Simone Ward : Green Smoothie Popsicles

 Q + A

Tell me about yourself!

I have 4, (soon to be 5) kids whose ages range from 16 to 4. Zayne is my youngest.

I am also a recipe developer and cookbook author who specializes in creating easy, nutritious, and tasty family food. What started out as a hobby turned into my dream job and I now create nutritious family friendly recipes for clients both domestically and internationally, as well becoming a published author with my very own baby and toddler cookbook! 

What do you love about this recipe, and how has it helped you with feeding your toddler?

Popsicles are always a hit with Zayne, and he loves to help me make them too. I love that you can pack so much goodness into them and kids are more than happy to indulge. 

This particular Green Smoothie Popsicle recipe is so creamy and satisfying and very much a nutrient bomb. Packed with iron, healthy fats, fiber, vitamin C and folate, it makes me so happy to see my kids enjoying such a delicious and nutritious snack.

I tend to serve them during the warmer months. They are also perfect for feeding sick kids. Hydrating, nourishing, and soothing to sore throats – an all-round winner!

What is your biggest tip when it comes to feeding a toddler?

My biggest tip for feeding toddlers is to let go any preconceived ideas about how much your child should or should not be eating and instead focus on creating a non-pressured environment where they can explore food intuitively and in their own time.

I know from personal experience how easy it is to fall into the trap of comparing food intake (particularly veggie intake) with other kids, but the truth is, all kids are different and what and how much they eat is dependent on so many different factors - many of which are outside of our control.

Once I let go of my expectations, mealtimes became a much more relaxing and enjoying experience for both me and my toddler, and I soon realized that his food intake was not that bad at all!

What is your current eating challenge and how are you working to overcome it/how did you overcome it?

Our current eating challenge is getting my Zayne to stay at the table long enough to enjoy his meal. He is becoming fiercely independent and often wants to leave the table to go and play before he is satisfied that his tummy is full, meaning he is hungry again within half an hour!

One of the ways we are working on this is by using a 10-minute sand timer. He knows that he has to sit at the table at least until the timer runs out. This has really helped to distract him from whatever game he wants to get back to and instead concentrate on his meal and honoring his hunger.

How do you keep your child entertained when prepping a meal?

First and foremost I make sure that a majority of the meals I make are quick and simple to put together. This means that the time needed to keep Zayne entertained is short. Now that the weather is warming up, I encourage him to play in the garden which backs off from our kitchen. This way I can keep an eye on him while I cook.

In the colder months I found that having a small box of toys in the kitchen can occupy him for 20 minutes or so. These includes lots of puzzles and other similar activities that can hold his attention for longer than a few seconds!

Follow Simone at: @zaynesplate