We’ve gotten to the age where Henry eats pretty much the same things that we do.  Three cheers for lots of teeth!  When I have a peanut butter sandwich, he has a peanut butter sandwich.  When I have rice and beans, he has rice and beans.  We still have to be careful about choking hazards, of course, and many things must still be boiled or sliced very thin so that he can safety chew the food.  But overall, his diet looks like a lot like mine.

 

Well, I’ll admit it… his diet is probably a bit healthier than mine. 🙂

Every day, my goal is to fill Henry’s tummy with a variety of healthy foods.  It can be challenging to convince a toddler to eat fruits, veggies, and protein.

 

But here’s my secret… He will always eat what’s on his plate when I make food pictures.  I know, I know.  This is such a dorky mom thing to do, but I love dreaming up snack scenes and food animals for him.  And he loves eating my creations!

 

For example – he’d never eat these veggies if they weren’t in flower form!

Boiled red and orange pepper flowers

Hummus drop centers

Steamed spinach leaves and grass

 

Click through to see Henry’s other beautiful snack creations!

Cheese and clementine sun

Cucumber and raspberry face

Udi’s toast with peanut butter for the trunk

Thinly sliced green apple palm fronds

Cheese ground

French toast people (made with a gingerbread cookie cutter)

Raspberry hats

Chocolate + craisin faces

Apple ground

Cheese and cucumber truck

Carrot ground

Boiled orange pepper sun

Hummus toast cat

Cucumber and carrot face

Banana and carrot caterpillar with carrot feet

Raspberry and chocolate face

Buttered toast face

Clementine ears, grape eyes, boiled red pepper smile

Egg hair

It takes a bit more work to make food pictures, but it’s really fun to see his expression as he realizes that he’s eating a palm tree for snack.  Totally worth it when he eats the whole thing, too!

 

What challenges do you face when convincing your toddler or kid to eat healthy foods?  Any tips or tricks to share with other moms?

 

Learn more about living gluten free! Visit Udi’s Gluten Free.  This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.

{ 72 comments }

 

  • Shel@PeachyPalate November 20, 2013, 9:01 am

    Love the buttered toast face!!! Some ingenious ideas…definitely something to try out! My little niece, now five, was a god send when she was a toddler, she’d try anything and ended up liking most things. She’s got a bit more attitude now and knows her own mind but thankfully she’ll try most things. Starting young and letting them use their hands to touch and feel the food and explore it is so key!

  • Jackie November 20, 2013, 9:02 am

    This is precious! I love that idea!

  • Kaila @healthyhelperblog! November 20, 2013, 9:04 am

    This is too adorable. How nice of you too instill the fact that food can be fun for Henry from such a young age! I wouldn’t mind having some of these snack creations. 🙂

  • Alexandra November 20, 2013, 9:08 am

    Holy smokes you are adorable! What a good mommy!

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More November 20, 2013, 9:09 am

    How freaking ADORABLE!! You are just too cute! 🙂

  • Sara @ LovingOnTheRun November 20, 2013, 9:11 am

    Love this! You are quite the creative momma!!

  • S November 20, 2013, 9:19 am

    Amazing job, Caitlin! Henry is lucky to have such a creative, loving mom!

  • LauraZ November 20, 2013, 9:27 am

    He’s such a lucky kid! I’d even do that to my food.

  • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 9:28 am

    Oh my gosh this is so cute.. you are such a great mom! Such a clever way to get babies to eat what’s in front of them.

  • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 9:30 am

    Caitlin I have a quick question and I would really appreciate if you could just give me a quick response. How do you get your pictures so nicely organized on the blog? They are so big and nice. Something that discouraged me when I started blogging was the fact that I couldn’t get my pictures to all be evenly sized throughout my post. It was so discouraging because I don’t like things looking sloppy. I heard it’s because I take the pictures on my iPhone but I notice you also put up pictures from instagram (which I am assuming come from your phone) how do you get them to be so nice, big and clear? I would greatly appreciate a response please 🙂

    • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 9:32 am

      Do you have a PC? If so you have to blog in windows live writer! It makes resizing pics so easy.

      • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 9:59 am

        I use my laptop but I never blogged directly in windows live writer, I just blogged through the WordPress host I have. I guess I should try that then… will I be able to use pictures from my phone that way?

        • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 10:07 am

          I think I was under the impression that you HAVE to have a camera, but the thing is I am constantly capturing stuff on my phone because it’s always with me so I was hoping I can use those pictures also.

        • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 10:14 am

          You’d still have to email them to yourself and drop them into the post but it’s way easier than the backend of Wordpress.

  • Brittney November 20, 2013, 9:30 am

    This is awesome Caitlin! I need to do this for Allie when she’s a little older!

  • Kelly November 20, 2013, 9:40 am

    This is so cute!! I would totally be willing to try more new things if they were in fun designs, too! 🙂

  • Melissa November 20, 2013, 9:46 am

    I love this! Everything you created with the food is so cute and fun! It’s such a creative idea!

  • Sharon November 20, 2013, 9:50 am

    What great ideas!!  Our 9 month old eats most the same things we do (minus nuts and a few possible allergens).  We just pulled her up to the table close to the beginning, and let her take the lead.  I’ll serve her extra fruits and veggies with breakfast and lunch, otherwise she’s been eating what we eat (with her hands!) since about 7 months.  Thanks for the great ideas!!

  • Rebecca November 20, 2013, 9:53 am

    Oh my gosh. Those are adorable. Granted, the food combos seem a little funny to me on some of them (cheese and clementines? Hm.), but very creative!

  • Crystal November 20, 2013, 9:54 am

    I thought the click through feature was only going to be for giveaways.

    • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 9:56 am

      It’s for giveaways and reviews so people don’t have to read it if they don’t want to.

      • Maureen November 20, 2013, 10:10 am

        But with the disclaimer being at the very bottom of the post how is a (new) reader to know it was a giveaway or review? Shouldn’t that be posted at the very top so people are able to make that decision at the beginning BEFORE clicking to read more??

        • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 10:16 am

          The category is giveaways and reviews. It’s right under the title of the blog post. Maybe I’ll move the disclaimer to the top; this is just the way that I’ve usually done it. Thanks for the feedback!

          • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 10:32 am

            I’ve been reading your blog since the beginning of SeeBrideRun days, I think you do a great way of organizing it and I have never gotten confused. Thank you for all you do! Your posts are my favorite part of each morning!

          • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 10:39 am

            Thanks sweetie. You are too kind. I hope one day we get to meet in person!

          • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health November 20, 2013, 10:49 am

            🙂 I do too… if you ever come to the DC area we can def do a meet up 🙂 xoxo

      • Merry November 20, 2013, 4:27 pm

        I guess I don’t understand how this is a review though. The food pictures are really cute, but the giveaway/review label and click through confuses me. You mention Udi’s toast and Henry ate it. Just his defacto endorsement I guess ? 🙂

        • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 7:23 pm

          I guess it’s more of a sponsored conversation – I do one a month for Udi’s. Sometimes we talk about Udi’s, sometimes we don’t.

  • Eli's Mom November 20, 2013, 10:03 am

    You will love this lady. 🙂 http://instagram.com/leesamantha

  • Ami November 20, 2013, 10:28 am

    I am totally using this idea!! And your food inspirations.

  • Rachel Starr November 20, 2013, 10:38 am

    These are so cute! I wish I had the patience & time to do that for my kids bc I know they’d love it. Most mornings they wake up hangry so it’s a scramble just to get food in front of them so they stop whining! Maybe someday…

  • Janie November 20, 2013, 10:57 am

    SO cute. I’m totally stealing this idea when I have kids. xoxo

  • Julia H. November 20, 2013, 11:00 am

    Impressive! That actually reminds me a lot of an instagram I found recently by someone who does food art. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration! http://instagram.com/idafrosk

  • Jessica November 20, 2013, 11:04 am

    So cute! Good thing you are having as much fun making them as Henry is eating them! Just wait until you can pack lunches for preschool/school. Bento boxes are so cute!

    I’m having a much easier time feeding my kids right now. We’re living in India for 9 months (husband is doing research), and it is cultural norm for parents (or any adult) to hand-feed kids. It’s not acceptable in our culture, but my kids will eat pretty much anything when they are sitting in my lap and I am feeding them. I like it and they like it, but I have yet to reconcile what we’re going to do when we return to the US! 🙂

  • Marin November 20, 2013, 11:05 am

    I have been seeing these everywhere in 2013!! Tons of women I know are uploading ideas and photos of their kids food art to instagram. It is so fun to see

  • Abby November 20, 2013, 11:19 am

    Love this! I’m going to try some of these! Couple tricks I use….I cut the cucumbers up and say they are cucumber chips! Hmmm…something about chips and she gobbles it up! Another helpful thing is letting them see where the food comes from. We are part of a CSA and we go out to the farm and she picks peppers right from the field! She now says ” mom this from our CSA farm?” We also know where our meat comes from since her cousins raise the pigs. It’s more helpful for me too!

  • Rachel November 20, 2013, 11:37 am

    Wait, so does Henry actually eat food that he normally wouldn’t, just because it’s in the form of a picture? If that really works, I’ll definitely give it a try, but I’m a bit skeptical…..

    • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 11:37 am

      YES! It helps hold his attention! It’s really cool.

  • Nicole November 20, 2013, 11:45 am

    I would like you to make me the cat face snacks next time we hang out =^..^=

  • Joey November 20, 2013, 11:47 am

    You’re such a good mama always thinking of creative ways to keep Henry entertained and eating well. I hope if (when) I’m a mom, I can have the energy, creativity and enthusiasm you have!

  • Janelle November 20, 2013, 12:36 pm

    So adorable! I’m not sure I would have thought of this, but I’m logging it away for when I have kids.

  • Reenie November 20, 2013, 12:37 pm

    How cute and creative ~ ~ all of them. And my goodness… Henry looks so BIG in the last pic.

    =)

  • Avery @ YoungAspirations November 20, 2013, 1:27 pm

    How fun are those meals! I would probably eat anything too if it were in picture form. Henry is lucky to have a mom who’s willing to do those fun little things!

  • nancy November 20, 2013, 1:56 pm

    Would you come and make food pictures for my teenagers? Please?? They would LOVE this! If you don’t make house calls how about considering a spot on the blog where you catalog the unbelievably creative things you have done so that us less inspired moms can shamelessly copy them??

  • Ashley M. November 20, 2013, 2:45 pm

    CUTE.

  • Amy November 20, 2013, 3:49 pm

    LOVE these food pics! Def. pinning for inspiration when my little one starts eating more solids. Thanks for sharing.

  • Erin November 20, 2013, 4:23 pm

    These are adorable. Feeling inadequate as I let my 16 month old eat hummus right out of the tub yesterday….

    • April November 21, 2013, 9:49 am

      Oh, i SO do this too, no shame:)

  • Jen November 20, 2013, 4:27 pm

    When I was a kid, I ate a lot of PB & apple jelly sandwiches… my dad would always draw an apple tree into the jelly with the knife. Or he would make our initials as pancakes. It’s such a sweet, fun memory!

  • bridget November 20, 2013, 5:22 pm

    okay- im shocked your toddler will eat that! picture or not, thats just not realistic for my toddler…he would never ear spinach plain, hummus OR red pepper. He will eat sweet potatoes and more mainstream or blended things. anyone else out there have a picky toddler who wouldnt touch that dish?

    • Caitlin November 20, 2013, 7:21 pm

      i guess i just don’t give him other options really. so he’ll eat it if he’s hungry! sometimes he is hit or miss though.

  • Lori November 20, 2013, 5:36 pm

    I absolutely LOVE this!!! My son is five months old and I’m definitely going to try this out. You’re the best! THANKS!

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs November 20, 2013, 5:45 pm

    I love this! I don’t have any kids, but I kinda want to do this… maybe my husband will appreciate it? 😉

  • SuperCutePetContest November 20, 2013, 7:12 pm

    Ahhh! These are so adorable. You are so creative.

  • Sarah November 20, 2013, 8:22 pm

    Ok, I’ll totally try this because my kid hates (pretends to hate) veggies. He’ll happily slurp spinach smoothies and mashed cauliflower. I think it’s a total texture thing. I’ll try this tomorrow!

  • Kathy November 20, 2013, 10:00 pm

    Oh my, so adorable and creative…my Mom used to have a stamp for toast that pressed “have a nice day” into it but this is beyond, good for you!
    My friends have a blog all about this very thing…how to get kids to eat any and all foods…and they just published a cookbook. Check it out:
    http://www.sweetpotatochronicles.com

  • Sarahf November 21, 2013, 8:23 am

    I don’t have kids, but I’m thinking to make these for myself, to get more veggies in! These are amazing!

  • April November 21, 2013, 9:47 am

    OMG Caitlin you are a GENIUS with these food pics! Seriously i am trying one of these TONIGHT!!!! How long have you been making them?

  • maria November 21, 2013, 3:04 pm

    He is so cute and I love the way Maggie photo bombed the picture.

  • Amanda November 21, 2013, 6:43 pm

    That was very creative, I love it.
    weightsnipper.blogspot.co.uk

  • Danielle @ Green is the New Black November 21, 2013, 9:02 pm

    Love your food pictures, you’re very creative and I can see how a toddler would just love this! My tip would be to be persistent. My son is a relatively good eater, but he’s also a typical toddler in that sometimes he wants to push the limits. If he is not interested in eating what is offered to him, he is not given more choices, he knows that he needs to eat what he is given. If he chooses not to eat for one meal, he is more than fine!

  • Leah November 21, 2013, 9:45 pm

    I love your food faces for Henry! Adorable. I may have to try them myself someday. We just found out we are having a boy this April. We want to teach our kids to like lots of different foods especially fruits and veggies.
    p.s. Henry is looking so grown up these days and a lot like your hubby 🙂

    • Caitlin November 22, 2013, 12:50 pm

      Congrats!

  • Mika November 21, 2013, 11:32 pm

    This is brilliant. My 13 mo old is not a picky eater but a gorgeous presentation will definitely make meal time a lot more fun and focused. I hope your next book is called Healthy Toddler Tips. 🙂

  • Jasmine November 22, 2013, 11:26 am

    With all that free time you (don’t) have, you should start a blog with just food creations lol.

  • Heather November 23, 2013, 7:33 pm

    I am SO inspired by your uber creative food creations for Henry! My son is 13 months and we are struggling to get him to eat veggies. I am curious at what point (or if you ever had to) you stopped making Henry something other than what you were eating for dinner. Sometimes he eats what we do, but sometimes he totally refuses it and it’s SO hard not to serve him something else that I know he will eat. Also, it never occurred to me to boil bell peppers – great idea! Thank you!

    • Caitlin November 24, 2013, 1:36 pm

      If he’s straight out refusing to eat what I serve him, I don’t force him to eat. I ask him what he would want to eat and offer like, toast or peanut butter. He only does this like once or twice a week though.

  • Adrianna November 24, 2013, 8:26 pm

    obsessed with the food creations!!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 25, 2013, 10:02 pm

    Very creative! My mom used to make me snacks like that – I still remember them 🙂

  • Sheryl December 3, 2013, 6:57 pm

    You are mommy of the year! Seriously adorable!!

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