Getting Creative with Dinner
Tonight, I decided to break out the blender and get a little creative with dinner. I wanted to add some extra nutrition to Ermias’ favorite meal—mac and cheese—so I blended about three tablespoons of dark red kidney beans and two or three tablespoons of green beans. To give it a cheesy boost, I added nutritional yeast (basically as much as I thought was necessary).
I cooked up a boxed mac and cheese as usual, drained the noodles, and stirred in my blended mix along with the cheese packet. To make sure I didn’t waste any of the mixture, I added a little milk to the blender, shook it up to get all the bits stuck to the sides, and poured that into the pot. Then, I melted in some shredded cheese (as much as I wanted) and mixed everything together really well.
The result? A creamy, veggie-packed mac and cheese! But… there was one little problem.
The Visual Eater Strikes Again
I noticed it dried up quickly and didn’t look as cheesy as my son likes. Ermias won’t eat dry mac and cheese—he only likes it if it looks creamy and cheesy.
As soon as I put the bowl in front of Ermias, I could tell from his face that he was not impressed. I even offered him some canned tropical fruit and his favorite shrimp chips to go with it, but I could see what the real issue was—he wasn’t a fan of the green tint. My boy is definitely a visual eater!
A Strategy for Expanding His Palate
Boxed mac and cheese is something I know he will eat, so my strategy for breaking him out of his shell with food means upping the game on boxed mac and cheese first before slowly expanding his palate. If I can get him used to small changes in something familiar, it’ll be easier to introduce new foods over time.
I watched him closely, hoping he’d take a bite, but it was clear he wasn’t going to touch it. Taste-wise? It was actually really good! If I could get Ermias to eat it, it would be a total game-changer. That’s why I’m not giving up. I know that little adjustments can make all the difference, and I’m determined to keep experimenting with his food until I find what works.
Note to self: use orange vegetables next time! Carrots, butternut squash, or sweet potatoes might blend in better with the cheesy color and make it more appealing to him.
Feeding with Patience and Trust
Since he didn’t eat his mac and cheese, I made sure to give him some yogurt to fill him up. If you ever have to make changes like this for your child, that’s totally okay! A full belly and a happy child are the main goals. We can get their nutrients in with time, patience, and some serious sneakiness.
That said, I usually tell Ermias exactly what he’s getting, even if he doesn’t fully understand yet. I believe being honest about what he eats helps build trust—not just between us, but also in his relationship with food. The best way to encourage healthy eating habits is to make food a positive experience. Try not to force it. Pressuring a child to eat something they don’t want will only make them resist more and slowly break down the trust you’ve worked so hard to build.
Using What We Have & Looking Ahead
Also, I want to remind everyone that I’m using up what we already have on hand to make meals, so nothing goes to waste. A future grocery haul will be happening soon, mainly for some fresh items, but we have plenty of pantry staples at home to create meals for quite a while.
Have you ever had to tweak a recipe to make it more appealing to a little one? Let me know in the comments!
What Happened Next?
Ermias absolutely loves his mac and cheese, but I decided to tweak the recipe a bit. This time, peas made an appearance, and well… let’s just say he noticed. 😂 CHECK IT OUT HERE!
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