KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Hi,

I'm looking for ideas about simple vegetable dishes, especially for toddlers. I usually stir fry broccoli and spinach but find that she can't really chew them very well yet. (No molars) I'm not keen to continue purée .

Also what's the best way to store vegetables? I can only go marketing once a week and I find that the leafy vegetables last only about 2 days and even broccoli lasts maybe 5 days.

Thanks!

kylene wrote:Hi,

I'm looking for ideas about simple vegetable dishes, especially for toddlers. I usually stir fry broccoli and spinach but find that she can't really chew them very well yet. (No molars) I'm not keen to continue purée .

Also what's the best way to store vegetables? I can only go marketing once a week and I find that the leafy vegetables last only about 2 days and even broccoli lasts maybe 5 days.

Thanks!

When my kids were at that stage, I would cook the veg softer and then chop the veg small or snip with scissors.

Hi kylene,
You can try steaming the cut broccoli into smaller pieces.
The broccoli can be mashed if soft enough.

Forgot to respond about the storage of veg. I have no tips to share, but what I used to do when I shopped once a week was to buy a variety of veg and eat the more perishable ones first. So we would start with the leafy ones, move on to broccoli, then end the week with cabbage! When my kids were a bit older, they would know when I did the shopping by the veg on the table!

kylene wrote:Hi,

I'm looking for ideas about simple vegetable dishes, especially for toddlers. I usually stir fry broccoli and spinach but find that she can't really chew them very well yet. (No molars) I'm not keen to continue purée .

Also what's the best way to store vegetables? I can only go marketing once a week and I find that the leafy vegetables last only about 2 days and even broccoli lasts maybe 5 days.

Thanks!

I'll use my Happycall pan if I'm cooking broccoli. Find that's most efficient for me as the pan sort of pressure steam hard vegs v.well.

Spinach is soft but sometimes tend to be fibrous, rendering them difficult to chew & swallow.

I also do my marketing once a week. So far, the vegs I buy fm the wet mkt seem to keep better compared to those fm the supermarts. I'll make sure the vegs, esp the leafy ones, are dry ( else they'll 烂v.fast) before packing them in the "holey" kind of plastic bags, then wrapped in newpapers. Some veg sellers tell me the opposite, put the veg in the newspapers, then wrap with a plastic bag. Tried the latter & find the veg doesn't last as long.

slmkhoo wrote:Forgot to respond about the storage of veg. I have no tips to share, but what I used to do when I shopped once a week was to buy a variety of veg and eat the more perishable ones first. So we would start with the leafy ones, move on to broccoli, then end the week with cabbage! When my kids were a bit older, they would know when I did the shopping by the veg on the table!

Hi Slmkhoo,

Thanks for the tip! Ah, didn't think of cabbage, not something I cook usually. I assume it lasts longer than broccoli ?

Problem is that the leafy ones last like 2 days then by the 3rd day , it's broccoli and 5th day onwards, I usually use frozen peas .

Integer wrote: I'll use my Happycall pan if I'm cooking broccoli. Find that's most efficient for me as the pan sort of pressure steam hard vegs v.well.

Spinach is soft but sometimes tend to be fibrous, rendering them difficult to chew & swallow.

I also do my marketing once a week. So far, the vegs I buy fm the wet mkt seem to keep better compared to those fm the supermarts. I'll make sure the vegs, esp the leafy ones, are dry ( else they'll 烂v.fast) before packing them in the "holey" kind of plastic bags, then wrapped in newpapers. Some veg sellers tell me the opposite, put the veg in the newspapers, then wrap with a plastic bag. Tried the latter & find the veg doesn't last as long.

Hi Integer,

Yes I usually buy my veg from supermarkets , maybe tahrs why they don't last too long?

Will try your plastic bags with holes and newspaper method. Do you leave the vegetables out to dry or wipe them dry with paper towels?

kylene wrote:

Integer wrote: I'll use my Happycall pan if I'm cooking broccoli. Find that's most efficient for me as the pan sort of pressure steam hard vegs v.well.

Spinach is soft but sometimes tend to be fibrous, rendering them difficult to chew & swallow.

I also do my marketing once a week. So far, the vegs I buy fm the wet mkt seem to keep better compared to those fm the supermarts. I'll make sure the vegs, esp the leafy ones, are dry ( else they'll 烂v.fast) before packing them in the "holey" kind of plastic bags, then wrapped in newpapers. Some veg sellers tell me the opposite, put the veg in the newspapers, then wrap with a plastic bag. Tried the latter & find the veg doesn't last as long.

Hi Integer,

Yes I usually buy my veg from supermarkets , maybe tahrs why they don't last too long?

Will try your plastic bags with holes and newspaper method. Do you leave the vegetables out to dry or wipe them dry with paper towels?

Hi kylene,
I normally lay some newspapers somewhere like on top of my washing machine and let them air dry, both sides. If can see just a few leaves that's wet, I may just wipe them with paper towels.

I too leave my veges out to dry first.

I place them on a kitchen cloth.

Then will wrap them up in newspaper and label using a marker pen.

If I have space, will place my greens in a tupperwear box. They last the longest there.

I go to the market weekly or twice a week.

How old is your toddler Kylene?

If she has been on rough textured puree, you may have to gradually introduce 'solid' vege.

Perhaps if you can share your kiddo's age, then members can pitch in and share their experiences.