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Top 5 Nanny Nutrition Ideas For Picky Eaters

Top 5 Nanny Nutrition Ideas For Picky Eaters

Picky eating is common among young children. As toddlers get older, their appetite slows down. They also begin to develop their food preferences and recognize the flavors they want. A toddler’s favorite food may one day be left untouched. A snubbed food might suddenly become their new go-to meal. Some can even go for weeks asking and eating only one or two dishes.

According to the Benioff Children’s Hospital, some toddlers are more sensitive to taste, smell, and texture than their peers. Others become picky eaters after observing the eating habits of those around them, including parents, relatives, and nannies. 

Additionally, picky eating habits are more likely to develop if children are bribed, punished, or rewarded for their eating behaviors. 

As nannies, it is our responsibility to ensure that our charges are getting the nutrition they need to grow and function. We have control over what and when we provide them with food, but our charges are also responsible for whether they would eat food and how much they would take. 

Often, children are forced to eat something they don’t want. However, there is a wide range of food options you can offer to keep your charge healthy. Check out the Jobs in Childcare Top 5 snacks for picky eaters here!

 

5. Homemade Chicken Nuggets 

(Photo by Leo Roza | Unsplash)

 

Homemade chicken nuggets offer a healthier and tastier alternative to the frozen or fast-food varieties. Doubling or tripling a recipe could yield plenty of nuggets that you could freeze for future use. This recipe from Erin Huffstetler of Spruce Eats uses a pound of cut-up chicken breast. 

Chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein that helps both children and adults maintain a healthy metabolism. It is rich in phosphorus that is needed to support teeth and bones. Additionally, chicken breast is also great at promoting eye health, ensuring your charge’s eyesight remains healthy and sharp. 

This recipe only takes an hour to make, granting you plenty of time to perform other tasks. 

Check out the recipe here



4. Banana Ice Cream

(Photo by Ponce_photography | Pixabay)

 

This great recipe from Kristina Vanni of Spruce Eats uses only one simple ingredient: frozen bananas. 

Making ice cream out of frozen bananas would give you a rich and creamy dessert option that is gluten-free, non-dairy, and vegan. The process would only require you to peel, slice, and freeze the bananas before popping them into a food processor to create a soft-serve ice cream even picky eaters would love. 

Bananas are a great source of vitamin b6 that helps the body to turn fats into energy. The fruit is good for the heart and the skin. Eating bananas regularly would significantly improve your charge’s digestion and kidney health. 

The soft serve is a great way to get the child engaged in preparing food. Try offering different toppings, including chocolate chips or crushed cereals, to give your charge fun and memorable cooking experience. 

Check out the recipe here

 

3. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

(Photo by Valeria Boltneva | Pexels)

 

In third place - sweet potato fries! Sweet potato is a starchy and sweet-tasting vegetable that is rich in fiber and a wide array of vitamins and minerals. It helps prevent vitamin A deficiency that, if left untreated, could decrease the body’s resistance to infectious diseases. 

Cookie and Kate’s sweet potato fries may become your picky eater’s new favorite snack. This baked alternative perfectly combines salty-sweet, crunchy, and spicy tones that would give your charge an exciting explosion of flavors. 

The crispiest fries are those that are sliced thinly or about a quarter-inch wide. While that may seem daunting, cutting the potatoes into slabs before slicing thinly should do the trick. 

Another tip to get the outside crunchy requires tossing the sliced pieces in cornstarch or arrowroot starch before splashing some olive oil. 

Avoid overcrowding your baking tray. A pan should fit one pound of a fries. Make sure each fry lies flush against the tray and not on top of other fries. 

Check out the recipe here

 

2. Mixed Berry Smoothie

(Photo by Element5 Digital | Pexels)

 

Number 2 - the smoothie! This mixed berry smoothie from Tasty.com uses both fresh and frozen berries to create a sweet and tangy drink that’s perfect for any season. The berries are combined with milk and greek yogurt to ensure a healthy and yummy drink. 

This smoothie is packed full of vitamins and minerals needed by growing children. Here are some of the health benefits:

  • Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-based berries. A cup of serving contains fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and other nutrients. It is low in calories and is considered the king of antioxidant foods. 

 

  • Strawberries are packed with vitamins that help protect the heart and guard against cancer. A single serving of this sodium-free and fat-free fruit provides more vitamin C than one orange. 
  • Raspberries are sweet, tart berries that are native to Europe and northern Asia. A single cup of red raspberries boasts 15 nutrients, including fiber, protein, vitamin K, vitamin E, iron, and copper. 
  • Blackberries are a summer staple that provides a lot of impressive health benefits. A cup of raw blackberries offers half the daily recommended value of vitamin C. It is also a great source of vitamin K that plays a significant role in strengthening the bones. 
  • Greek Yogurt contains probiotics. These microorganisms help prevent a build-up of bad bacteria that could cause severe damage to the immune system. They are also great for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndromes. 

 

Check out the recipe here.

 

1. Apple Cookies

(Photo by Susanne Jutzeler | Pexels)

 

And top of the charts at number one - healthy AND tasty - these apple cookies. Apples are one of the most popular fruits that offer a lot of health benefits. A medium-sized apple already yields 1.5 cups of fruit. That is more than half of the daily fruit intake recommended by doctors.

 

The recipe from Rachel Schultz is an exciting take on a cookie —  which is perhaps among the top dessert of choice for people of all ages. Apple cookies are a great no-bake snack that you can make within five to ten minutes. 

The cookie uses six ingredients: apple, peanut butter, almond, walnut, coconut, and chocolate chips. 

Apples contain a type of fibre that feeds the good bacteria in the stomach. It protects people from obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Peanut Butter promotes weight loss and prevents Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases from developing. 

Both almonds and walnuts deliver a massive amount of nutrients, including fibre, protein, vitamin E, and antioxidants. 

Try it out here