No sugar added, Apple Pie Oatmeal for a healthy breakfast

Fall brings changing leaves, pumpkins & APPLES!  In Ivan's class for the month of October they studies the life cycles and all things apples & pumpkins.  I believe this has spurred his new phase of apple everything!  

We were finding ourselves in a slump of breakfast foods.  He seems to get on something and want it daily, then not at all!  Looking at all the apples sitting around, I peeled a few, diced them up and put them on the stove with some cinnamon, splash of water, and few lemon juice squirts.  I then mixed up in his oatmeal (added butter and unsweetened almond milk to the oats) for "apple pie oatmeal"

He licks the bowl clean every time ... and the kitchen smells warm and delicious in the morning!

After realizing what a hit this actually was, I have now started doing 3-4 apples at a time and leave in the fridge for a faster morning routine.  I simply warm the apples separate from the oatmeal and then combine.  Still smells good 😊 

Cookies made with Agave syrup

We have been trying to avoid excess processed sugar in Ivan's diet, and have done well so far!  I use to bake blueberries and puree to use as a topping for his waffles.  Now we are onto pancakes. I have most recently began using Agave Nectar Maple syrup.  I lightly butter and syrup the pancake before cutting so I don't need to pour more syrup than necessary!

In searching for another cookie recipe that might work for all of us, I found one that I like maybe too much!

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup oil (I used olive oil, only because it's all we had!)
1/2 cup agave maple syrup
1/2 cut ground walnuts (or almonds)
1/2 tsp vanilla
salt

Bake at 350 for 12 min
 

So why agave syrup/nectar?  The Aztecs referred to agave nectar as "honey water".  Sweeter than refined sugars and with a lower glycemic profile.  For me, this is a better option than refined sugars.

“One of the most health-promoting properties of agave nectar is its favorable glycemic profile. Its sweetness comes primarily from a complex form of fructose called inulin. Fructose is the sugar that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. The carbohydrate in agave nectar has a low glycemic index, which provides sweetness without the unpleasant “sugar rush” and unhealthful blood sugar spike caused by many other sugars.”

— http://allaboutagave.com/index.php

They are crispier than soft, but have a great flavor.  Not too sweet, but just right!  I'm happy the walnuts are in there, as well as the fats from the oil.  These may not be loaded with vegetables, but they are "healthy" cookies to me!

I can always count on my 2 kitchen helpers ... Ivan and Isabelle

no sugar added cookies!

This recipe has been floating around on Facebook ... I tried it when Ivan was under a year old and Ivan has loved them ever since!  When I first started making them I made circles ... you know, COOKIES.  When I gave them to Ivan I had to tear them into bite sized bits because he would put the ENTIRE thing into his mouth.  With a full set of teeth now, I have begun making sticks/bars instead.  They are easier for him to hold onto and nibble on.

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I mash the ripe bananas with a fork prior to adding the additional ingredients.  I like the banana to be creamy.

Here's what you'll need:

2 cups quick oatmeal (this is really the only thing I measure)
3 ripe bananas (smashed until creamy)
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
cinnamon
vanilla

Every time I cook it's more like a science project ... I started making this recipe with exact measurements and have since just eye-balled it.  Sometimes I've forgotten the cinnamon and/or vanilla and it's hard to notice.  Occasionally I've also added finely ground walnuts for some extra brain power. 

Pre-heat your oven before you mix to approx 350-375 degrees.  Mix all ingredients until the mixture is not too runny, and not too thick (wow, I would make a horrible cook book author)! 

Shape to your desired outcome on a greased cookie sheet (I use a fork to scoop and shape).  Maybe due to my limited baking experience, I was ASSuming the cookies would rise or change shape in the oven.  With limited ingredients, they did not!  They come out the same way you put them in.  Just make sure each shape is about the same thickness to ensure evenly cooking them. 

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make sure to grease the cookie sheet and not to keep them in too long ... they will get hard fast!

They should be done in about 20-30 minutes.  Careful not to bake too long, they can get hard fast.

I store them in a container in the refrigerator but they usually don't last long!  They also live in our freezer in a freezer Ziploc bag when we have a lot of ripe bananas laying around.

I've recently found myself eating a few of these for breakfast on the go!

Blueberry lovers breakfast for toddlers! (and my nutritional WHY's)

Ivan is a BIG eater (most of the time)!  His typical morning routine begins with a banana in our bed while we have coffee and read a few book(s) … or the truck book 10x in a row!  Then Ivan eats a waffle, oatmeal, and/or toast, and scrambled eggs.  Oh yea, and sometimes when he hasn't seemed to get quite enough I toss him some Rice Krispies or Cheerios with Almond Milk.

Because this boy loves his blueberries Oh, SO MUCH (and I avoid feeding him foods high in sugar - syrup) I came up with the brilliant idea to make him blueberry sauce and here's how I do it …

Blueberry Sauce:
I usually use frozen blueberries (purchased at the grocery with no added sugar) fresh blueberries when they are so plentiful due to being in season.  Next, bake the blueberries in a glass 8x8 (brownie) pan, covered in foil, for approx 45 min (until bubbly) at 350-400F.  Then, pour the blueberries and juices into the food processor (baby bullet, blender) and puree.  
I keep a small container of the sauce in the refrigerator and put the remaining sauce in the same small containers in the freezer for future use.

Blueberry Sauce & the Van's waffles Ivan prefers

Ivan enjoys blueberry sauce on his waffles and a spoonful (mixed with his daily probiotics) in his oatmeal for breakfast … I've also used it in place of jelly or preservatives for a PB&J!

Oatmeal:
Blueberries – cut in 1/2 or 1/4's depending upon the size
Walnuts – ground (with the skins on) in the blender or food processor to make powder
Blueberry Sauce + Probiotics (Klaire Labs, Ther-biotic Infant Formula)
Oatmeal – prepared as package states … I make 1/4 cup dry oats with water in the microwave
Almond Milk – splash if my oatmeal is a bit sticky

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Oatmeal with blueberries, crushed walnuts and blueberry sauce (probiotic powder) ... and of course, Isabelle standing guard at her usual post -- under the high chair!

SO, WHY oatmeal with blueberries, whole walnuts (ground) and daily probiotics? 

Walnuts are a GREAT source of not only omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats but also vitamin E and have great heart healthy benefits!
Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits and provide a great source of  minerals including: magnesium, potassium, iron and manganese, anti-inflammatory agents & vitamin C, E and K. 
Oatmeal has omega-3 fats, fiber and other vitamins.
Probiotics – I purchase the probiotic powder from Ivan's pediatrician, Dr. Carine, located in Upper Arlington.  (They do sell supplements to non-patients if you call or visit the office!)  Probiotics improve immunity, prevents diarrhea, helps with intestinal problems, calms colic, and can help ease eczema ... Great article that gets far more technical than I ever will by Parents Magazine here.

And if you need any more reasons why your kids should start the day with a GREAT breakfast, check out this article from Quaker Oats highlighting the importance of teaching healthy eating habits.

Bye Bye Bottles

At Ivan's 12 month well check our Nurse Practitioner (who is not a mother) said, "OK, no more bottles, he can drink milk now"

Well, doesn't that sound EASY!  I opted for unsweetened vanilla almond milk in place of dairy milk (we make a special effort to make sure Ivan is getting good fats by cooking with Olive Oil and feeding him avocados, etc).  The first few days he seemed slightly bothered he didn't have a bottle, however, I kept his night time routine (which included a bottle) on schedule.  The first few weeks he LOVED his "Ba-ba" and looked forward to it, but shortly after he only drank half and was more occupied with reading a few books rather than rocking with his bottle.  

It took about 8 weeks in total (from his 1 year birthday) to the day I packed up the bottles ... As a new parent I often hear how every child will develop on his/her own time and not to get too caught up in milestones ... this was just a prime example of that in practice for us!  I'm trying my hardest to nurture his development, while allowing him to be a baby just as long as possible!!

Feeding Ivan his vitamins for optimal baby & toddler development

Feeding any child can be tricky!  I've got a system in the way in which I present food to my 14 month old son that includes protein first, vegetables second, carbs next to last and fruit for desert!  This was learned, like most new Mommy things, by trial and error!  This order works best for my son, based on his preferences ... he loves his pasta and always has room for strawberries & blueberries!

The human brain increases approximately 3.5 times in mass between birth - 5 years old.  This is why I have made such an effort to make sure I was taking a DHA supplement while pregnant and breastfeeding.  Now that Ivan is on his own with regards to diet, it's my job to make sure he gets what he needs ... and sometimes that takes being more creative than not!

Our daily vitamin routine starts at breakfast ... I mix his multi-vitamin with Nordic Naturals Baby's DHA and either Bolthouse Strawberry-Banana Smoothy or Naked Juice's Green Machine. 

Next, I thicken with brown rice or oatmeal infant cereal, which I love for the Iron (I could not find a multi-vitamin for babies that contained iron).

Poof, that nasty tasting multi-vitamin is disguised and down it goes!  If he doesn't finish it at breakfast, I put it in the refrigerator so he can finish a few bites later in the day.  He also enjoys a spoonful of Gaia's Black Elderberry Syrup to help support his bodies immune system since I cannot keep him from putting EVERYTHING from everyone's playroom in his mouth!