With spring here and summer around the corner, an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables fills the grocery stores. It’s the perfect time to create simple meals and snacks with healthy foods your kids will love. When your child is young, it’s essential to expand his or her diet with many fruits and vegetables for optimal development and growth. Early exposure to a variety of wholesome foods will translate into healthy habits as children grow.
Sometimes, however, finding healthy foods your kids will love is difficult. One of the best ways to get kids excited about healthy eating is to give their familiar treats—like hamburger sliders or popsicles—a healthy twist. They’ll still enjoy their favorite snacks, and you’ll be happy knowing they’re eating a more nutritious version. Below, find two easy, healthy recipes incorporating fresh fruits and veggies that will wow both you and your child.
Healthy Recipes Your Kids Will Love-
Portabella Mushroom and Black Bean Sliders Recipe:
This twist on the traditional slider packs nutrients like vitamin D, antioxidants, protein and healthy fats into a manageable snack for little hands.
Portabella Mushroom and Black Bean Slider Ingredients:
• 2 portabella mushroom caps (cleaned and diced)
• 1 cup black beans (rinsed)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup red pepper
• 1/2 cup sweet onion (diced)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 avocado (diced)
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ bunch fresh cilantro chopped
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• Dash of Worcestershire
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
Portabella Mushroom and Black Bean Slider Directions:
Sauté portabellas, pepper, onion, and garlic in a little olive oil about 7-10 minutes; set aside to cool. Warm the black beans in a pan and once beans are warmed remove them from heat source. Use the back of a spoon and mash until most of the beans are smooth. Mix all ingredients, except the avocado, bread crumbs and egg in large bowl, cover and refrigerate for one hour.
Once cooled add the egg and bread crumbs and mix. Add the avocado and form into small thin patties (slider size). Heat skillet to medium heat. Place patties in skillet, cook for six minutes, carefully flip and cook for an additional six minutes. If the patties begin to get too crisp turn heat down to medium-low. Serve in dinner rolls with your favorite slider sauce!
Frozen Fruit Cups Recipe:
You can always count on these popsicle alternatives for frozen fun! You can also change up the ingredients based on fresh fruit in season.
Frozen Fruit Cups Ingredients:
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 1/2 apricots, diced
• 1 cup of pureed blueberries
• 1 can 13.5 oz crushed pineapple (do not drain)
• 1 can 6 oz. frozen orange juice (use apple juice for children under 12 months)
Frozen Fruit Cups Directions:
Puree blueberries. (Measure one cup of blueberries and add water as needed for the puree.) Cut apricots. Pour apricots into bowl with crushed pineapple. Mash bananas. Pour mashed banana into bowl with pineapple and apricots. Pour blueberry puree into fruit mixture. Pour in orange juice. Mix all ingredients together. Pour into freezer storage cups or muffin liners. Place in freezer overnight. To serve, remove from freezer and allow to thaw until the fruit is in a slush form and enjoy.
What healthy foods do your kids love to eat?
Guest post by Nicole Brigham RD, IBLC of Dr. Brown’s™ Designed to Nourish™. Dr. Brown’s™goal is to provide parents with the tools necessary to make it easy to give their little ones a foundation of good health and healthy eating habits. To find out more about the infant and toddler feeding system and more recipes like these, visit
designedtonourish.com.
You may also like to try this recipe for flour free pancakes.