Holy deliciousness! I was at the health food store and there was a 
plethora of fresh pineapple and papaya to be had. I knew Kenya would love the 
flavor of both fruits, but I wasn’t sure if he would jump at the chance to eat it in 
pieces. One trick I’ve learned is that if I include Kenya in the 
cooking process, whether it’s just letting him push a button or asking him to stir whatever I’m mixing, he ultimately wants to try 
whatever I make because he feels like he’s making it, too. And smoothies are a great way to get kids to eat fruit 
and yogurt without having to twist their arms.
Papayas and pineapples are both high in Vitamin C as well as 
containing enzymes that help break down protein in the body, thereby 
aiding digestion.
Just one taste of this luscious smoothie and Kenya was hooked. I filled 
up his sippy cup and moments later he was back for seconds.


Tropical Smoothie (Makes 8 Baby or 4 Toddler Servings)



1 Cup Pineapple, chopped

1 Cup Papaya, chopped

1/4 Cup Whole Milk Yogurt



1. Place the ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree 
until smooth.
2. Serve in a glass, bowl or sippy cup

We used these to make this recipe:

Cuisinart DLC-2 Mini Prep Plus Food Processor

Several years ago I went through a major “bar phase”. No, I wasn’t getting 
smashed all over town, I was consuming Luna, Lara and other similar types of 
protein bars at a rapid rate. It became such an obsession that two of my girlfriends and I actually set out to form our own bar company — just imagine getting to cook one of your 
favorite foods all day, every day. We had a name, a mission statement, and developed recipes for every flavor of bar under the sun and 
they were delicious (I think). But unlike the majority of bars on the market that 
are jam packed with additives and sugar, our goal was to make something 
completely organic, packed with protein, devoid of sugar, and full of flavor. The bigger goal was to do all this using as few ingredients per bar as 
possible. The bar business became a casualty of our busy lives, but I still produce them for my friends and family.

Which got me thinking. Breakfast can be a real challenge when you’re trying to get your 
entire family out the door and sending your little one to school with 
a healthy snack can be just as hard. This bar recipe is a treat that everyone 
(over the age on 1 and no history of nut allergies) in the family will love and since the recipe makes 16 bars and they stay fresh for weeks. Your set!

Protein Bars (Makes 16 Bars)

1 Cup Cashews, raw and unsalted
1 Cup Almonds, raw and unsalted
1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries
2 1/4 Cup Dates (about 20)
3/4 Cup Rolled Oats
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 Tbsp Honey or Agave

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees (or put your oven on it’s lowest setting and adjust the cooking time).
2. Place the nuts in a bowl and cover with COOL water and soak for 1 hour.
3. Cover the dates with HOT water and soak for 30 minutes. After soaking, drain off the water and pit the dates.
4. Place the oats in a food processor and grind to a powder. Place in a separate large bowl.
5. Drain the water off the nuts, place on a towel to remove excess water. Place the nuts in a food processor with the dried cranberries and pulse until nuts are in small pieces (the nuts will be uneven pieces which is fine. Just make sure they are all chopped.
6. Place the nuts in the bowl with the oats.
7. Place the dates, vanilla and agave in food processor and pulse until it makes a puree.
8. Place the date mixture with the oat mixture and thoroughly combine all the ingredients (mixture will be thick and sticky).
9. Place the date nut mixture on a silpat on a cookie sheet. Spread out using a spatula or even your hands.
10. Shape into a long log resembling a long rectangle. Make sure the rectangle is flat and even.
11. Bake for 5 hours or until the log is firm, but not hard (If the lowest setting on your oven is 200 degrees, cook for 4 hours).
12. Cool, cut into bars and wrap individually.

We used these to make this recipe:

Cuisinart DLC-2 Mini Prep Plus Food Processor

Wheat berries. Are they wheat? Are they berries? Well, as the name implies, they’re kind of both. Wheat berries are a delicious member of the grain family.

You rarely see them in restaurants or at the market, but health food stores carry them and they’re great for kids. They’re so easy to prepare and really delicious. I love feeding Kenya different types of grains and I have to say that these are one of his favorites.


Wheat berries, also called groats, are whole wheat kernels that have not been milled, polished, or heat treated. They’re brown, nearly round in appearance and have a robust, nutlike flavor. They usually take over an hour to cook, but you can reduce that time if they are presoaked.


When you mix them with the dried fruits and celery in this recipe, it takes on a sweet crunchy texture which in my experience, babies love. He’s not the only one in our family, though. I usually grab a cup when I’m exhausted and need an energy boost. See, this is a great recipe for everyone!

Wheat berry Salad (Makes 6-8 Toddler Servings)

1/2 Cup Wheat Berries, soaked for 8 hours or overnight if possible
1/2 Cup Apple, peeled and chopped
1/3 Cup Raisins
1/2 Cup Celery, chopped
1 Tbsp Orange Juice
1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1. Bring 4 Cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the wheat berries, cover and reduce the heat to a simmer.
2. Cook for 1 hour or until wheat berries are tender to the bite (it make take over an hour, so just keep testing them).
3. Place all the remaining ingredients in a food processor and pulse until fine pieces remain.
4. In a bowl, throughly mix the wheat berries with the apple/raisin mixture.
5. Serve.

I wouldn’t exactly call this a “recipe”, but they sure are delicious.
These little frozen orbs make a super healthy snack that kids love to eat, especially when it’s warm outside.
Whether you use green or red grapes doesn’t matter, but if you use grapes with seeds, make sure to cut them in half and remove the seeds before you freeze them. Kenya and I went to my friend Rachel’s house and she had what seemed like miles of Concord grapes growing all over a trellis in her yard. They tasted just like the Welch’s grape juice!
Grapes have potassium which is important for overall cardiovascular health and phytonutrients called anthocyanins which can have powers 50 times stronger then vitamin E.
These are great because you can serve them to 10 month olds cut into quarters, 18 month olds cut in half and whole ones given to kids over 4 or so.

Frozen Grapes (makes 1 Cup)

1 Cup Grapes, any color (make sure they’re seedless and if not seed them before freezing).

1. Place the washed grapes on a cookie sheet (If your little one is under the age of 2, halve the grapes before freezing).
2. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 4 hours.
3. Serve.

When I made this for Kenya for the first time, the smell of cinnamon and the toasted bread cooking brought me right back to my childhood. Admittedly, my own mother did not whip up a lot of homemade breakfasts for us as kids, but when she did they were incredible.
I love french toast that’s rich and soaked first in cinnamon, vanilla, egg batter and then lightly sauteed with a tiny pat of butter. I’m all about health, but in my opinion, a little butter now and then is fine, especially when you’re making french toast.
But wait, you say. You can’t have french toast without a topping! Now, I love maple syrup as much as the next person and yes, it is a natural sweetener, but it also has 50 grams of sugar per serving which would send Kenya flying into orbit. Not only is the fruit topping for this recipe naturally sweet, it’s also super healthy, packed with vitamin C, bright and colorful. If berries are out of season, you could also use frozen ones. Since I only used a tablespoon of agave (low on the glycemic index) for the fruit sauce, your little one will get all the satisfaction of the sweet flavor without the sugar high.

Cinnamon French Toast with Berry Sauce (Makes 2-4 Pieces depending on the type of bread you use)

1 Large Egg
3 Tbsp Whole Milk
1/8 Tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Slices Whole Wheat Bread (4 slices if you use a more dense bread, 2 slices for a fluffy bread)
1-2 Tsp Butter

1. Whisk the egg, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in shallow dish.
2. Place 2 slices of bread in the dish to absorb the egg mixture for 1 minute. Flip and let the other side soak up the egg mixture.
3. Heat a saute pan over medium heat.
4. Melt butter in the pan and place the bread in the saute pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden.
5. Flip and cook on the other side for 2-3 minutes.
6. Cool and serve.

*Allow to cool, place in a ziploc bag, label and freeze. When ready, place in toaster oven or oven at 300 and heat for 10 minutes or until heated through.

Berry Sauce (makes 1/3 Cup)

1/2 Cup Mixed Berries (any mix of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries will work)
1 Tbsp Honey or Agave

1. Place berries and honey in a sauce pan and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Serve.

*Place in appropriate tupperware or ziploc bag and freeze.

I’m always on the search for new and exciting foods that little ones can eat (especially those who have few teeth). Well, hello, muffins!!! But not the kind of muffins you buy in the market that can be loaded with with pounds of butter and sugar, I’m talking about the ones that are actually moist, delicious, full of fiber, fruit and over-all goodness.

I grew up eating my grandmother’s bran muffins which we’re heavenly. She used to tell me they were “health food”. When I recently looked at her recipe, though, I realized that a cup of sugar for 12 muffins wasn’t exactly “healthy”.

I filled these mini muffins with tons of bananas. The thick consistency of the bananas replaces the large amounts of butter and oil called for in most recipes.

And I switched the sugar to agave which is low on the glycemic index and means your little one won’t be spinning around the room after eating one (or two, as Kenya often does).

Banana Bran Muffins (Makes 24 mini muffins)

1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
2 Tbsp Honey or Agave
1 Large Egg
3 Tbsp Vegetable or Canola Oil
2/3 Cup Milk
3 Bananas, mashed
2 Cups Bran Flakes

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease mini muffin tins.
2. Place the flour and baking powder in a bowl and stir to combine.
3. In a large bowl combine the wet ingredients. Whisk to throughly combine.
4. Pour the bran flakes into the wet mixture, stir and let them sit for 2 minutes to soften. Stir again, breaking them up a little.
5. Slowly pour the flour mixture into the wet mixture and whisk until all the flour is incorporated.
6. Spoon the batter 3/4 the way up each muffin cup.
7. Bake for 18 minutes.
8. Cool and serve.

We used these to make this recipe:

KitchenAid Precision 24-cup Mini Muffin Pan

I even surprised myself at how delicious this puree turned out. I had
5 people in the kitchen while I was making it and like good testers, we all took our spoons, tried a bite and in unison exclaimed, “WOW”! I don’t know whether Kenya was starving or just really loved it, but he insisted on eating an entire cup’s worth. There goes the theory that toddlers don’t like purees. Even though there’s no orange in the recipe, it totally reminded me of drinking an Orange Julius (a drink from a restaurant that I grew up near).
Since cantaloupes are 90% water, it’s nice adding banana and yogurt to give it a little extra body, rich flavor, and end up tasting like cream.
Cantaloupes are also a heavyweight when it comes to potassium and vitamin A. This is a perfect breakfast or snack food for the 10-12 month-old set or a great for dessert for a toddler (as Kenya so brilliantly demonstrated).

Cantaloupe Cream (6 Baby Servings)

1 Cup Cantaloupe, chopped
1/3 Cup Banana
1/4 Cup Yogurt

1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree
until smooth.
2. Serve.

I’ve never been a huge fan of juices for kids because most of the important fiber and nutrients, which are in the skin and flesh of fruits and vegetables, are lost in the juicing process. Still, juice, especially for kids who have a difficult time eating fruits and vegetables can be a life saver for a parent.
Watermelons are a perfect choice because as their names states, they’re comprised 95% of water as well as being sweet, crispy, and delicious water at that.
Watermelon contains vitamin C and is also rich in lycopene and beta- carotene, which protects skins and the lining of the intestines, lungs, nose and throat.
Kenya has been eating a slice of watermelon every day since it popped back in season, but you should have seen his eyes when I opened a yellow watermelon. The texture of the yellow is a little bit more dense, but it’s still got that sweet, refreshing flavor.
This juice only take seconds to make and is a fraction on the cost of the bottled juices you get at the store which are in many cases filled with sugar and artificial flavors. Another bonus, if you buy a whole watermelon (the yellow one I bought at the farmers market was $3 and the huge red one was $5), you’ll have plenty of your fruit left over to much on!

Watermelon Juice (Makes 2 Cups)

1/4 Red or Yellow Watermelon (about 3 cups)

1. Cut the watermelon into chucks removing the rind and seeds.
2. Place in a blender and puree.
3. Slowly pour the mixture through a strainer into a bowl or large glass to remove the pulp. You may need to use a spatula or spoon in the strainer to keep the juice flowing through.
4. Serve (I like to chill it before we drink it).

We have the most fantastic next door neighbors. Not only are they the 
most easygoing and kind people, their yard is essentially a farm. I get a 
phone call at least once a week asking me to come outside so they can 
hand me a grocery bag full of sweet peaches, bushels of delicious beets or in the latest 
case, a bag of perfectly gorgeous Fuji apples. The apples were like little 
gems, sweet and crunchy, not too big or small. For me, there is 
nothing like fruits and vegetables that you grow in your yard. This way you can be absolutely sure that there aren’t any harmful sprays or pesticides being 
used. My neighbors grow their food like this and so do I.

Apples are not only a rich in vitamin C and an excellent source of 
fiber, they’re also a favorite of Kenya’s. When he’s teething and 
doesn’t feel like having to chew, this recipe comes in handy because the apples get really soft. It is 
a real winner with him. When the apple bakes, the flavor intensifies giving it 
almost a caramel flavor. A perfect dessert for your little one.

Baked Apple with Cinnamon and Raisin (1-2 Toddler Servings or 3 Baby Servings)

*recipe can be doubled, tripled and so on

1 Apple, cored
6 Raisins
1 Tbsp Water
1/4 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tbsp Apple Juice (you could substitute another tbsp of water for the juice)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the apple in a small baking dish.
3. Fill the center the the apple with raisins.
4. Mix the water, cinnamon and apple juice and pour over the center of the apple.
5. Bake for 55 minutes or until apple is fork tender.
6. Cool, peel off the skin and serve (alternatively, you could peel the skin and puree the apple and raisins for babies 8-12 months old).

I’ve been getting tons of emails from parents asking for cake recipe ideas for 1st birthday parties. I still find it amazing how one’s family’s social calendar completely changes after one has a kid. Our weekend schedules are packed with kids’ birthday parties whereas we used to get invited to them about twice a year. Birthday parties for little ones can be loads of fun, but the last thing a parent wants on the ride home is their little one on a sugar high from all the birthday cake.
These carrot cupcakes are delectable. They’re made with agave nectar instead of sugar. Agave nectar comes from the agave plant. It is a sweet liquid with a consistency a bit smoother than honey. Agave is also low on the glycemic index and is metabolized by your body slower than sugar so it has a less severe effect on blood sugar fluctuations. You can find it at any health food store and I bet you’ll find many ways for it to replace sugar in your kitchen.
Instead of baking one big cake, I prefer to decorate a platter with tons of cupcakes. I think this is ultimately more fun for the kids (and parents) since they all get their own cupcake they can decorate with nuts, sprinkles or whatever suits their fancy. It’s also a good way to manage portion control. Anyway these are a blast to make for a birthday or any special occassion and heavenly tasting to eat!


Carrot & Pineapple Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing (Make 14 Cupcakes)

1 1/2 Cups AP Flour
3/4 Tsp Baking Powder
3/4 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
3/4 Cup Agave or Honey
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 1/2 Cup Carrots, peeled and shredded
1/4 Cup Pineapple, drained, crushed in juice

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into a medium sized bowl.
3. Using a mixer, beat the agave, oil and eggs until thoroughly combined.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl.
5. Add the carrots and pineapple and beat until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
6. Line 14-1/3 cup muffin cups or mini muffins with paper liners.
7. Scoop batter into cups, filling 3/4 full.
8. Bake for 30 minutes for regular 1/3 cup muffins or 15 minutes for mini cupcakes.
9. Cool (cupcakes can be made 1 day ahead, cover and store at room temperature).
10 Spread top of each cupcake with 2 tablespoons of cream cheese icing and serve.

Cream Cheese Icing (Make 2 Cups)

1 8 oz Package Cream Cheese, room temperature
1/2 Cup Butter, room temperature
4 Tbsp Agave Nectar
1 Tsp Vanilla

1. Place all the ingredients in a mixer and beat on medium to high speed until fluffy.
2. Spread on cupcakes.

We used these to make this recipe:

KitchenAid Precision 24-cup Mini Muffin Pan