Blog Archives

9 Letter "B" Activities Featuring Veggies

2/25/2018

We hope your enjoy these 9 fun and interactive activities and recipes that teach your preschool-aged kids about the letter "B" (and that veggies are fun and tasty!).

1. Read Books!

Enjoy our recommended "B" books featuring veggies and fruit (and honey!):

"The Beeman" by Laura Krebs and Valerie Cis
"Beans on Toast" by Paul Dowling
"Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert
"Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli" by Barbara Jean Hicks
"There's Broccoli in my Ice Cream!" by Emily MacKenzie
"The Lima Bean Monster" by Dan Yaccarino

2. Paint with Broccoli

Simply dip broccoli florets in washable paint and use them as "paintbrushes" and/or slice broccoli florets in half to make "tree stamps". So simple and so fun!

3. Letter "B" Tracing

Download this FREE letter "B" tracing sheet from Veggie Buds Club.

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4. Bake Some Beet Brownies!

5. Letter "B" Coloring Pages

Download these FREE letter "B" coloring pages from Veggie Buds Club.

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6. Bake Some Broccoli Nuggets

Enjoy this delicious kid-approved recipe from Veggie Buds Club and Happy Kids Kitchen. You can find the recipe here!

7. Make Beet Watercolor

Materials Needed

1 small red beet
Salt
White vinegar
Paper
Paintbrush

Instructions

Peel beet and cut into cubes.
Place the cubed beet and 1 cup of water in a pot.
Bring the pot of water to a boil on the stove top and boil until the beet cubes are soft and the water is a rich red color (approximately 15-20 minutes); remove beet cubes and set aside to eat at a later time.
Mix a pinch of salt and splash of vinegar into the hot water (the salt will act as a preservative and the vinegar will brighten the color).
Pour the beet watercolor into a bowl and let cool.
Now have fun painting pictures with your homemade beet watercolor!

8. Broccoli Activity Sheets

Have fun with these broccoli activity sheets! Create the letter "B" by using dot stickers or dot paint with Activity Sheet #1. Fill in the letter "B" with broccoli florets with Activity Sheet #2 (bonus if you have a laminator!).

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9. Play Bean Tic Tac Toe

Make a Tic Tac Toe board out of green beans and use two different types of dry beans as the X's and O's! You can also go a step further and create the letter "B" with dry beans and greens beans. Be sure to eat some green beans as a snack while you play!

Want your kids to eat more veggies?

Check out our shop for interactive and fun products that teach kids that veggies are fun and tasty! In our shop you can find kid-safe knives, interactive placements, veggie-themed activity boxes, and more!

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Superfood Spinach Pesto

2/17/2018

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This pesto packs a ton of spinach power into a single spoonful. Kids will love smashing the garlic clove, adding ingredients to the food processor, and pushing the buttons to grind the pesto.

This recipe was developed by Heather Staller, a mom of two boys, ages 5 and 3, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

Superfood Spinach Pesto

Ingredients

3 packed cups baby spinach (about 3 ounces)
1/4 cup raw walnut pieces (or any nut you like or substitute additional pumpkin seeds for a nut-free pesto)
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 small garlic clove, peeled and smashed
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon honey (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
1/3 cup olive oil or avocado oil

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a food processor.
Pulse mixture until finely chopped then process until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl one or two times.
Taste for seasoning and add more salt or lemon juice as needed.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or freeze in small portions for up to 3 months.

Here are some ways to use pesto!

Stir into cooked pasta
Use as a base for pizza
Spread on a sandwich or grilled cheese
Thin with additional oil and use as a dressing or dip for veggies
Marinate chicken then roast or grill
Toss with roasted veggies or cooked potatoes
Stir into soup or tomato sauce for an extra flavor boost

Want some great products that teach kids to learn to love veggies?
Check out our shop for kid-safe knives, interactive placements, and veggie-themed activity boxes!

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Superhero Smoothie

2/13/2018

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We are happy to welcome Noelle Martin as our guest blogger this week! You are sure to fall in love with her Superhero Smoothie featuring spinach, Veggie Buds Club's veggie of the month!

Noelle Martin is a Registered Dietitian and mom of three young boys. She has a passion for educating, inspiring, and empowering moms to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. Noelle loves involving her children in food planning and preparation for their home and sees the kitchen as a perfect area for teaching both academic and life skills. Follow @MotherhoodandMeals on Instagram for Noelle's nutrition tips, recipes, product reviews, and motherhood moments.

Spinach is a powerhouse food that is packed with nutrients and phytochemicals. A wonderful way to add spinach to a child’s (or adult’s) diet is through adding it to smoothies. This recipe is called “superhero smoothie” because just as superheroes in stories fight crime, the spinach in this smoothie helps fight off illness! Smoothies also provide a wonderful opportunity to have your children help you. Having kids in the kitchen is a wonderful way to teach about food as well as academic and life skills. As they add the ingredients you can have conversations about the colour and texture of the various foods, count them as you add foods in, and for many recipes there are times of taking turns and following instructions. Also, children who help prepare foods are more likely to eat them. So it is a win-win!!! So now, onto the recipe! Perhaps you want to pair it with berry-filled pancakes for a delicious heart-healthy meal.

Superhero Smoothie

Ingredients

1.5-2 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
2 handfuls of baby spinach
1 banana
1/2 cup Key Lime Yogurt (or vanilla yogurt with a squeeze of Key Lime juice)
Optional: a few pitted dates or a drizzle of agave or honey for a little extra sweetness
2-3 ice cubes

Instructions

Blend all ingredients together in a high powered blender and serve with a fun straw!

Note: if you would prefer to make this a smoothie bowl you can use less liquid and too it with hemp hearts, chia seeds, and/or homemade granola!

Want some great products that teach kids to learn to love veggies?
Check out our shop for kid-safe knives, interactive placements, and veggie-themed activity boxes!

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Green French Toast Sticks

2/7/2018

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This month's featured veggie here at Veggie Buds Club is spinach! Enjoy this delicious kid-friendly way to "sneak" in some spinach (just in time for Valentine's day!) from Happy Kids Kitchen. Little chefs will know that greens are in this fun breakfast, but they sure won't be able to taste them. Maybe this is the dish to turn your spinach skeptic into a green lover?

Heather is a mom of two boys, ages 5 and 3, and cooking instructor specializing in bringing cooking into preschool classrooms. After college, Heather knew she wanted to be a teacher, but first followed her lifelong dream of going to culinary school. Teaching cooking combines both of her passions, and she truly enjoys introducing young children to the joys of cooking with fresh ingredients. Find Heather on Instagram (@heather.happykidskitchen), where she shares inventive kid-friendly recipes and ideas for cooking with kids at home.

Green French Toast Sticks

Ingredients

4 to 5 slices whole grain bread (or any bread you like)
Coconut oil or non-stick spray
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 packed cup baby spinach
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and grease with coconut oil or spray with non-stick spray.
Cut each slice of bread into three sticks and set aside.
Add eggs, milk, spinach, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla to a blender. Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and no bits of spinach remain. Pour the spinach-egg mixture into a shallow baking dish or large bowl.
Working with two or three pieces at a time, dip the bread into the egg mixture, allowing the bread to soak up the liquid for at least 10-15 seconds per side (have a towel nearby to wipe off little hands!). Once both sides of the bread have been dipped, allow excess to drip off then place bread on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining bread pieces.
Bake until bread is lightly browned and crunchy on the outside, about 14-16 minutes. Serve with maple syrup for dipping, if desired. Freeze any leftovers in a single layer until solid then place in a container or freezer bag for up to a month. Reheat in a toaster or oven at 375 degrees until warmed through, about 10 minutes.