Chef UltimateMama has a few sneaky ways to get your baby, toddler, or young child to eat nutritious food:

– Shred or cube cheese and offer it as a side dish during the meal

– Put color into plain yogurt with berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries)

– Peel and slice fruit for your child (kiwi, mango, apples, oranges, tangerines, clementines, etc.) DO NOT be a lazy parental chef!

– When making a sandwich use whole grain bread (avoid WHITE bread)

– Try dipping sauces (using yogurt, peanut butter, cream cheese, salsa, marinara sauce, etc.) with veggies

Teach your child good eating habits while they are young. NEVER let on that you do not care for a particular food – your child will pick up on it!  So, smile while you feed them brussel sprouts!

UltimateMama has a simple yet effective tip for you that will make your life a lot easier if your trip gets delayed or if you are planning to arrive back home late at night.  Buy organic milk before your trip as it often has a longer expiration date compared to non-organic milk. Also, have a meal in the freezer for your family – pasta sauce, ham, meatloaf, etc.  Additionally, keep some frozen fruit in the freezer for breakfast the next day.  This way, if you arrive to your home too late to hit the grocery store you will be able to get by with a few meals!

You will thank UltimateMama when you arrive home with hungry kids late at night!

UltimateMama loves cooking one-pot dishes for her family. She tends to serve the dish then freeze the rest for another day!  UltimateMama’s kids enjoy this easy chicken tagine or chicken stew recipe because it is warm and sweet.  UltimateMama loves the fact that it is packed with nutrients.

UltimateMama’s Easy Chicken Tagine or Easy Chicken Stew recipe as follows:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 medium-sized red onion, finely chopped 

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

• 1 pound boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes

• 1 Fuji apple without the skin that is diced 
• 1 cup of carrots, diced (save yourself time and used the baby ones)
• 1 parsnip, peeled and diced
• 1 red pepper, remove seeds and cut into cubes or thin strips
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, cubed

• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained (15 oz can)
• 2 cups chicken broth 

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons orange juice 
• 2 large figs 

1. Get a heavy pot with a lid and heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the onion, ginger, and garlic cloves for about 4 minutes.

2. Add the chicken breast and cook all sides, about 10 minutes.

3. Add the apple, carrot, parsnip, red pepper, sweet potato, tomato, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), and broth.

4.  With a wooden spoon, stir in the cinnamon, orange juice, and figs. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 35-45 minutes. Make sure chicken and vegetables are tender, especially parsnip and carrot.   

5. Serve some and freeze the rest for another meal! You can serve it with rice, couscous, noodles, or alone!

Feeding kids in a nutritious manner does not have to be time-consuming. UltimateMama does not see anything wrong with taking short cuts when it comes to feeding your child.

From bagged baby carrots to pre-cut fruit to frozen vegetables, you can feed your child heartily and nutritiously in a matter of minutes.  UltimateMama believes that using such short cuts is better than ordering food out for delivery or getting take out.

Think about it – do you really know what makes take-out broccoli from your local Chinese restaurant or delivered broccoli rabe from your local Italian restaurant taste so good?  Probably not. If you are not preparing the food yourself you really don’t know the “extra” ingredients/spices that may be added – sugar, salt, etc.

Snacktime or mealtime with kids does not have to be stressful!

Whether your child needs an afterschool snack or a meal, you should always have in mind what you will prepare and serve.  Take it from UltimateMama, you do not want to fall victim to the taunts of a hungry child who scream that you are not giving them food fast enough.

UltimateMama usually organizes snacks in little containers so she can just grab and take them with her when she leaves her home.  UltimateMama even lets the child choose what sort of snack she craves. Give them two choices – cheese stick or crackers; strawberries or cucumbers, dried apples or goldfish crackers. 

For meals, UlimateMama tries to prepare and portion out the food the night before (for lunch and dinner).  All she has to do is heat and serve.  A little time spent in advance is well worth it in the end.

UltimateMama frequently has out of towners who stay in her apartment and visit with her family.  Mealtime can get a little crazy when you are planning a menu for a family of four plus guests.  Since UltimateMama loves to show off her cooking skills ordering meals for delivery or take-out is often out of the question. 

So, how does UltimateMama feed 4 mouths PLUS?  She prepares, cooks, and freezes meals ahead of time.  From meatballs with marinara sauce to lentil soup to turkey meatloaf to turkey or chicken tagine, UltimateMama freezes and thaws these entrees for all to enjoy.  This way, everyone gets more quality time with the kids!