Mom Hacks
5 Simple Snacks For The Pickiest Eaters
From sweet to savory, these healthy snacks from nutritionist Willow Jarosh are sure to delight even the most discerning minis.
As for the age-old art of tricking your children into eating their fruits and vegetables, we prefer the term “gently persuade.” Stopping just short of literally hiding ingredients in carb-filled favorites, we consulted expert nutritionist, author, and mama to Augie, Willow Jarosh, on a few of her favorite go-to snacks. The key here? Keeping it super simple.
1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
This basic (and not brown!) smoothie is a crowd pleaser that’s perfect for summer days. Just throw it in the vita-mix and serve—or if you’re really feeling ambitious, it can be frozen into a popsicle mould.
1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries or blackberries
1 large ripe banana
12 ounces milk (any type)
2 tbsp almond butter
a generous pinch of pumpkin pie spice (optional)
2. Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Not only are these deceptive takes on dessert actually good for them, but if your littles are just starting to believe they are helpful in the kitchen, this is a great (read: not too catastrophic) recipe to tackle together.
2 very ripe bananas, mashed/pureed
1/2 cup nut or seed butter
1 cup rolled oats
a pinch of sea salt
a pinch of cinnamon, turmeric, or any spices you like (optional)
a handful of raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
Stir banana and nut/seed butter together until smooth. Stir in oats. Roll dough into balls (whatever size you like, Willow recommends about 2 tbsp per cookie) and press lightly with a fork to flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
3. Apple Pie Slices
For a fresh take on the old apple-a-day, these are irresistible as-is or dipped into plain yogurt for an extra bit of protein.
3 apples, sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or avocado oil
1 cup of plain yogurt (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice apples into 1/4-1/2 inch slices and toss with cinnamon and oil. Place in a baking dish and bake until slices are just tender, about 75 minutes, stirring twice to coat with the cinnamon-y oil that accumulates at the bottom of the pan. Cool and store in the fridge for an easy, on-the-go snack.
4. Fruit Dip
For the littles who like to make a mess, let them indulge with this delicious dip.
1 tablespoon of sunflower seed butter
a pinch of cinnamon
a splash of vanilla extract
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
Simply stir and serve with strawberries, pear slices and/or orange segments for dipping.
5. Guac and Veggies
This twist on everyone’s favorite guac is ideal for the “Eat your colors” phase and beyond.
½ ripe avocado
¼ home cooked or rinsed and drained canned white beans
a pinch of salt, garlic powder and cumin
a handful of carrot sticks and bell peppers for slicing
Using a fork, mash the avocado with the beans and spices. If your kids prefer a smooth texture, puree the beans and avocado in a blender or food processor instead. Serve with carrot sticks and bell pepper slices for dipping.
1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
This basic (and not brown!) smoothie is a crowd pleaser that’s perfect for summer days. Just throw it in the vita-mix and serve—or if you’re really feeling ambitious, it can be frozen into a popsicle mould.
1 cup frozen or fresh strawberries or blackberries
1 large ripe banana
12 ounces milk (any type)
2 tbsp almond butter
a generous pinch of pumpkin pie spice (optional)
2. Simple Oatmeal Cookies
Not only are these deceptive takes on dessert actually good for them, but if your littles are just starting to believe they are helpful in the kitchen, this is a great (read: not too catastrophic) recipe to tackle together.
2 very ripe bananas, mashed/pureed
1/2 cup nut or seed butter
1 cup rolled oats
a pinch of sea salt
a pinch of cinnamon, turmeric, or any spices you like (optional)
a handful of raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
Stir banana and nut/seed butter together until smooth. Stir in oats. Roll dough into balls (whatever size you like, Willow recommends about 2 tbsp per cookie) and press lightly with a fork to flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
3. Apple Pie Slices
For a fresh take on the old apple-a-day, these are irresistible as-is or dipped into plain yogurt for an extra bit of protein.
3 apples, sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or avocado oil
1 cup of plain yogurt (optional)
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice apples into 1/4-1/2 inch slices and toss with cinnamon and oil. Place in a baking dish and bake until slices are just tender, about 75 minutes, stirring twice to coat with the cinnamon-y oil that accumulates at the bottom of the pan. Cool and store in the fridge for an easy, on-the-go snack.
4. Fruit Dip
For the littles who like to make a mess, let them indulge with this delicious dip.
1 tablespoon of sunflower seed butter
a pinch of cinnamon
a splash of vanilla extract
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
Simply stir and serve with strawberries, pear slices and/or orange segments for dipping.
5. Guac and Veggies
This twist on everyone’s favorite guac is ideal for the “Eat your colors” phase and beyond.
½ ripe avocado
¼ home cooked or rinsed and drained canned white beans
a pinch of salt, garlic powder and cumin
a handful of carrot sticks and bell peppers for slicing
Using a fork, mash the avocado with the beans and spices. If your kids prefer a smooth texture, puree the beans and avocado in a blender or food processor instead. Serve with carrot sticks and bell pepper slices for dipping.