Snack time with amara
If there is one food my toddler ALWAYS go nuts for it is Amara’s Organic Smoothie Melts. As a feeding therapist and mom of 3, I have been serving them since my daughter was around 9 months and everyone from my 15month old to my 4.5 year old love them.
They are blended with veggies and fruits with no sugar added, simple whole ingredients, 100% organic ingredients, and contain no additives. They are “meltables” which mean they melt easily when mixed with saliva. Here’s how to serve:
When?
You can start serving around 9 months. Their size makes them perfect to practice pincer grasp skills. Melts are a great way to practice chewing when first introducing solids because they melt so fast. If you feel unsure about the size, cut them in half then serve bigger as you watch your child munch on them. Your child must have some “up and down” chewing skills in order to serve. Remember, teeth are not needed to chew solids. As a feeding therapist, I recommend you are serving solid foods with texture no later than 9 months to reduce chances of picky eating (preferably earlier). Amara also has blended puree foods like black beans and corn or oats and berries that contain amazing texture if you are looking for more mealtime foods- I love them too!
How?
These are such a versatile snack. I love to serve as a “trail mix” with foods containing fat or protein or with different textures for a complete sensory experience. You can also serve them with a meal. They are great to throw in the diaper bag for on-the-go snacking or at restaurants (they have saved us from hangry meltdowns out to eat many times).
Make sure you use this code EATTALKGROW for 20% off your package of Amara Smoothie Melts. Shop them here!
Amara Melts mixed with thin apple slices and mozzarella cheese as a snack for my 13 month old.
Want to level up your snacking and add some language expansion mixed in?
Instead of giving your child the entire snack, just give a few at a time. Snacks are very motivating, use this time to model signs (“more”, “eat”, “again”, “all done”) and words, provide pauses, and wait for attempts to request. Remember to keep it fun and use lots of repetition. Never withhold an object to the point of frustration while waiting for a communication attempt. Repetition helps build language connections.
Give them a try and let me know what you think! Don’t forget to use my code EATTALKGROW.
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