10 Valentine’s recipe ideas for little ones

We love any excuse to shower our little ones with extra love and kisses. So we’ve rounded up 10 of the cutest, but easiest, recipe ideas this Valentine’s Day.

• Heart-Shaped Pancakes: Make heart-shaped pancakes using whole wheat flour or oat flour. You can use mashed bananas or applesauce instead of sugar for sweetness. Serve with a side of fruit puree or yogurt for dipping.
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie: Blend together frozen strawberries, banana, and a splash of milk or yogurt to create a delicious and nutritious smoothie. You can even add a touch of apple juice or apple puree for added sweetness, or if over one years old a drizzle of honey.
• Heart-Shaped Sandwiches: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to create sandwiches with fillings like cream cheese and strawberry slices, peanut butter and banana slices, or hummus and cucumber.
• Pink Hummus: Blend cooked beetroot with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and a touch of garlic to create a vibrant pink hummus. Serve with veggie sticks or whole grain crackers for dipping.
• Yogurt Parfait: Layer vanilla yogurt with diced strawberries and granola in small cups to create a festive parfait. You can also add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness if over one years old.

• Heart-Shaped Fruit Pizza: Spread a layer of yogurt or cream cheese on a whole grain tortilla or flatbread. Arrange slices of strawberries, blueberries and other favorite fruits in a heart shape on top.
• Heart-Shaped Quesadillas: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out tortillas and cheese slices. Fill the quesadillas with cheese and cooked chicken or beans, then cook until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crispy.
• Chocolate Banana Bites: Dip banana slices into melted chocolate and sprinkle with heart-shaped sprinkles or finely chopped nuts. Place them on a parchment-lined tray and freeze until the chocolate is set.
• Red Velvet Porridge: Cook porridge as usual, then stir in a tablespoon of cocoa powder and a small amount of red food coloring for a festive red velvet porridge. Top with sliced strawberries or raspberries.
• Fruit Skewers: Thread heart-shaped pieces of fruit such as strawberries, watermelon, and grapes onto wooden skewers for a fun and colorful treat.

These recipes are not only adorable and fun for Valentine’s Day but also nutritious and suitable for young children. Remember to consider any allergies or dietary restrictions when preparing these dishes. Enjoy celebrating with your little ones!