Healthy snacks for baby
BY MIRIAM COOPER, FOUNDER OF MIMI’S BOWL, IN CONSULTATION WITH PAEDIATRIC DIETICIAN
I wanted to reach out to other parents, who felt as I did. Firstly, to put an end to baby food panic, and talk about it, but secondly to really re-think baby food and family food, for a busy modern parent. There are so few relatable parent voices out there and even less tried and tested parent-friendly recipes. Only a parent, who has been there, understands the determined rejection given by your baby, toddler, or child, when they repulse at the sight of food you have lovingly made for them. I would personally challenge any professional chef not to quake at the very thought of a baby, or toddler diner, sitting at one of their tables. When I started talking to other parents, carers, or grandparents cooking for little ones, they could all relate: recounting similar stories.
As a parent, offering homemade snacks during the day can seem like another item on your endless to-do list. It is all too easy to reach for a packet snack. There is definitely a time and place for ready-made snacks (when you are traveling and on-the-go), but I don’t want them to be the staple snacks my child eats each week, as not all ready-made snacks and finger foods are made equal. I recommend looking for brands with the organic logo and suggest reading the packet ingredients (you should be able to recognize them all) to make sure there are no additives, stabilizers, sugars, flavorings, or salt (for smaller children). By making your own snacks, you have the added benefit of knowing exactly what’s in them. I write and blog about family-friendly food, but often the best snack ideas I get come from other parents. Ask other mums and dads what their go-to snacks are: you’ll get so many good tips, simply by sharing ideas at your local playgroup or nursery. The benefit being they are also tried and tested. In my experience, simple is best and snack time needn’t be complicated. Plan snacks that you can enjoy as a family; that way they are easy to incorporate into the weekly shop, will get eaten, and aren’t an extra “task” in an already busy week.
Children are a lot more active than us and growing at a fast rate, so having a snack in between meals may give them a welcome boost. Generally smaller tummies fill up fast and energy is burnt off quicker (although all children are different). I find with my daughter that a balanced and healthy morning snack and afternoon snack keeps her energy levels stable and helps her appetite. She eats better at mealtimes if she hasn’t had long gaps between meals. Find out what works best for your child, as the right snacks can provide nutrients, aid concentration, and stabilize energy levels. Timing is important: avoid offering snacks too close to meal times. Lunch and dinner should still be substantial meals: there is nothing more frustrating than serving up food to full tummies. In researching this piece, I spoke with pediatric dietician Bianca Parau about ideal ingredients for snacks. She recommended low GI wholegrain carbohydrates: such as oats, quinoa, pulses, and popcorn (depending on age and any specific food intolerances).
These have the benefit of slowly releasing energy; good for both concentration and mood. Snacks are also a great opportunity to increase your family’s intake of fruit and vegetables. To encourage little ones to try new things I take a multi-portion tray, or muffin tin, and fill each segment with a different snack. Try anything from blueberries, to mini rice cakes, to steamed veg sticks. Make sure there is lots of variety and color. Not only does this take a few minutes to assemble, your little one will be much more likely to try something new.
Apple Oat Bars
This version has no added sugar, but you can add a little maple syrup if you want to for extra sweetness.
- 100g oats (standard oats, not jumbo or rolled – you can also buy gluten-free oats for any gluten intolerances)
- 100ml milk*
- 1 small apple, or ½ large apple
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- *contains dairy
To cook:
- Preheat the oven to 190°C fan.
- Prep the apple: I grate it for smaller children and finely dice for bigger kids.
- In a bowl combine the oats, milk, cinnamon, and apple. Mix well so all the ingredients are combined.
- Take an oven-proof dish and line with greaseproof paper. Empty the mix into the dish and push to the edges, pressing down flat with a spatula.
- Cook in the oven until golden, 20-25 mins.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bar to cool in the dish to stop it cracking when you cut it into squares.
- Cut into squares & enjoy!
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Crisps, with Smashed Avocado Dip
These homemade sweet potato crisps, with a side of guacamole, are quick and delicious. Everyone will enjoy this, and the crisps are a good finger food too.
- Sweet potatoes
- Olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 ripe avocado
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1/2 fresh lime (no citrus for babies under 1 year: just omit and mash a plain avocado)
To cook:
- Wash the sweet potatoes and thinly slice, skin on (I use my trusty mandolin, but you can do the same with a normal knife).
- Toss the sweet potato slices in olive oil, crushed garlic, and thyme leaves.
- Place on a baking tray and bake at 170°C fan for 10-15 mins or until cooked, turning halfway.
- Meanwhile, cut the avocado in half, remove the central stone, and mash the green flesh in a bowl with a fork. Add lime juice and black pepper to season (if using).
- Remove the chips from the oven, serve on a big platter with the smashed avocado dip and enjoy!
Rainbow Fruit Kebabs
These are always a huge hit. You can make them with your kids. This is also the perfect time of year to enjoy all the delicious summer fruits in season now, but you can of course use whatever fruit your family enjoys. For the kebabs, I use chopsticks or reusable straws, as they are blunt and therefore ideal for children.
- 6-8 strawberries, washed and stalk removed
- 12-16 raspberries
- 1-2 apricots, cut into chunks
- 1 peach, peeled, stone removed and cut into chunks
- 2-3 pineapple, cut into chunks
- 6-8 grapes (cut in half for smaller children)
- 6-8 chopsticks
To make:
- Prep all the fruit.
- Lay out bowls of the prepped fruit, and kids can make their own.
- Serve with natural yogurt for dipping.
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