Toddler Recipe of the Week: Oatmeal

Toddler Approved Oatmeal

I'm not a big oatmeal eater to begin with, so I have to make it tasty to enjoy eating it in the mornings.  Growing up, my mom always topped our oatmeal with cinnamon, sugar and lots of milk, to the point where our oatmeal resembled a bowl of cold cereal.  I loved it as a kid, but grew tired of it as I got older.  So I started searching for different oatmeal toppings to make it more appealing to myself.  I like my oatmeal a little thicker now that I'm older, and my daughter seems to like it that way too.  Plus it's a lot less messy to feed her since it holds together on the spoon.  She loves all of the oatmeal I make her, so these are definitely toddler approved recipes.  I love that oatmeal can be a great mini meal for pregnancy and postpartum when I just need to get something into my system.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal

1 serving oatmeal, cooked (I prefer instant packets of plain oatmeal, but you can use whatever kind you like)

1T. Ovaltine

1T. peanut butter (if it's for a young toddler, make sure to use smooth peanut butter to prevent choking)

After getting my oatmeal to the consistency that I like, I swirl in the Ovaltine and peanut butter.  This is very delicious, high in protein, and not too bad for you, considering the Ovaltine has lots of added vitamins and minerals. Some additional toppings you may want to add are diced bananas, berries, pomegranate seeds, or maybe even some shredded coconut.

Cinnamon and Sugar Oatmeal

1 serving oatmeal, cooked

a few dashes of cinnamon

1t. brown sugar

1 t. butter

Melt in the butter once the oatmeal is your desired consistency, then stir in the cinnamon and sugar.  This is a classic way to eat oatmeal.  For added  nutrition, you can stir in 2T. raisins or cooked apples.  The raisins usually soften enough to feed your toddler as well.

Fruit and Yogurt Oatmeal

1 serving oatmeal, cooked

1/2 cup fruit

1/4 cup yogurt (plain or flavored)

1 t. honey for sweetness (if desired)

Swirl in the toppings.  I would recommend making the oatmeal a little thicker than you would normally like since the yogurt may thin it out a little bit.  You can always add more milk or water if it's still too thick.  For myself, I also like to add some toasted sliced almonds, about 2T.

Bon Appetit!
Trad Cat Mama