Tasty Seasonal Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Healthy Food for Children Using Fresh Summer Produce

Sep 1, 2009 Jayne Elliott

In the late summer months, there is a wealth of tasty and colourful vegetables adorning the shelves and these great recipes show how to make the most of what is on offer.

It is vital to get children to enjoy vegetables with ease from an early age. By creating healthy eating habits from the outset, battles around the dinner table are averted. It also means the child will grow up to be healthier.

From sweet tomatoes, juicy sweetcorn, crunchy cucumber and tasty berries, toddlers and parents alike will have problems resisting these snacks which are ideal for lunches, picnics or school pack-up boxes.

Spinach Pancakes

A tasty and discreet way to introduce spinach into any toddler's diet. Alternatively sweetcorn or mashed sweet potato can be used to replace the spinach. Simply add to the egg mixture in step two if using sweet potato or add the sweetcorn to step three.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 175g plain flour
• 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 284ml buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 25g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 100g spinach, cooked
• 4 teaspoon olive oil

Method:

1. In one bowl mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
2. In a second bowl whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter and egg.
3. Place the egg mixture in a blender with the spinach and make into a smooth puree.
4. Combine with the flour mixture from step one.
5. Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in a frying pan and drop the pancake batter into the pan.
6. Cook for about two minutes and flip before cooking for another two minutes.
7. Repeat until all the mixture is used up.

Very Berry Yoghurt

Although made with blackberries and raspberries, this recipe is so versatile and can be made with any fresh fruit. Strawberries, peaches and banana are all excellent alternatives that taste great. This recipe can also be used to make a sauce to be poured on ice-cream for those special meals.

Difficulty: Easy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 150g blackberries
• 170g raspberries
• 60 ml of water (apple juice may be used instead)
• Natural yoghurt

Method:

1. Simmer the blackberries and raspberries in the water or apple juice for around five minutes.
2. Mash the mixture until smooth and strain to remove any pips or seeds.
3. Mix with natural yoghurt and serve chilled.

Cheese and Tomato Muffin Pizza

This recipe is great for picnics, packed lunches or children's parties. Meat and roasted vegetables can also be added. Why not let children make their own toppings and designs to get them involved with the cooking process.

Difficulty: Easy

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• Halved muffins (enough for the number of children being catered for)
• 1 teaspoon of tomato puree for each muffin half
• Sliced tomato
• Grated cheddar cheese

Method:

1. Toast the halved muffins until golden brown.
2. Spread a teaspoon of tomato puree on the muffin.
3. Layer with slice tomato and grated cheese.
4. Grill until the cheese has melted.

The copyright of the article Tasty Seasonal Snack Ideas for Toddlers in Recipes is owned by Jayne Elliott. Permission to republish Tasty Seasonal Snack Ideas for Toddlers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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