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How to Get Your Kids to Love Eating Plants!
Shalom family! Today, I want to share something truly exciting with you.
As mothers, we often find ourselves wrestling with that all-too-familiar mom guilt. You know, that feeling of wondering if we're doing enough to ensure our children's nutritional needs are met, especially when it comes to herbs, plants, vegetables, and fruits. How can we make these essentials a part of their daily routine? How can we create healthy meals that our little ones will not only eat but enjoy?
Why This Book Was Birthed:
Let's start with why this book came into existence. As a mom of two amazing children, aged five and four, and a stay-at-home mom, I understand the challenges of keeping meals interesting while ensuring they're nutritious. It's a daily juggling act, and I wanted to share my journey and insights with you.
Two Tips for Moms:
Before we dive into the book's content, I want to offer you two valuable tips based on my experience.
First, it's crucial to start healthy habits early, even before your little one arrives. Familiarize yourself with different flavors, fruits, and vegetables, and get into the routine of stocking your fridge with these nutritious options. When your baby arrives, it will be second nature to incorporate these choices into their diet.
Secondly, starting early is key. The older children get, the harder it becomes to break unhealthy eating habits. It's easier to establish good habits when they're young. Instead of rushing into solids, consider breastfeeding longer and introducing healthy options like vegetables and fruits one at a time. Prioritize your child's health over convenience.
Now, let's delve into the heart of this book and explore the different recipes and ideas it offers to make herbalism and healthy eating enjoyable for your children.
Recipes in "Kiddie Kitchen Apothecary":
1. Wild Violet Syrup with a Twist:
Typically made with sugar, this recipe uses honey for natural sweetness. You can also use it to make a refreshing pink, purple or blue lemonade that will look as deliciousas it tastes. Turn this activity into a mini science experiment, learning all about ph.
2. Homemade Cough Drops:
Learn how to make your own from scratch! There's a tasty recipe for a cherry cough syrup and soothing cough drops made with natural ingredients like honey, licorice, ginger, and orange. This way, you can monitor the amount of sugar and corn syrup, while maximizing the amount of medicinal benefits of each drop!
3. Beet Smoothie:
Elevate the nutritional value of your smoothies with beet powder, adding a natural burst of color and nutrients to your child's diet. Beets can be an easy way to add additional nutrients, like iron, to your daily intake.
4. Chamomile Banana Teething Pops: A delightful treat for teething toddlers that incorporates the gentle qualities of chamomile. With a naturally sweet taste, and added medicinal benefits, you can soothe sore gums and colicky tummies with one pop!
5. Dehydrating Veggies and Herbs:
Discover how to dehydrate vegetables and herbs and turn them into convenient powders that can be used in various recipes. These serve as natural thickeners and can add additional nutrition when hidden in meals or added as a topping.
6. Mushroom Gravy with Nettle:
Need a vegan gravy that still tastes great? Maybe you just want to incorporate more mushrooms into your diet. Upgrade your gravy with nourishing nettle and other herbs making it both delicious and nutritious.
7. Vegetable Broth with Immune-Boosting
Create a versatile vegetable broth infused with immune-supporting reishi mushrooms and astragalus root. This golden broth will give your recipes additional flavor and nutrition, the best part, it can be used in place of water in all of your recipes.
8. Hidden Veggie Carrot Mash:
A nutritious and sneaky way to get your little one to enjoy their vegetables. You can swap the carrots and use this for other veggies too, the possibilities are endless!
9. Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups: Say goodbye to store-bought fruit roll-ups and make your own using fresh, organic fruit.
Guilt free snacking awaits!
Your children won't miss the artificial colors and flavors, and neither will you.
10. Date Balls with Herbal Twists: Satisfy your child's sweet tooth with date balls infused with herbs like astragalus, ashwagandha, and more. Customize these no bake balls with whatever powdered herbs you desire.
11. Lavender Lullaby Tea:
A calming and sweet tea perfect for winding down in the evening. Make a cup for you, and one for your little one, you'll be sleeping peacefully in no time!
12. Homemade Baby Wipes:
Learn how to create your own baby wipes, a handy and eco-friendly solution that also will save you tons of money!
13. Planting Strawberries with Your Children:
A fun project to involve your kids in gardening and teach them about growing their own food.
More Than Just Recipes:
Beyond the recipes, this book offers valuable insights into herbalism for children. You'll find sections on foraging wild violets and roses, teaching your children about plants, and even a reference guide for herbs used in the book.
I've also included essential guidelines, such as dosages for different age groups and nutritional recommendations for toddlers. Plus, there's information on managing fevers and childhood remedies using simple kitchen ingredients.
Herbal Wisdom Library:
For those interested in expanding their herbal knowledge further, I offer the "Library of Herbal Wisdom," a comprehensive package that includes over 160 herbal recipes and profiles, covering a wide range of herbs and their uses. All of these recipes, plus more are available instantly for you to try!
Thank you for joining me on today's post, and I hope "Kiddie Kitchen Apothecary" becomes a valuable resource for you and your family. Let's embrace the joy of nourishing our little ones naturally and say goodbye to mom guilt. 🌿✨
