Leigh Ann Chatagnier : Sheet Pan Apricot Chicken

 Q + A

Tell me about yourself!

My name is Leigh Ann, author of Natural Baby and Toddler Treats, founder of MyDiaryofUs.com, a wife and a mama to Parks.  On My Diary of Us, you will find recipes that are stress free, made from scratch, and are really delicious for the whole family.  My goal and passion is to help you gain confidence in the kitchen and in feeding your family!

What do you love about this recipe, and how has it helped you with feeding your toddler?

My sheet pan apricot chicken and broccoli is a lifesaver any night of the week for any parent who needs to get a dinner on the table that kids and adults alike will love with little effort.  The sauce has a slight sweetness to it from the apricot jam that I use which instantly makes kids love it.  Because the broccoli is cooked right alongside the chicken, it also takes on the flavors of the delicious sauce leaving it irresistible to even the pickiest eaters.  My son loves this dish so much and always eats every bite when I make it.  I like to serve it as it or over some jasmine rice and there are rarely any leftovers!  I highly suggest making two batches to eat on for another meal during the week. 

What is your biggest tip when it comes to feeding a toddler?

In our house we only serve one meal for the family, so that means I don’t make a separate meal for my son even if I know that he might be hesitant to eat it.  But with that said, I always like to serve something he loves with whatever it is that I think he might not be familiar with etc.  This could mean serving his favorite fruit with a vegetable he doesn’t love to try and encourage him to not push his plate away. 

I also always tell him he doesn’t have to eat something that he says he doesn’t like, but that we aren’t going to take it off the plate.  This usually (notice I did say usually, but not always) results in him trying whatever he claimed he didn’t want on his plate. 

Lastly, I always recommend only putting a small amount of food on their plates so that they aren’t overwhelmed.  This may mean only putting one piece of broccoli or salmon at for the first few times of offering.  Exposure is key when feeding toddlers, so keep offering even if they aren’t eating it!  I promise they will come around one day.

What is your current eating challenge and how are you working to overcome it/how did you overcome it?

Luckily we are in a pretty good stage of eating right now as far as him eating most things I put on his plate. But that being said, we have been through many phases of selective eating.  I didn’t change my methods, I just kept offering what I made for dinner and if he didn’t eat it, he knew there were no snacks to eat after.  That is huge because if kids believe there is a yummy snack after dinner they aren’t motivated to eat what is in front of them.  Eventually my son came back around every single time. 

Even though we are in a good stage right now, I am sure we are not totally out of the woods for the curveballs that toddlers like to throw at us at mealtime!  That being said, again consistency is key so stay strong and remember you get to decide as the parent what gets served.  YOU are in control.

How do you keep your child entertained when prepping a meal?

He is a bit older now so he is pretty good at playing while I cook or likes to help me prep, but when he was younger I would set up some toys in the kitchen while I cooked or I would give him his own pots and pans to play with while I was cooking.  This helps to get them excited about being in the kitchen too! 

Dried beans and pasta are also great to get out with some measuring cups for kids to play with while you are making a meal!  I highly recommend having them in the kitchen with you and from about age 2 on, having them help you prep dinner because they are so much more likely to eat what they helped to cook!

Follow Leigh Ann at: @mydiaryofus