April Fools! New Ways of Incorporating Necessary Nutrients in your Child's Diet

Hi everyone! Welcome back to TheParentPartner! It's been a little while since I have had the opportunity to upload, but I am so glad to be back! This "April Fools" theme was meant for April, but I decided to stick with it as it relates to my ARFID podcast with Rachel Rivera.

Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, better known as ARFID, has impacted many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Children living with Autism are 5 times more likely to experience eating and feeding problems compared to children without Autism. As mentioned in the November podcast, ARFID and Autism: Conversation Surrounding The Physical, Social, and Psychological Implications of Feeding Disorder, this feeding disorder can impact the child's nutrition over time. We discussed the social implication of "expanding the palate," and how neurotypical viewpoints may overlook the fact that food trust and safety can really make a child's experience better, but I believe that in the case where your child's health is at risk, it may be time to switch it up and incorporate healthier foods in the diet, targeting certain nutrients to promote a strong body and healthy growth! Below are a few recipes I came up with to "sneak" in some healthy additives into your child's diet. Enjoy!

Crunchy Zucchini Chips

Crunchy Zucchini Chips Recipe

1 Zucchini

Olive or avocado oil

1 tbsp of table salt

1 Egg

1 cup of Panko Bread Crumbs

2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese

Instructions: 

• Slice the zucchini into thin rounds.

• Lay the slices on a napkin or paper towel, then place another napkin on top. Let them sit for at least 2 hours to absorb excess moisture.

• Once the slices are dry, prepare an egg wash by cracking one egg into a bowl and whisking it.

• In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of Panko bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.

• Dip each zucchini slice into the egg wash, ensuring both sides are coated, then press it into the Panko-Parmesan mixture to evenly coat.

• Place the coated slices onto a foil-lined air fryer tray or basket.

• Preheat the air fryer to 325°F.

• Once preheated, air fry the zucchini slices for 10–15 minutes or until they are lightly browned and crispy.

• Let cool slightly, then enjoy!

Alternative form of recipe with the oven: https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/zucchini-chips/

Chocolate Pancakes

Chocolate Pancakes Recipe: 

2/3 cups of pancake mix

1 egg

1/3 cup of oats (optional)

1/2 tsp of butter

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, add 2/3 cup of Kodiak Power Cakes mix.

2. Crack 1 egg into the bowl. If desired, add 1/3 cup of oats for fiber.

3. Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.

4. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add about 1/2 teaspoon of butter (or enough to lightly coat the surface).

5. Pour half of the batter into the pan to make the first of two medium-sized pancakes.

6. Once the edges begin to set and the underside is golden brown, use a spatula to carefully flip the pancake.

7. Cook the other side until it is golden brown and fully cooked.

8. Remove from the pan and place on a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Optional: Cut the pancake into fun shapes! You can use a cookie cutter for this, but for this video, I did not have any onhand and used just a regular knife. You can also put syrup and/or powdered sugar atop the pancakes to make them sweeter :)

Potato and Zucchini Hashbrowns