Feeding Toddlers

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

I've never met a toddler who didn't like french fries.  The first time my son tried one, I thought he might fall out of his high chair with excitement over the new culinary wonder he'd just experienced.  I started to notice that whenever we were eating in a restaurant, my son would gaze past his own plate to look longingly at whomever had fries, hoping to be given a scrap.  I knew we had to find an alternative to fatty, greasy fries.

Read more: Oven Fries and Other French Fry Alternatives

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Whenever Grandma comes to visit, she comes bearing goodies.  My own grandmother is famous for showing up with baskets of fresh peaches and berries and my personal favorite, homemade jam.  She recently sent my son a package containing a jar of her fresh strawberry jam, which is perfect in this cake.  My son normally isn't a big fan of sweets, but he ate this cake like there was no tomorrow! 

Read more: Grandma's Jam Cake

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Toddlers are known for their mood swings. They can go from smiley and happy one minute to throwing a full-on tantrum the next.  They also like to keep their parents guessing by changing their food preferences.  Are they just trying to keep us on our toes or are their palates becoming more sophisticated?  After a week of observing my son (18 months) and my nephew (29 months) and their newly sporadic eating habits, I think I have a few things figured out.

Read more: Picky Toddlers Keep Parents Guessing

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Since we racked up on blueberries and blackberries at a local food festival last weekend, I've been making a lot of recipes featuring those two fruits for our whole family to enjoy this week.  Here are the best of the best!

Read more: Blueberry Compote & Blackberry Parfaits

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

If you take your kids with you to the grocery store each week, they probably see you buying fresh fruits and veggies for them.  But how often do we think about explaining where fresh produce actually originates?  By taking advantage of local food events, orchards and farmers' markets we can introduce our toddlers to the origins of some of their favorite foods.

Read more: Introducing Toddlers to Fresh Produce From The Source

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

As toddlers become better at self-feeding, we can start introducing them to dips!  Don't limit your toddler's dipping fun to just ketchup and BBQ sauce, whip up some healthy dips to satisfy the picky palate and provide nutrition.

Read more: Dip Into Fun With Dip-able Foods!

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Ah, vacation!  A time to sit back, relax and forget about everyday troubles.  For many of us, it's also a time to let our good eating habits slip.  When traveling with our toddlers, however, we've got to make every effort to provide them with healthy options, lest we end up with the dreaded "Toddler On A Sugar High" in our backseat.  Here are a few ways to eat healthy while still having fun on vacation.

Read more: Feeding Toddlers on Vacation

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Now that summertime is here, this salad has taken up permanent residence in our refrigerator.  It's great for picnics, lunchboxes, or for a quick, cool lunch on the patio on a hot summer day.  Best of all, it's toddler-friendly!  Full of protein and vitamins, little ones will love the flavors in this salad and will have an easy time feeding it to themselves.

Read more: Lunchbox Orzo Salad

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

Your whole family will likely love these fresh-baked muffins.  They are not only the perfect compliment to any breakfast or brunch, but can also serve as a great distraction for your toddler!  Who said appetizers are just for dinner, anyway?

Read more: Toddler-Approved Blueberry Muffins: A Great Distraction

Feeding by Age - Feeding Toddlers

I asked several of my friends who have kids between 15 months and 3 years old to tell me about their toddlers' eating habits, including favorite foods, things they refuse to eat and the weirdest meal they've ever fed their kids.

Read more: Moms of Toddlers Tell What Their Kids Are Eating