kids recipes-help please

[Lara]

Hi everybody,
does anyone have any recommended recipes that are good for preschoolers...ie, easy to prepare ahead of time (the night before or the morning of), that "stay" well, and easy for a 3 year old to eat and manage? And that don't require a dehydrator or vitamix? We have a blender and a cuisinart.
I've been reverting to lightly steamed veggies with tofu and beans with veggies the last week, cause I have been stuck. Now Isabelle's all mucousy and coughing. She goes to preschool 5 days a week.
Any advice is greatly appreciated...
Lara

[Rawkinlocs]

Lara,

Can you give an idea what types of things you're looking for...sweet things, non-sweet things, nut-based, etc.?

Also, what does your little one eat all ready besides that steamed veggies, tofu, and beans?

[catherinethegreat]

I don't have kids but
I make an applesauce that is wonderful

granny smith apples, walnuts, raisins and cinnimon pulse chopped in food processor until it's the consistency you want.

I think you can make this ahead of time and put a little lemon on top so it won't get brown.

*c

[Revvell]

I'm wondering what it is they would eat differently than adults if they have teeth. Guacamole or a homemade salsa with sliced veggies; make up a "trail mix" with the child's favorite nuts, seeds and dried fruits; soak a cup of macadamias and a cup of cashews for about 6 hours, throw them in the blender with some lemon juice, a tad of nama shoyu or Braggs (or sea salt); add some fresh berries for color and taste and if you need a lil sweetener, stevia or raw honey.Add water to make a thick cream. Make a fresh fruit salad and pour on the cream.

You can put raw almond butter on bananas; put raw soaked almond in a date for the munchies.

There are TONS of recipes online and in books for various salads and dressings. My husband and I eat lots of veggie plates ~ just slice them up and fill a bell pepper half (cut horizontally) with a favorite dressing.

Hope this is of use to you ~

Injoy ~

Revvell

[veggiemom2]

I have two kids one is 2 1/2 and one is 9. We do lots of green smoothies (various fruits mixed with spinach), mixed fruit salad (sometimes with coconut), various veggies to dip into a favorite nut based salad dressing (ranch etc.)

Here is a recipe I fixed for my kids today, they loved it.

Bliss Balls from rawguru.com

1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup almonds
1/3 cup agave nectar, dates, or honey
3-5 tbsp carob powder (I used 1/2 carob and 1/2 cocoa)
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of salt

Put the seeds and almonds into the vitamix (I used a food processor since I don't have a vitamix) and grind into a fine powder. Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Shape into small balls. Can roll in coconut or other toppings as desired. Put the balls into the freezer until ready to eat. (I preferred them in the fridge or at room temp)

You can make your own pudding cups to include in the lunch.

Chocolate Mousse from Living Cuisine

1.2 cup pitted dates
3-4 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp coconut butter (optional)
1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups mashed avocado (about 3 med)
3/4 cup raw carob powder
4-6 tbsp coco powder (or additional carob powder)

Soak the dates in 1/2 cup water for 5-10 min to soften. Drain the soak water and set aside. In a food processor, blend dates, maple syrup, coconut butter and vanilla until smooth. Spoon in avocado and blend until smooth. Add a few tbps of date soak water if necessary to aid in blending. Spoon in carob and cocoa and blend until smooth. Keeps for several days.

additional ideas:

Can freeze this for a decadent ice cream.
layer mousse with fresh fruit
layer mousse with fresh fruit and Vanilla Whip


Vanilla Whip

1 cup whole cashews
5 soft dates, pitted
1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

Soak cashews in 2 cups fresh water for 30 min. Drain and rinse. Soak dates in 1/4 cup water for 5-10 min to soften. In a blender, blend drained cashews, dates, date soak water and vanilla until smooth.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

[Rawkinlocs]

Veggiemom2,

Just wanted to say that I LOVE your honey-nut crunch cereal! We just eat it dry by the handfuls. It took a little getting used to as buckwheat kinda has to grow on you, but now...my kids and I gobble it up! I do add a little vanilla to it and leave the nutmeg out (not really a fan of nutmeg in too many things), but it's really good.

[yeahbethany]

What is this honey-nut crunch cereal of which you speak????

[Revvell]

Ditto!!! ;)

What is this honey-nut crunch cereal of which you speak????

[Rawkinlocs]

here ya go, courtesy of Veggiemom2...

Honey-Nut Cereal

2 1/2 C whole buckwheat groats (unroasted)

Honey-Nut sauce

4 tbsp raw almond butter (I used raw cashew and peanut butter as that is what I had on hand)
6 tbsp raw honey
1 C orange juice
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp sea salt

Soak the buckwheats in 6 cups water overnight. Drain and rinse in a colander or strainer until the rinse water runs clear. Allow the buckwheat to stand for 10 min to drain well.

To make the honey-nut sauce: Mix almond butter, orange juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt in a bowl. Place the drained buckwheat in a generously sized bowl. Pour honey-nut sauce over the buckwheat and fold with clean, wet hands or a large spoon until well coated. Spread the buckwheat mixture into a thin layer on nonstick sheets on dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 108 for 12-20 hours or until dry. After 12 hours, remove the buckwheat formt eh sheets and return to the dehydrator for 2 hours or until very dry.

NOTE: When I made this the other day, I was eating it before I could get on the dehydrator! So, for those without one (or even if you DO have one) this could be a nice little cereal eaten as is, without dehydrating. If you have some already-soaked/dehydrated buckwheat, it's even better as it'll have that nice CRUNCH!

[yeahbethany]

Oh yum! I know that one, I think...is it from Renee Loux Underkoffler's book?

[Rawkinlocs]

I don't know...probably. Veggiemom2 posted it, but I don't recall the book or author being mentioned.

[Revvell]

*looks up at Honey-Nut Cereal recipe and runs to the kitchen to find the buckwheat groats*. Picture me going through boxes as we've just moved ~ throwing things out on the floor ~ surrounded by stuff!

Oh yum! Oh yum! Oh yum!!!!

Wondering why ANYone needs boxed cereal w/ recipes like this around.

Thanks Rawkinlocs and veggiemom!!!!

Injoy ~

Revvell

[veggiemom2]

Glad everyone enjoys it. It is from Renee's book Living Cuisine. I tend to tweak recipes a bit (add some things and not others). I am with you Rawinlocs... I leave out the nutmeg also. I love these on top of mixed fruit salads. My absolute fav is to blend banana and papaya, then top with the cereal. Some time I leave out the nutbutter and just do the honey and cinnamon with vanilla. So many variations available so little time... hehehe

BTW... made these bliss balls for non-raw friends.. she took several home for later. She said she MIGHT share one with husband. But the rest are hers. Way too funny.

[Revvell]

from foot to foot waiting for Honey-Nut Cereal to dry. Looking at the clock ~ umm, 19 more hours??? Ummm, looking at the dehydrator.....

Revvell

[Ariella]

Lara

I journal each day at www.eco-centric.it and I do include what I feed my almost 3 year old son there. We really dont do a lot of recipes. He really is not very fond of them except deserts which we only do for weekends really. Most of the time he gets veggie juices, whole fruits and veggies, smoothies, nut milks. Stuff like that. You are welcome to go there and look. he loves his nut milk! He wants it every day and usually drinks an entire blender full. Let me know if you need a recipe.

Ariella


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