These meatballs for toddlers are easy to make, delicious, and full of nutrients that growing kids need! They are a great source of protein from the ground beef and even pack in some fiber from hidden vegetables.  Although this recipe is directed toward toddlers, it works for the whole family! Baby-led weaning, your teen’s post-game snack, or an easy protein option for parents. They can be made for a simple weeknight dinner or make mini meatballs to freeze and use later for snack time. What Makes These Meatballs for Toddlers? High in Iron  Iron is a necessary part of the toddler diet ..read more

Did you know that you influence your child’s relationship with food every day? They watch when you eat, what you eat, and how you talk about food. This establishes their own relationship with food for a lifetime.  Our overall goal is to teach kids that food is fuel. We need food to make our bodies feel their best. It’s not to make us happy, fix our bad days, or help us cope with stress. Although we can use it for all of those things sometimes, food should primarily be the nutrients our body needs. The first 5 years are foundational for setting up a positive relationship with food (1). How ..read more

Baby-led weaning is an exciting time for your baby to try new foods! But you might have heard about the importance of iron during this time. And that’s right! Iron-rich foods are absolutely crucial during the first year of life.  Roughly 77% of infants are not getting enough iron in their diet (1). And this can be completely prevented by incorporating iron-rich foods while starting solids. In this post, we’ll break down the importance of iron, how much your baby needs, and easy sources to incorporate into their diet. As always, consult with your pediatrician to ensure your child’s nutriti ..read more

Parsnip Puree is a great way to introduce a new food to your baby. This recipe is quick, easy, and full of nutrients. Which makes it a great option for baby-led weaning! Although the world of starting solids can be daunting, making purees from home doesn’t have to be complicated. Purees are smooth in texture, and usually made from just one or two ingredients.  In this case, parsnip puree is about as simple as it gets – just a couple of ingredients! But although it’s simple, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals for your baby.  Also, its an extremely versatile recipe. Because parsnip ..read more

If you’ve got a picky eater at home, you know they can struggle to eat enough protein. Plus, it’s difficult to find quality high-protein foods for picky eaters that are pre-made or store-bought.  That’s why I’ve curated 20 high-protein store-bought foods for picky eaters. Although each product on this list is pre-packaged, that doesn’t mean they skip on high-quality nutrition.  How much protein do kids need? Kids need enough protein for growth, mental development, and a healthy immune system. Their daily protein needs change as they get older. Minimum daily protein goal based on age ..read more

As a pediatric dietitian, I am always looking for nutrient-dense and high-protein snack options for toddlers, kids, and teens. Especially high-protein foods for our picky eaters! Yogurt is almost always on my list of recommendations because of its high-quality nutrition. It’s packed with probiotics, protein, calcium, AND vitamin D. And let’s not forget the most important part: kids (even picky eaters) love it! Its a win-win. But what kind of probiotic yogurt is best for our babies, toddlers, and teens? And are there brands of yogurt that deliver great taste AND quality ingredients?  One b ..read more

“Is my toddler eating enough? Are they eating too much?” “How do I know when it’s okay for my toddler to stop eating?” One of the most common concerns I hear from parents is about whether their child is eating too much or not enough. This worry usually leads to parents feeling the need to “over perform” at mealtimes – complying with every food request and pleading with their kids to take another bite. OR it can cause us to unnecessarily restrict foods or use foods as a reward system. Either way – it’s exhausting! Not to mention that toddlers don’t have the most reliable temperament. The consta ..read more

If your infant is weaning off of breast milk, they are ready for purees! Try this cauliflower puree for an easy, quick, and nutritious meal for baby. Although the world of starting solids can be daunting, making purees from home doesn’t have be to complicated. Purees are smooth in texture, and usually made from just one or two ingredients.  In this case, cauliflower puree is about as simple as it gets – just one ingredient! But although simple, it’s packed with vitamins and minerals for your baby.  Also, its an extremely versatile recipe. Because cauliflower has a fairly tame flavor ..read more

If you’re a busy parent, you can never have enough vegetarian kid’s snack options! But sometimes it’s easy to have the same couple of snacks on rotation.  Especially when they are following a vegetarian or plant based diet, options can feel limited. But giving your child as much variety as possible is the best way to prevent deficiencies in protein, vitamins, and minerals. That’s why I’ve created an endless list of vegetarian kid’s snack ideas, including fruits, vegetables, salty snacks, and sweet treats. Some are quick store bought options and others are simple recipes. Something for eve ..read more

Picture this – you spend all afternoon cooking dinner and finally get food on the table. And your reward is your toddler spitting out all of their food. Why do toddlers spit out their food? Are they trying to communicate? Do they not like their food? Are they having issues chewing? Maybe all of the above! Although food spitting is a frustrating experience, your toddler isn’t the only one! 25% of normally developing kids experience some sort of feeding problem (1). And the most common feeding problem is food refusal – aka spitting out their food (2)! Despite it being very common, we want to id ..read more