Blog
Nutritious picnic food for toddlers
Heading off on a summer picnic is a great chance for your child to enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors – and is a relaxed way to catch up with family and friends, without trying to keep restless children on their best behaviour. Add these toddler-friendly snacks to your picnic basket – they’re packed full of natural goodness, and taste delicious!
BEAN DIP AND MINI PITAS
What is a picnic without a dip? This nutrition-packed beany dip is so easy to make – just take along some mini pitas and veggie sticks for dipping. You can use any Squish 100% Fruit or Veg Puree in the mix, they’ll all taste delicious. Remember, Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are completely free of added nasties like flavourants, colourants and preservatives – and there is no added cane sugar or starch.
Ingredients
1 x 410g can of Rhodes Quality Butter Beans
½ clove of garlic
1 x 110ml Squish 100% Fruit or Veg Puree (our favourite flavour for this dip is Pear + Sweet Potato)
1 tbsp fresh herbs of your choice & a pinch of salt
TIP: Freeze a few boxes of Squish 100% Pressed Juice the night before your picnic. Add them to your picnic basket to keep things cool, and let the kids drink them once they have melted.
Method
Drain butter beans and place into a food processor – or you can use a stick blender.
Add ½ clove of garlic and Puree. Add fresh herbs and a little salt. Puree until well blended.
CHEESY VEG BALLS
These tasty snacks are filled with veggies. They go really well with the Bean Dip – or rolled up in a mini wrap for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
1 cup cheese
1 Squish 100% Veg Puree of choice, the Mixed Veg one works really well
¼ small onion, finely grated
2 cups breadcrumbs (simply put several slices of bread into your processor and blitz)
½ cup wholewheat flour
2-3 large courgettes, finely grated
2 large carrots, finely grated
½ clove garlic grated, finely grated
2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
1 teaspoon dried herbs
Method
Combine all the ingredients and leave to rest for 20 minutes. Roll into small balls. Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake in a preheated at 180 °C for 20-25 minutes.
TIP: These cheesy balls cook well in an air-fryer – they’ll only need 8 minutes
• MINI BANANA MUFFINS
Don’t just pack these for the little ones – the adults will love them too. You can switch up the flavour by using different purees – or divide the batter and add the leftovers from the Squish 100% Fruit Purees you have in fridge for a variety of flavours (even the Veggie Purees work well). Squish pouches come with resealable lids, so you can just use what you need then keep the rest for later. No more wasting food!
Ingredients
375 ml (1½ cups) cake flour
7.5 ml (1½ tsp) baking powder
5 ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
5 ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon
125 ml (½ cup) brown sugar
1 egg
65 ml (¼ cup) sunflower oil
1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Banana + Apple Puree
1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Apple Puree
Method
Sift flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl.
Stir in the brown sugar. Mix the egg and the oil together and stir in the purees.
Add the puree mixture to the dry ingredients and fold gently until just mixed.
Spoon the muffin batter into a muffin tray lined with paper muffin cups.
Bake the muffins in an oven that has been preheated to 180˚C for 15 minutes or until the muffins are golden and firm to the touch.
TIP: For added fruitiness, peel an apple and cut it into small cubes. Stir through the mixture before baking.