7 Tasty ‘Real’ Pureed Food Recipes Kids Love – Quick n’ Easy | Intensive Therapy for Kids (2024)

Do you need some quick n’ easy kid-friendly ideas for pureed food recipes?

These recipes are a go-to for many parents and therapists for kids who experience swallowing issues, the inability to chew, or severe food sensitivity.

You want to make sure your child is eating ‘real’ foods.

It’s important to know they are getting the calories and nutrients they need to grow and develop.

These recipes work for kids ready to eat solid foods or thicker consistency foods (around 6 months and up).

With that said, here are 7 tasty pureed food recipes to try out!

Be sure to stick around for your BONUS calorie-boosting pureed foods list. 🙂

Sweet n’ Salty PB&J

PB&J is a food staple the majority of kids love!

Plus, it’s super easy and quick to whip up.

What You Need

• 1 banana or 1 cup of torn bread pieces or smashed up crackers
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup of berries or jelly
• 1/2 cup of milk or almond milk

Directions

Put all ingredients into a great puree blender and whip it up to a consistency that works for your child.

Meal Health Benefits

Protein, Fiber, Healthy Fats

Takeaway tip: You will need a blender that can puree solid foods. Vitamix’s work really well but can be pricey. The UNC Pediatric Feeding Team shares, “Parents often ask us whether they need to buy the more expensive blenders to make effective purees. Our parents have given us great feedback and have found this not to be true. In fact, the primary inpatient intensive feeding program we often work with typically uses the Immersion Blender which is the least expensive option.”

►► View Now: Our Recommended Immersion Blender ◄◄

Healthy Chicken Noodle Soup

If your child is under the weather, this is a great pureed dish to whip up.

Not only is this a comfort food but it’s loaded with nutrients.

What You Need

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup cooked carrots
• 1 cup cooked celery (chop 2 stalks, sautee on the stove on medium heat for 5 minutes or until soft)
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 to 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup of cooked noodles of your choice
• Optional: Add a dash of spices to your liking (onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley)

Directions

Combine all ingredients into a blender and you’re ready to enjoy.

Meal Health Benefits

Protein, Fiber, Amino Acids (including immune-boosting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients)

Taco Lover’s Layered Taco

Does your child like corn, rice, refried beans, or cheese?

If you answered yes, hello taco heaven!

Nonetheless, this recipe is kid-approved.

What You Need

• 1/2 cup corn, grits, or rice (your choice), pureed
• 1/2 cup refried beans or 2 spoonfuls of ground beef taco meat (your choice), pureed
• 1 to 2 tablespoons creamy cheese sauce
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1/4 cup salsa (to thicken, you can use tomato paste), pureed
• Optional: 1/2 cup avocado pureed or other veggies of your choice

Directions

Prep each ingredient separately and then layer to blend.

Meal Health Benefits

Protein, Fiber, Calcium, Healthy Fats

Takeaway Tip: If you decide to add pureed taco meat, I would suggest using 2 spoonfuls to taste as it can be somewhat of an intense flavor. The great news is the beef puree is loaded with tons of nutrients your kiddo needs like protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B.

Ultimate Creamy Vegetable Soup

Do you have a picky eater?

Soups are a GREAT way to hide pureed veggies for those hard-to-please eaters.

The sky is the limit with the veggie combination you want to create.

What You Need

• 1 onion
• 1 bag or 1 pound of baby carrots
• 4 celery sticks
• 3 cooked potatoes (if bigger) or 6 potatoes (if smaller)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
• 3 cups of vegetable stock or chicken stock
• 1/2 cup of cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk
• Dash of salt
• Optional: You may substitute sweet potatoes for regular potatoes, add a handful of spinach, and spices (fresh thyme, garlic, oregano)

Directions

Puree all ingredients together and pour into a pot, bring to medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes to warm up.

Meal Health Benefits

Protein, Fiber, Vitamins, Potassium (if using regular potatoes), Antioxidants (if using sweet potatoes)

Takeaway tip: Prep your potatoes ahead of time. Peel, cut into large cube sizes, and then boil them for 15-20 minutes. If a fork pokes easily through then your potatoes are thoroughly cooked.

Classic Mac n’ Cheese

A classic food favorite among many kids.

This recipe is so simple.

Follow the directions step-by-step on the macaroni box and you are set.

What You Need

• 1 box of cooked Annie’s Classic Cheddar and Cheese
• 1 cup of warm milk

Directions

How to cook the Mac n’ Cheese

• Boil 6 cups of water in a medium saucepan
• Stir in pasta, bring to a boil
• Cook 6-8 minutes, or until done, stirring occasionally
• Drain pasta in a colander
• While pasta is draining add 1/4 cup milk, 2 tablespoons salted butter to the warm saucepan and then sprinkle cheese over the milk and stir to combine the ingredients
• Add the cooked pasta back to the saucepan and stir well

How to puree the Mac n’ Cheese

After your mac and cheese are cooked, pour it into a blender and add 1 cup of warm milk.

Meal Health Benefits

Calcium, Protein, Fiber

Takeaway tip: I prefer Annie’s Mac and Cheese because it is an option with fewer preservatives and chemicals if you’re looking to go that route, but any box of mac and cheese will do the trick!

Tasty Pizza

Did we just say the ‘magical’ word most kids go nuts over?

PIZZA.

Yes, it is possible to puree this classic Italian dish, and super easy to do.

Get ready for your child to enjoy those family pizza nights right along with you!

What You Need

• 1 slice of pizza
• 1 cup of warm milk

Directions

Cut the pizza into smaller chunks, put it in the blender, and then add 1 cup of warm milk (or the amount of liquid for the desired consistency).

Meal Health Benefits

Protein, Calcium, Lycopene (a powerful antioxidant ingredient in pizza sauce that helps the heart, blood vessels, skin, and bones)

Takeaway Tip: Be prepared the pureed pizza may not look appetizing after you blend it. BUT trust me, it will taste just like the real thing.

The Perfect Yogurt Parfait

A little sweet with a punch of protein is what this recipe offers.

Customize it by incorporating your child’s favorite fruit.

If they don’t have a go-to fruit yet, here are some ideas to try.

What You Need

• 6oz of vanilla or plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup of fruit, your choice (blueberry, cherry, orange, pineapple, raspberry)
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey to add a hint of sweetness

Directions

Pour the ingredients into a blender to mix up and you’re ready to serve.

Meal Health Benefits

Calcium, Protein, Vitamins, Probiotic (meaning it’s great for the gut)

Takeaway Tip: If your kiddo likes pumpkin pie, add 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin puree as your fruit with a splash of maple syrup.

Calorie Boosting Pureed Foods List (Bonus!)

If your child is on a pureed food diet, you may be wondering how do I get them to gain weight?

Yes, there is a way!

These key foods below beef up your child’s purees so they are consuming more calories per ounce of food.

Sharon Wallace, RD, CSP, LDN at the University of North Carolina recommends these nutritious protein-rich foods to add to your child’s pureed food diet:

Takeaway tip: It’s best to speak with your pediatrician or feeding therapist (if your child has one) about increasing calories.

My Nephew, Lenny’s, Pureed Food Experience…

My nephew, Lenny, who has cerebral palsy worked with a feeding therapist during the first several years of his life.

My sister and brother-in-law resorted to all sorts of pureed food options during that time.

One of the best pieces of advice they received from Lenny’s feeding therapist was to include himin the meals they were eating too.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you name it, they fed it to him and pureed it with liquid for their desired consistency.

VOILA, he received the same nutrients as he would have gotten eating the exact meal.

Plus, it was an inclusive bonding experience they all enjoyed together.

If your child experiences limited hand mobility, adaptive eating utensils are a solution to help them eat easier during mealtime. Click here for our recommended adaptive eating aids.

Thank You!

We want to wrap up by extending our gratitude to thank you for stopping by today!

What other pureed food recipes do you recommend?

Let us know in the comments below. ♥

Was this information helpful? If so, you’d make our day by sharing it! 🙂

About the Author

Lindsey is the co-founder ofThe LENN Foundationand content creator of theIntensive Therapy for Kidsblog.

When she isn’t busy playing Godzilla with her son or chasing around her mischievous Rottweiler pup, she loves creating experiences and memories with her loved ones (traveling, watching a good flick, trying new n’ yummy restaurants). Speaking of restaurants, one of her favs is Taco Bell!

Most of all, she is grateful for her supportive circle of family, friends, and to live out her passion for helping kids with Cerebral Palsy (like hersweet nephew Lenny).

If you’re curious about The LENN Foundation, you may see thekids’ helped and feel-good content here. ♥

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