Healthy eating has not always been something on my priority list nor was it something I was always willing to do. If I were to show my current diet to my 8-year-old self who often refused to eat anything except Campbell's Chunky Soup and Dinty Moore Stew (not making this up!), my 8-year-old self probably would have fainted. When I look at the changes I've made, whether by choice or by medical-necessity, I'm quite proud of how far I've come.
One area though that I continue to struggle with and consequently see my toddler son struggle with being adventurous is veggies. Choose any color of the rainbow and there are a multitude of veggies with amazing nutritional value. I know how amazing broccoli is with it's calcium and vitamin C, Brussels sprouts with their manganese and vitamin B's, and sweet potato with it's vitamin A. I know how amazing veggies are for you, but that isn't always enough to challenge my palate to take a bite. As a former picker-eater and mother of a picker-eater, AND lover of honoring my body with nourishing foods, I'm excited to share with you a series of recipes I've developed over the years that have become a hit in our family and helped us to eat more veggies.
I'd also like to share with you a simple tip each post in this series how to help your kiddos (or yourself) becoming more adventurous with their eating!
Before we get any further, let's talk some disclaimers. #1 Check the disclaimer at the bottom of this post for checking with your doc before making any lifestyle changes. #2 Concerned with your child's eating habits? Check out this list for the difference between picky eater vs a problem feeder. Please consult with your medical provider about any concerns you may have.
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
Author: Caitlyn Hanson -- Living Wellness, www.lwgg.org
Servings: 1-2 servings, double recipe as desired
Category: Side-dish, Vegetable
Time: Prep- 5 minutes, Bake- 45 minutes
Calories: 145 calories as one serving
Ingredients:
- One organic sweet potato, peeled if desired (this does make them bake more evenly)
- 1 tablespoon organic extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil
- Pinch of Celtic Sea Salt (or any good mineral salt)
- Pinch of cracked black pepper
- Pinch of organic onion powder
Instructions:
- Cut sweet potato into sticks, approximately the with and thickness of your pinky finger. Lay in a single row on a rimmed baking pan.
- Drizzle oil over sweet potato and toss sweet potato until all are covered in oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, onion powder or your favorite seasonings.
- Bake 325 degrees Farenheit for 45 number of minutes turning over after 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for five minutes before enjoying plain, with your favorite dip, or our delicious Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.
Healthy Eating Tip for Healthy Families:
Walk the walk: As a parent of a picky kid, I started thinking about my own eating habits. Why doesn't my toddler like broccoli? Well, how often do I eat broccoli? Once a month? In the life of a toddler, seeing me eat something once a month is not going to register in his brain as a food I like and that he therefore "could" like. Now let's think about something else. How often does he see me eat cheese? Or chocolate? Let's not get too specific with this one...but he see's me eat these often. What is my kiddo likely to want to eat? What I eat often!
I know this isn't rocket science but sometimes we just need to be reminded of the little things. The best way to encourage your kiddos, your spouse, or even yourself to eat healthy foods like veggies is eat/offer them often! If your kiddo says no today, that doesn't mean he or she will say no tomorrow. One study suggested that toddlers may not like a new food until they've been exposed to it 5-10 and possibly even up to 15 times! Walk the walk, eat the veggies, and slowly your kiddo is bound to take a bite :)
Actual live footage of my son taking the sweet potato fries that I was photographing for this post. He said, "Hey! Momma! Those are my fries!" :) Can't argue with a kid that steals veggies!
I'd love to hear your favorite spice blend for these sweet potato fries. Share in the comments below!
Blessings on your health journey!
Caitlyn Hanson
© 2018 Living Wellness, LLC Revolutionizing health, one community at a time.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any illnesses or disease. Please always check with your doctor before beginning any new nutritional or fitness program or before making any nutritional/fitness changes.