If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that my 19-month-old is an enthusiastic eater. There is almost nothing that he won’t devour, and he has likely tried all of the recipes that you find on this page, or in my pictures, at some point. Quinoa with harissa and chicken? Check. Thanksgiving leftover pie with stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, Brussels sprouts and gravy? Check, but only if served with a giant dollop of cranberry sauce.
His favourite vegetable is broccoli; he eats coconut shrimp, calamari and chicken enchiladas, and has even been known to swipe crostini from a plate, especially when it’s topped with fried halloumi. I have a few theories on why he’s such a great eater, ones that I’m still examining and testing, but I can confidently say that my boy loves a variety of food.
This pear and cranberry oatmeal creation is just one of the many dishes we make that elicits enthusiasm from him. I’ve been preparing it since he first started eating solid food, when I puréed it to a thin and barely spoonable consistency, and now that’s he’s older with almost a full set of teeth, he’s still eating it for breakfast regularly. These days I leave it chunkier and just mash the pears with the back of a fork, but you can also blitz it just a little for those babies who are somewhere in between the new eater stage and where we are today.
Good to Know: Many brands of dried cranberries contain added sugar. I prefer Made in Nature Organic Cranberries, which are sweetened with apple juice.
You’ll Need
- 2 small ripe pears, cored and chopped
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup water
Prep and Cook
- 1Combine pears, oats, cranberries, cinnamon and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the pears are tender and the oats softened.
- 2Place ingredients in a blender and blend until the mixture reaches your desired consistency. You may need to add a splash of water or milk for a smooth, thin puree. You can also make it chunky for older babies, or skip the blending and mash the pears with a fork for a toddler-friendly cereal.
- 3Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Tagged under: Baby food,cranberry,toddler meal,oatmeal,pear,toddler food,applesauce
Category: toddler-food
