YAY for Spinach!

I remember one day I was making a snack for Onyx with a banana, raw cheese and crackers.......it was brown and dull..... even though it was healthy. The only thing that had color to it was her juice with the apple on it. I had tried other things to add "excitement" and variety to her plate like blueberries, strawberries and other foods packed with antioxidants but she wouldn't eat them. I was worried she had become accustomed to your "average toddler snacks" of crackers, fruit snacks, chips, juice box etc. Keeping in mind that those are ok every once in a while, they're empty calories, packed with artificial flavorings or even harmful chemicals. At one point she had stopped eating the healthy snacks that I was giving her that I knew she had liked. She wouldn't eat unless she had crackers or chips. She still refuses to eat meat which excludes sandwiches of any kind..she even doesn't eat "peanut butter and jelly" sandwiches either. Lunch options were getting pretty slim. In my trial and error of getting her re-aclimmated to more healthier options, and wanting to create a balance for her, I discovered she likes SPINACH!!! I've made it for lunch in a quesadilla and for breakfast, in our smoothies. Something that I have been making for her dinner is spinach, corn and potatoes seasoned with smart balance, salt and pepper on a divided place... at this age some don't like foods to touch.... I know I was that way. Not only is it good for her but I like the fact that it's visibly appealing; showing her the importance of having color on your plate.

In this journey of finding healthier options for her I am keeping in my that color, variety, health and balance are all important. Some other snacks she's tried with some success has been beet chips and sweet potato chips. Hopefully some of these healthier options may work for you and your little one too!