Banana, spinach & kiwi for baby

Let’s talk healthy first foods for baby. I started Charlotte on purees at 6 months and she has now tasted about 28 different foods in the past almost 3 months. Everything from mango to avocado and basics like oats, rice and berries. She is so far a really good eater. She likes it and is eager to try new things and play with her food. Here is a simple puree that she loves that has a banana as a base.

Spinach + kiwi + banana:

2 kiwis peeled

1 ripe banana

1 handful of fresh or frozen spinach

Makes approx five 2 oz. servings

Blend until smooth {you will see the black specs of the kiwi and the little bits of the spinach and that’s ok} Also, I didn’t add any water to this one as it has no problem creating its own with the juice from the kiwi. Kiwi is so power packed and good for you and that’s why I love this particular blend! Freeze some and have some now and the next day…

I also made her another banana combo with strawberries +cantaloupe (pictured below) that she adored as well! For this combo I used:

1 ripe banana

2 TBSP water

3/4 c strawberries

3/4 c cantaloupe

Makes approx nine 2 oz servings

Remember, this phase is about having them try different foods and textures to set them up with good eating habits in the future as well as wean them off of breastmilk or formula eventually. So 1 bite or 10 consider your effort worth it! Have fun with it and they will too!

xo, Adrienne

NUT SPREAD & FRUIT CUTOUTS

This was FUN!! …..and chaotic!! 2 adults and 4 little ones in our small kitchen today to help Max with his Snax!!! His cousins came over to play and have lunch and we made nutella and pnb banana, strawberry tortillas then cut shapes out of them!

The kids all helped cut out their shapes and ate most of them before we even got them on the plates!! I needed a reason to buy nutella-I never have-and this was it!! Yes, I had some on my Ezekiel toast this am….no, I don’t feel bad about it.

To make:

Take 2 tortillas-whatever kind you like

Spread nut butter on one side-about 2 tbsp. (use any kind-peanut, almond, cashew, nutella…etc)

Top with thin sliced strawberries and bananas

Top with other tortilla

Use fun shaped cutters to make shapes or use a pizza cutter and make triangles if you don’t have cutouts!

Devour

Enjoy!!

xo,

A and Max

Meal Prep-chicken 4 ways-8 mini meals for the week

Meal prep!! Essential for success! I used what I had on hand and made sure to keep it quick and simple (5 or less ingredients).

The prep took just under and hour! Well worth the time because now I am ready for the week or at least the first few days!

I took 1 package of chicken breast that was 1.3 lbs and slow cooked it for 6 hours on low with:

water to cover chicken

lemon wedges (2 whole lemons quartered) and celery (about 3 stalks)

bay leaves (2)

dash salt, pepper, garlic and coriander

**After 6 hours on low turn off and let everything cool for an hour

** Take chicken out and start shredding it with 2 forks-should fall apart pretty easy

Meal 1: Chicken salad with Greek yogurt

1 cup shredded chicken mixed with:

2 tsp feta cheese

2 tsp chopped red onion

2 tsp chopped kalamata olives

2 heaping tbsp. plain 0% Greek yogurt

Mix well and divide in half into 2 containers

Top with chopped tomatoes

Pictured below:

Meal 2: Spinach salad with chicken and strawberries

Fill up 2 small containers with fresh spinach leaves

Add 1/2 c shredded chicken to each one

Add silvered or crushed almonds to each-about 2 tsp

Add feta or shredded mozzarella to each-about 2 tsp

Add chopped fresh strawberries to each-about 1/4 c to each

Make your own balsamic dressing in separate container: 2 parts water, 2 parts oil,1 part balsamic vinegar

Pictured below:

Meal 3: Chicken noodle and mushroom soup

Cook 1 cup dry noodles according to pkg. and drain, place noodles back in pot

Strain the broth from the crock pot into the noodle pot-leaving behind the celery, bay leaves and lemons

Add 1 and 1/2 cups of the shredded chicken breast to the pot

Chop about 1/2 cup mushrooms and add to pot on med heat for about 10 to 12 min then cool and store or eat!

Pictured below:

Meal 4: Chicken, cheese and raw veggies

Take remaining chicken, split in half and add to 2 small containers

Chop peppers (any and all colors) and add to container

Add about 1/4 c chopped mozzarella cheese to each container

Add celery and or carrots (broccoli and or cauliflower would be good too!) to each container

Humus would be a great addition to this one but I didn’t have any!

Pictured below:

There you have it! You are well on your way to eating right, getting doses of protein in throughout the day and not having to stop for fast food or binge when you get home because you didn’t have food with you throughout the day!

I usually eat 4 to 5 small meals per day with fruit, nuts and sometimes a smoothie for breakfast. I also have a protein shake with just water immediately after my workout.

**A typical day might be:

Smoothie or eggs and avocado/toast 7:30 am

Chicken salad with Greek yogurt 10:30 am

Workout/shake 12:45-maybe a small apple or half sweet potato too

Spinach salad with strawberries and chicken around 2:30/3

Dinner-something healthy that I make that night like fish/rice and asparagus around 6

Nuts and fruit as dessert around 9:30

Planning feels good and being prepared and ready feels good! Your body wants and needs food often! Don’t neglect it!!

It should be a top priority!!

xoxo-A

Strawberry & Lime Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 c frozen strawberries

1/2 c frozen banana

1/2 c plain Greek yogurt (like Chobani or Fage brand)

1 c unsweetened almond milk

1/4 small lime (peeled)

1/4 c cucumber (peeled)

2 tsp flax or chia seeds

3 tsp oats

Fresh parsley (small handful)

Blend until very smooth

Enjoy! A

Green tea fruit smoothie

Instead of milk I used green tea with extra tea extract and other added natural ingredients that help with cleansing and also have anti oxidant benefits!

Ingredients:

1/2 c cold green tea (from a tea bag, no sugar added)

1/2 c plain Greek yogurt

handful (combined) of strawberries, cranberries and pineapple

1 med banana

2 tsp glutamine

3 tsp oats

4 ice cubes

Blend & Enjoy! I hope you like it and its added benefits from the tea!!

xoxoxo-A