Oct 13th Recipes Recipes 3 Delicious Lunch Ideas for Your Little One By Stacey Segal, RD Lunch can be so challenging. It’s what I call ‘a whole process’. What should I make? Will they eat it? Will they like it? Do I have the ingredients? Is it healthy? Am I doing a good job? Pro tip: Try using ingredients that you can also enjoy yourself. This will make it easier for you to genuinely make those yummy noises when you model eating for your little one. Eat together when you can. Making one meal instead of two (or three) will save you money and take the pressure off. If any of these foods are not yet familiar to your little one, you can also have familiar and accepted food on hand as back up. If you can, it also helps to keep your fridge stocked with simple pre-prepared familiar foods so you’re not cooking more than one meal. These delicious lunch ideas are nutritious and easy to prepare! Give them a try and let us know how you like them! Here are 3 delicious lunch ideas for your little one: 1. Mozzarella Medallions with Pea Spinach Pear Puree What you’ll need: 1 pouch of Cerebelly Pea Spinach Pear puree Cut round slices of fresh soft mozzarella (pasteurized) 2 tsp olive oil to drizzle ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (stems removed) Handful of fresh baby spinach leaves ½ avocado Directions: Slice fresh soft mozzarella into large round slices. Lay them out flat on a plate. In a blender, combine Cerebelly Pea Spinach Pear puree, olive or avocado oil, basil leaves, spinach leaves and avocado. Blend until smooth. You may need a touch of water to thin it out. Drizzle on top of cheese medallions. And for the adults can sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper. To serve: Add a simple side of bread with butter or spread with remaining ½ of avocado. Nutritional Highlights: Protein, good fats, calcium, folate, fiber, iron, vitamin D 2. Salmon and Veggie Nuggets Makes 16 nuggets What you’ll need: 1 pouch Cerebelly Sweet Potato Pinto Bean with cumin (or Cerebelly Carrot Chickpea tastes good too!)2 cans flaked pink salmon or canned light tuna1 egg2 tbsp unbleached all purpose flour or any flour you like¼ tsp salt (optional)Pepper to taste Directions:Mash 2 cans of flaked salmon (boneless, skinless) or 2 cans of canned flaked tuna, with a fork in a bowl.Add 1 pouch of Cerebelly Sweet Potato Pinto Bean puree, mash/mix until smooth.Add 1 beaten whole egg, 2 tbsp whole wheat or unbleached all-purpose flour and salt.With your hands, shape into ‘nuggets’.Heat a little oil in shallow pan. Pan cook each nugget for about 4 min each side until golden brown. To serve: Try dipping in full fat greek yogurt! Nutritional highlights: protein, zinc, omega 3 DHA, copper, beta carotene, vitamin B6 3. Quick Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili Soup What you’ll need: 1 pouch of Cerebelly Black Bean Sweet Potato1/2 can diced tomatoes with juice ¼ can beans (black, navy or kidney)¼ tsp salt1 tsp cumin1 tsp chopped cilantro (optional) Directions: Put all ingredients into a saucepan, warm to a simmer. Let cook for about 10 min. No need to boil.Cool, and then put into a food processor or use a hand blended in the pot, until blended into the consistency you’d like. Smooth or chunky for a soup. Or don’t blend at all and eat as a chili (optional: add ground beef or ground turkey!)To serve: top with shredded cheese or a spoonful of sour cream. Nutritional highlights: fiber, zinc, iron, protein, good fat, vitamin B12, copper Have more questions? Send us an email at support@cerebelly.com and we will be sure to get back to you!