About Me:
You know the fantasy: You spend months pureeing organic, hand-selected fruits and vegetables (all locally-sourced of course) for your 6-9 month old baby. Kale, apples, and spinach puree? Psshhh...baby ate that like a champ. Broccoli, butternut squash, and zucchini? Your baby was signing for more like a boss. Enter teeth and toddler hood.
"Look honey, mmm....broccoli, squash, all the things you love in teeny tiny bites! You loooove broccoli right, yes you do!!" You say this with glee, knowing in your heart that all those months of getting your baby used to the taste of vegetables is about to pay off and "WHACK!" Yes, that was a piece of the organic broccoli hitting your unsuspecting face.
Wait, this can't be right you think to yourself. Let me try this again with some squash....same result. "WHACK!" and now you have the lower lip wobble and then a full-on cry fest. You are confused, worried, then the fear settles in....O.M.G.--this child won't eat vegetables. How could this have happened? What did I do wrong? How will I manage to nourish my child? Will she end up being fed via a tube somewhere because I messed up somehow?
If the above scenario sounds in any way familiar, rest assured that you are what is called "a parent to a toddler." Toddlers are unique little people! They are constantly changing their likes and dislikes. One day my toddler will be eating sauteed kale with relish and another, she won't eat anything but plain bread. How do you provide wholesome, nutritious meals that appeal to those ever-changing little taste buds?
My blog is meant to help other parents like myself who are tasked with raising and providing healthy nourishment for these mood-shifting adorable offspring. I am like many of you--a busy working parent to a picky toddler (with another baby on the way) who just wants her child to eat well. If you are a full-time mom (or dad), my hat is off to you because you have one of the hardest jobs out there. I aim to create recipes that are not only toddler-friendly, but also family-friendly so that everyone can enjoy them. Many of these recipes can be made to ensure maximum time with you little one(s) by providing freezer-friendly options. I strive to write with time-saving tips and humor.
A note on my cooking style:
In most countries outside of the United States and Canada, babies and toddlers are introduced to the same food as their parents are eating. They've never had baby food from a jar, but are immediately given foods rich in flavor, texture, and spices. Growing up in an Indian household, spices such as cumin, cardamom, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, red chili, and many more were staples for me. I personally feel that foods rich in flavor appeal more to babies than bland foods. Plus, many of the spices are loaded with nutritional powerhouses that boost immunity, provide antioxidant benefits, and aid in digestion.
My toddler loves spices and I incorporate many into my recipes. I also use salt, which I know is frowned upon my many, but I use it in reasonable moderation. Here's my opinion about salt and spices: If I think it tastes bland, my toddler probably does too. Most of my recipes will have hidden vegetables and fruits so that you feel great about what you're feeding your toddler even on those super finicky eating days. I hope you and your family enjoy these recipes and ideas and find them easy to follow and prepare.
Welcome to Tot KitchenSM!
With love from my family's kitchen to yours,
Neha Smith
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