usually end up making a few extra because I can’t stop eating them too! You can find out where to get them here and check them out on Facebook!
Cauliflower Gnocchi
Elia has been a self-proclaimed carb queen from the start. One of her favorite foods in the world is gnocchi. In fact, gnocchi was one of her first words. Since I am always trying to cut out carbs, I started replacing my pasta with lower carb, more nutrient dense substitutes. I discovered cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joes and I was obsessed! I decided to see if she could even tell the difference and she couldn’t! She gobbles these up every bit as fast as their potato counterpart. Cauliflower is packed with vitamin C, potassium and folate. It’s also a good source of B vitamin which is known for its role in brain development.
Raspberries with Chocolate Chips Inside
If you want your kids to eat berries, stick a dark chocolate chip inside! It’s a super easy way to get them to want to eat fruit and dark chocolate is actually good for them in it’s own right! We have a stockpile of these pre-made in our fridge because it’s the perfect dessert. In your child’s mind, they’re getting a sugary treat, but us parents know that that serving of fruit is the main attraction.
I will do almost anything to have my kid begging for fruit!
Protein Pancakes
For the average adult, it can be tough to get the right amount of protein, so it is something I’ve been very concerned about for my little one. In addition to the Dino Buddies, I am also giving my daughter Kodiak Cake pancakes. What used to be a Saturday morning treat is now something I am comfortable giving her every morning. They are 100% whole grain and full of fiber and antioxidants. To be honest, Elia’s morning routine isn’t complete without a plate of these and I feel like she’s starting her day off on the right foot.
Homemade Pizza (with a secret sauce)
We love homemade pizza night! Everyone gets involved and at Elia’s age, she is obsessed with experimenting in the kitchen. I know you THINK your kid doesn’t need more pizza, but this isn’t an ordinary pizza. I like to take my favorite store bought sauce and blend in a ton of vegetables. Once it’s combined with the dough and cheese, you’d have no idea I managed to sneak multiple servings of vegetables in there. I’ll usually add in zucchini, carrot, bell pepper, onion and spinach. The possibilities are honestly endless.
If you’ve got a picky eater on your hands (or just want to get them some more nutrient dense foods) highly recommend you try some of these for your little ones. I promise they’ll be focused on how delicious they are and have no idea the wonders these foods are doing for their development. What parent doesn’t want that for their kids??
Love always,
Erica
This post is sponsored by Dino Buddies. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
