Why I Make Homemade Applesauce for my Kids

If you are a busy parent like me, you probably struggle with having healthy snack options available for the kids. Honestly, having packaged processed foods available while you’re out and about can be a lifesaver when the kids get hungry, and they’re easy and convenient. One of the things I used to buy all the time was the single serve applesauce food pouches. While the organic variety may be a slightly healthier alternative than other on-the-go packaged snacks, they leave a lot of waste for the environment, and the cost can add up. That’s why I decided to make homemade applesauce for my kids. You might not have thought about making your kids snacks, but it’s not as difficult as you might think and there are a number of benefits. Even if you don’t have time to do this regularly, you can start doing it once a month or every other month. A small step in the right direction is better than nothing, I always say. And when you start doing something healthy, you may just turn it into your next healthy habit!nnHigher Nutrition ContentnWhen I make applesauce, I steam the apples, along with the skins and the seeds. I also add spices like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon when blending. Many food processing companies boil the apples at extremely high temperatures. Some do not use the whole apple. And some add preservatives, artificial sugars, or flavors. When my kids eat my applesauce, they are eating the whole apple with no preservatives, no added sugar, and nothing artificial. As a general rule, food that is minimally processed and eaten close to the way nature made it is a healthier choice.nnSaves MoneynI am always looking for great money saving tips when it comes to eating healthy. When organic apples are on sale, I am all over it. Recently, I bought 8 3-pound bags of organic Fuji apples for $1.79 each! Unbelievable. So what did I do with most of these apples? I made homemade applesauce. This type of sale is not typical, but even at a higher price per pound for organic apples, I am still saving money.nnBetter for the EnvironmentnWhen my kids take lunches and snacks in reusable containers to school, there is little to no waste. Less plastic and trash is better for the environment and in turn, healthier for our bodies. You can also explain to your kids why we do this, and teach them to become more mindful of our planet and our resources, helping them develop healthier and more sustainable habits. Since I have started making homemade applesauce, I estimate that I have saved several hundreds of disposable food pouches and plastic caps from ending up in the landfills. You can put your kids homemade applesauce in reusable containers. One of my favorites are these reusable food pouches I bought from Amazon. When I make my batches of homemade applesauce, I place them in large glass jars, then transfer them to the reusable food pouches. You can also freeze the applesauce in these food pouches.nnMade with A Magic IngredientnThere is something that no machine or food processing company can do, and that is infuse it with mom’s (or dad’s) love. When you take the time to make food from scratch and reduce the processed food from your diet, you are putting a MAGIC ingredient that you cannot find on any nutrition label, and that is your LOVE. To make this MAGIC ingredient even more potent, be mindful during your food prep in the kitchen. Each time you make food for your family, truly feel with your heart how this food is nourishing your family, giving them strength, wisdom, gratitude, and all the values you want to instill in them. And when you feed it to your kids, tell them “This is made with Momma’s love.”nnMom Feels GoodnWhen my family eats homemade food and enjoys the labor of my love, I feel good. What a great way to impact every cell in my body with good feelings and good nutrition. I am happy that my kids are eating healthier food, that I can save money and still be healthy, that I am helping the environment, and that I am teaching my kids healthy habits with my actions. And when Mom feels good, the whole family can be happy!nnIf your kids have never had homemade applesauce before, here are some tips to help them transition to applesauce that might taste different than what they are used to:n

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1. Let them help you make it! Some kids love to be involved in the kitchen and they may enjoy it more when they put the effort into homemade food. My kids love to drink the “apple tea” the residual water left over from steaming the apples.

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2. Mix the store bought applesauce with the homemade version. This is a sort of weaning process that I use for just about everything. In the beginning, mix 90% store bought with 10% homemade. Then 80%/20%, 70%/30%, 60%/40%, etc. until eventually, they are eating all homemade applesauce (with the occasional on the go food pouches).

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3. Tell them that the applesauce has special powers. If your kid loves unicorns, call it “Unicorn Sauce”, or if they like ninjas, call it “Special Spinjitsu Sauce.” Be creative about it and have fun with it! They might even like it if it’s called “Dinosaur Barf!”

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nI do keep some disposable applesauce food pouches in my car for the emergency snack situations, but on a regular basis, when I can, I make applesauce for my kids.nnGet my recipe for homemade applesauce here. Want to learn more ways to get your family to eat health? Ask about my healthy cooking workshops! Great for busy parents and parents with picky eaters.