Soups are Souper!: A Great Introduction for Toddlers

By Cheryl Tallman
www.FreshBaby.com

Soups are a terrific way to introduce your toddler to vegetables and fruits. There are many types of soups.  The best place to start with your toddler is with pureed soups.  They have a pleasing smooth texture.  If your child's "spoon" skills are not refined enough for soup, pour it in a cup and sip away.

Pureed soups, such as cream of asparagus may sound exotic, but they are quite simple to make. Even a novice in the kitchen can be successful. A hand held immersion blender is a good appliance to invest in for making pureed soups hassle-free.  This appliance is placed right into the soup pot, move it around, and viola – pureed soup!

Don’t overlook fruit soups.  They are sweet, healthy and refreshing. Most fruit soups require no cooking.  You simply put ingredients in a blender and whirl away. Fruits soups are a huge hit with toddlers.


Toddler Treat: Creamy Asparagus Soup
 
Teething toddler? Frozen, cooked asparagus spears make a soothing teether.

Even some of the pickiest of toddlers will eat their veggies when they are in soup. This soup is a creamy puree, so it if you child's "spoon" skills are not refined enough for soup, pour it in a cup and they can sip away. Always check the temperature of soup before serving it to small children.
 
Ingredients:
1 pound of asparagus, cleaned and chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp Herbs de Provence (optional)
1 cup milk (dairy or soy) OR 1 cup coconut milk
3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste
 
Instructions:
Over medium heat, add oil, celery, and onions to a large soup pot. Saute until soft. Add asparagus, potato, herbs de Provence, and soup stock. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes. Puree soup until smooth with a hand blender, food processor or blender. Stir in milk (dairy, soy or coconut). Salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
 
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months.
 

Create a Soup Bar

Create a “Soup Bar” to make it family fun! Prepare a simple soup recipe and spoon it into bowls or cups.  Line up a series of topping choices and let the kids sprinkle their own toppings on the soup! Here are some suggestions:
·        Thinly sliced green onions
·        Chopped cilantro
·        Cubes of avocado
·        Wedges of lemon or lime
·        Sour cream
·        Bacon bits
·        Diced Ham or chicken
·        Shredded cheese
·        Croutons or broiled cheese toasts


About the author:
Cheryl Tallman is the co-founder of Fresh Baby, creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit, available at many fine specialty stores, BabiesRUs.com, Target.com and national chains including Whole Foods Markets. Visit Cheryl online at www.FreshBaby.com for more delicious tips.