FromPickyToTasty: Back To Basics

This morning, I sat with my coffee and watched Ermias dig into his breakfast—and I couldn’t help but think: Why is eating so hard for toddlers sometimes?

They’re constantly on the move, full of energy, and ready to play, but their little bodies still need fuel. The thing is... they just don’t know it yet. At this age, kids aren’t always aware of their needs. They’re driven by exploration, not hunger cues.

What’s on Ermias’s Plate This Morning:

• Greek yogurt with cut & smashed strawberries

• Grapes

• Little orange slices

• Veggie Cheerios

• Half a bottle of Ensure (just in case!)

Now, I don’t give him Ensure all the time—whole foods are always my first choice. But I do what I need to, especially on mornings when I’m unsure how much he’ll eat.

He’s used to flavored yogurts like Yoplait or the store-brand kind, which are full of added sugar. In all fairness, I should’ve started with Greek yogurt from the jump. But you know what? I’m fixing it now. And that matters.

My Toddler-Friendly Blended Yogurt Recipe

Here’s the plan for his next yogurt blend—something smooth, sweet, and colorful that still packs in the nutrition:

✨ Blended Greek Yogurt (Kid-Approved!)

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt

• 2 tablespoons sweet potatoes or carrots (steamed and blended)

• A squirt of maple syrup or honey

• A couple of maraschino cherries for color (optional)

• A splash of milk until you reach the texture you like

• Add vanilla, cinnamon, or both!

You can blend it all together until smooth and serve it chilled. Presentation matters to Ermias—then texture—then taste. So we’re leaning into those needs instead of fighting them.

Let Them Explore (Even if It Gets Messy)

Right now, he’s at least touching his yogurt. Playing in it. Smearing it. And I’ve learned that touch is a big part of how he learns. It’s like going back to when he first started solids.

Yes, it’s messy. No, I don’t love cleaning yogurt off every surface. But we’re retraining picky habits by letting him reconnect with food in the most natural way possible—through curiosity and play.

If you’re in this phase too, give yourself grace. Some days you’ll have the patience to let them make a mess. Other days you won’t. That’s okay.

What matters is that we’re trying, learning, and loving our kids through it. One sticky spoon at a time.

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So here’s to the journey from picky to tasty. Stay tuned for more updates—and let those babies squish their food! 💛