How to Prepare A Simple, Nutritious Afternoon Snack For Your Child (Carrots)

Carrots. Good for the eyes, good for your child between 15 months and age 150. Here's a simple way to prepare this afternoon snack.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Carrots
• Bowl
• Water
• Microwave oven
• Freezer
• Heavy-guage knife
• Mitten

1. No need for baby carrots. Wash plain carrot with plain water. Then cut off about 1/2 inch on either end. Next, slice down the middle with a heavy-guage knife. Then cut up width-wise into quarter inch bits. Place in medium-size bowl with a roughly 1" height along with 1/2 inch of water.
2. Microwave for three and a half minutes. Use a mitten to remove bowl and drain water. Re-fill with cold water. Place in freezer for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from freezer and drain water once again. Sample a carrot to make sure they're cool. Offer to your child. They're as sweet as baby carrots (if not sweeter), and they are soft enough for even young children to consume. Eat a few yourself. I do. They're yummy, and it's also good modeling for your child. The more enthusiastic you are about them, the more enthusiastic your child is likely to become!

Tips & Warnings

• Always watch your child while she or he is eating.
• I occasionally add some peach slices or even canned peas to mix things up. You can't miss by training a toddler to enjoy nutritious fruits and vegetables.
• Sometimes I give our son half a hotdog (chicken) similarly prepared before he moves on to the vegetable snack.
• Learn child Heimlick maneuver and CPR in any event. Our son has never needed it to be administered, but we studied the procedure and it puts the mind at ease (and for good reason!).