To make this dish, you will sauté and chop some kale in a food processor. The kale is chopped so finely it doesn’t overwhelm the mouth with the same tough chewiness it would if it were just sautéed or steamed. Ingredients 1 pound whole wheat pasta macaroni, rotini, or other short chunky shape 4 tablespoon butter 3 tablespoon white whole wheat flour 2 cups whole. However, those who just don’t like the usual texture of greens may respond well to this. This is probably not likely to work for a pickier toddler who is wary of greens in general, because the kale is pretty loud and proud in here and the taste does come through. Chopped cherry tomatoes, peas + corn mix, squash or roasted peppers would work great. When serving to your toddler, you may want to add in a couple of their favorite veggie side dishes. If your toddler is learning to use their own silverware, try adding some shredded mozzarella to make this mac and cheese extra sticky – it will help them get it (and keep it) on the fork!

You might choose fusilli or penne for babies without a pincer grasp (to suck on and gum down) or small macaroni or mini shells for babies with their pincer grasp. Play around with pasta shapes depending on how well your baby can grasp and chew. The sauce has some extra chewy texture from the kale, but chopped finely enough to be manageable. Making Kale Mac & Cheese for Babies / Baby Led Weaningīabies who are moving up to table food and feeding themselves will love playing with (and hopefully eating some of) this kale mac and cheese. (Especially important for vegetarian tots!) … Or, why I am so obsessed with adding kale to baby and toddler food. Health Benefits of Kale for Babies, Toddlers + Kids Getting her to eat fruit and veggies takes a bit of work, but yes we do have these occasional slam dunks and that is why I share them so enthusiastically! This girl will not touch broccoli, carrots, peas or any whole fruit except bananas. This is not about “look how well my kid eats, look how much my kid likes vegetables”. We had mixed success with kale pesto, but this kale mac and cheese has been a hit. Incorporated into pasta sauces is one of them. My little tot is 21 months, and I don’t know if and when she will enter a phase where she’s weary of the color green, but for now, there are ways I have found to get her to eat her greens and love it. Kale, spinach, chard… frankly these are things that I wouldn’t touch until I was well into my 20’s. On a day to day basis, one of my biggest parenting wins is when I can get Odette to polish off a bowl of leafy greens. Kale is a super healthy food for children and this cheesy, comforting pasta is the perfect introduction to it! Perfect for baby led weaning and for babies and toddlers who are exploring new textures. A simple mac and cheese recipe for babies, toddlers and kids! This stovetop mac and cheese is mixed with finely chopped kale for additional texture and nutrition.

Best mac and cheese recipe for toddlers