Homemade Veggie Burgers! April 12, 2009

Toddlers love finger food and being able to pull apart and inspect their food. I used to buy the veggie burgers at the grocery store but quickly realized that they have way to much sodium in them for little ones bodies.  So I started researching making them myself and this is what I’ve come up with!  These veggie patties are easy, quick and healthy. My little E wants to dip everything she eats in something these days! So why not hold the ketchup and offer these yummy burgers with salsa, sour cream, or hummus. This recipe makes 6-7 small patties.

Ingredients

1 cup grated zucchini

1 cup grated carrot

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup wheat flour

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 tb dried parsely olive oil tomato sauce (optional)

Instructions Using a mixing bowl, combine, zucchini, carrot, beaten eggs, onion, flour, cheese and parsely. Stir thoroughly. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Drop mixture into skilled by spoonfuls and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden. Serve with tomato sauce for dipping.

Wholly Guacamole!!! March 30, 2009

So far my best selling flavor has been Wholly Guacamole. It’s an amazing blend of creamy Organic Avocado and fresh Organic Banana.  Here’s the 411 on the two fruits:

Avocado makes a great first food for baby due to it’s texture and creaminess as well as it’s high nutrient content. Avocados are often called one of nature’s perfect foods because they are said to contain everything a person needs to survive. A wonderful “good fat” food for baby’s brain and physical development, try an avocado as baby’s first food instead of refined cereals!

Bananas are an excellent source of nutrition and as such, are another perfect fruit to be one of baby’s first foods. Bananas are often called one of nature’s perfect foods because they are said to contain everything a person needs to survive. One of the most important nutritional components of Bananas is that they contain potassium and fiber. Bananas are also high in Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin B2.  Bananas are also known as one of nature’s own antacids. They are known to help protect against stomach ulcers and ulcer damage. The reason for this seldom known and almost odd fact is that bananas contain “mucilaginous bulking substances”. They help the intestines with producing a mucousy lining and are very very easy to digest.

Head down to the market this Saturday, April 4th to stock up on all of your favorite homemade baby food flavors!  

If you can’t make it down to the market on Saturdays, feel free to contact me regarding home delivery!  It’s a great way to provide your baby with fresh food despite busy schedules.  

Bon Apetite!

Happy Green Day! March 18, 2009

Disclaimer:  I DID NOT come up with the photo on my own!!!  Alot of mom’s are intimidated by creative ways to do things.  They think only Martha Stewart could do something like that.  Once you’re children begin to get older, a little creativity can go a long way to get them to “test the waters” with new foods.  Get online and do a little research on food creativity and fun ways to cut shapes and new textures.  There are whole books devoted to this very thing.  It’s actually a whole lot of fun to play around with! 

Go HERE for more fun, easy ideas!

Day 6 in Toddler Lunches March 16, 2009

DAY 6:

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (POURED OLIVE OIL AND ROSEMARY ON IT BEFORE COOKING IN OVEN ON 400 FOR ABOUT 10 MIN.)

GOATS CHEESE

BLUEBERRIES 

Once again, it literally took me 5 min. to make this lunch.  I have to eat lunch too so I might as well make something yummy and quick for us both!

Bon Apetite!!!

New healthy snack I’ve discovered March 15, 2009

Now that Eden is a bit older, we don’t frequent Babies R Us as we used to.  In fact, I probably hadn’t been there in over 6 months!  I went yesterday to get a present for a baby shower and wow have things changed in just the last year!!!  I love the fact that it’s become trendy and “the thing to do” to live more “back to the earth”. I tend to walk against the current with most things but if this is what it takes to get people to start doing a little reading up and raising eyebrows about products that are around ourselves and our families then ALERT THE MEDIA!!  It took Dannon and Yoplait to use the words “probiotcs” in their ads on TV for people to actually take notice of the word and not think it was some weirdo health freak thing.  There were so many BPA-free, organic, dye-free, chemical-free, glass bottles, cloth diapers, etc. options there now.  Only a year ago, that was all stuck in one small corner.  LOVE IT!!! YEA!!!!  

So as we were browsing through the aisles, Eden spots none other than the SNACKS!!!!  nack nack nack nack!!!!  The child lives for good food.  Her ever discerning 19 month old eye catches the newest product from Happy Baby.  Happy Baby Puffs.  Puffs were made popular by Gerber and Beechnut, there’s now a much healthier alternative.  We bought the “Green puffs” and when I flipped it around to read the ingredients I was thrilled to find out that it had Organic Spinach, Kale, and Broccoli!!  Read the above illustration for lots of other great benefits to this over the other guys.  The more we vote with our dollars, the more companies will start improving existing products and also coming out with healthier choices for our children.  

Note:  these were $2.99!!!  and there’s 40% more in the package than Gerber and Beechnut!!  The other brands are kinda like opening a bag of chips and it’s mostly AIR and then the bottom third of the bag is actually chips.  The Happy Baby Puffs were filled to the top with yumminess!!!

Day 5 in Toddler Lunches….almost there!! March 13, 2009

DAY 5

TODDLER “FRIED RICE” – COUSCOUS (LIKE RICE BUT TEN TIMES HEALTHIER AND TEN TIMES QUICKER TO COOK), FROZEN SWEET PEA/CARROT MIX(COOKED IN WITH THE COUSCOUS), AND SCRAMBLED EGG.  3 INGREDIENTS THAT ARE READILY AVAILABLE AND THIS TOOK UNDER 5 MINUTES. MOMMY ATE IT TOO!!  YUM YUM.  LOTS OF PROTEIN!

DICED COOKED SWEET POTATO

SLICED GREEN APPLE

BON APETITE!!

Day 4 in Toddler Lunches March 11, 2009

DAY 4:

This was an EXTRA busy day……  hence the simplicity.  But really it should never be complicated.

PEARS, CARROTS, PRETZELS, DRIED BLUEBERRIES, BELL PEPPER (which strangely enough she eats!) WITH GOATS CHEESE.

Now how’s that for variety!!

Bon Apetite!

Dollar Tree Find February 26, 2009

I was perusing the aisles at the Dollar Tree last week and came across a set of small glass ramekins.  For a dollar of course.  These work PERFECT for heating and serving your Fresh from Eden cubes in.  I had a set of white ones that someone gave me when I got married from Bed Bath and Beyond which cost ten times more than these.  Coffee mugs work well too if you don’t have any ramekins.  Just thought I’d pass along the tip!

Day 3 in Toddler Lunches February 23, 2009

GRILLED HAM AND CHEESE – Our Daily Bread Veggie Bread (to die for!! love it!!), goat cheese, ham slices

BLACKEYED PEAS – leftover from dinner

FRUIT – Clementines and blueberries

Once again, this took 5 minutes to “prepare”.  Believe me, I know there aren’t enough hours in the day ( I think that’s my mantra each evening), but take 5 minutes away from checking email and use it to assemble a healthy meal for you and your child.  You won’t be disappointed.

Bon Appetite!!

Day 2 in Toddler Lunches February 20, 2009

Continuing in the “Toddler Lunches for a Week Series”, here is lunch for Day 2!

Shrimp Lasagna – Leftover from supper

Green Salad – Lettuce, Carrots, Goats Cheese (you could use any kind of cheese)

Green Peas – frozen and heated in boiling water for a few minutes

NOTE: I keep a green salad made at all times in my fridge.  So there’s never an excuse not to have something healthy to eat on at any time of day.  I take whatever fruits and veggies I have and make a “sweep the kitchen” salad.  They’re always different.  I like to buy walnuts and almonds at Sam’s in bulk and keep them in my fridge to toss them in too.

Bon Appetite!!