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Vegetarian suppers toddlers will love

Plant-based meals are gaining popularity amongst families around the world. Meat-free meals are good for the planet, can help reduce grocery bills, and provide your little one with the goodness they need for a balanced and healthy diet. Add these vegetarian toddler-friendly meals to your little one’s supper menu – we know they’ll enjoy them!

VEGETARIAN COTTAGE PIE

Cottage pie is the ultimate comfort food. This vegetarian twist on the classic is loaded with natural goodness and freezes well. Make a batch of individual pies and freeze them so you’ve always got a veggie-packed meal on hand for busy evenings. This recipe is also an opportunity to finish any opened Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees you might have in your fridge. All Squish pouches come with screw-on lids, which means you can just use what you need, cutting back on food waste.

Ingredients

1 x 110ml Squish 100% Pear and Sweet Potato Puree

1 x 110ml Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree

500g plant mince

1 small onion, chopped

1 carrot or courgette, grated

2-3 cups mashed potato

Method

Fry onion in a little oil, add mince and seasoning and cook until just brown. Add Squish 100% Pear and Sweet Potato Puree and Squish 100% Mixed Vegetable Puree and vegetables. Simmer for five minutes. Allow to cool. Load a muffin tray with mince then add a layer of mashed potato. Freeze.

TIP: Use sweet potato mash instead of regular mash. 

SNEAKY VEGGIE-LOADED MAC AND CHEESE

Sometimes toddlers can go through picky food stages, making it difficult to include veggies in their meals. One of the great things about Squish 100% Veg Purees is that you can sneak vegetables into meals without your child noticing – like this mac and cheese. Squish 100% Fruit and Veg Purees are made using only quality fruit and veg and contain no added nasties. That means they’re free of colourants, preservative and flavourants, and have no added sugar or starch to bulk them up. 

Ingredients

1 x 110 ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree

1 cup milk

salt and pepper

1 cup cooked macaroni pasta, drained

½ cup cheddar cheese

¼ cup cream cheese

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ cup breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp butter

Method

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Mix the Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree and milk together, then add the drained pasta. Add the cheddar and cream cheeses and stir well to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

Spoon into ramekins, top with breadcrumbs and a dot of butter. Bake in an oven pre-heated to 180°C for 20 minutes or until lightly golden and crisp.

TIP: To switch up the flavour, swap the Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree for Squish 100% Mixed Veg

• VEGGIE FRITTERS

Sweet potatoes are a great addition to your child’s diet. They are an excellent source of Vitamin A and E, two key vitamins that help build immunity. These fritters are tasty – and you can pop any leftovers into your little one’s lunchbox for them to enjoy the next day. 

Ingredients

1 x 110ml Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree

500g sweet potato, cooked and mashed

1/3 cup rice or corn flour 

Vegetable oil for frying 

Method

Mix together mashed sweet potato and Squish 100% Butternut + Carrot Puree, then add flour. Heat oil in a large frying pan. Drop mixture into hot oil and allow to cook for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once. Drain on a paper towel and allow to cool. 

TIP: Use any leftover Squish 100% Fruit or Veg Puree as a dip for the fritters.