When it comes to fruit, my 4-year-old is one picky kid. And with the foods we already avoid because of his food allergies, this can be very limiting, to say the least.

He loves bananas. LOVES them. Especially sliced into rounds and drizzled with a little honey. Applesauce comes in a close second. (Not actual apples, mind you. Just applesauce.) And he likes strawberry jelly, though that doesn’t exactly count as a fruit, does it? Other than these, it’s nearly impossible to get him to swallow a grape, raisin, peach, watermelon or any other fruit.

We recently discovered a product that is available under many names, but it’s basically squeezable applesauce with other fruits mixed in. It’s natural, unsweetened, organic…and expensive! So I figured out how to make it at home with fruit that I already have on hand. So far, he has liked all of the combinations, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this trend continues. Here’s how we do it:

In your blender, make a puree of two fruits of your choice until it’s smooth, then mix in a couple of spoons of the puree into a bowl of applesauce! I have found that thawed or fresh fruit is easier to puree than frozen, at least in my blender, and I sometimes have to add a dash of apple juice to get the right consistency. You want it smooth but not too liquid (though, if you go too far, it shouldn’t be a problem.)

Put 1/2 a banana and 5 strawberries (or 1/4 cup blueberries) in the blender until they make a smooth puree. Then mix 2 Tbp of the puree with 1/2 cup of applesauce, and voila! Applesauce with a twist. Then just store the left over puree in the fridge until the next applesauce treat and mix it in at that time.

And just think about the extra nutrients and fiber that you’re sneaking in to their little tummies! I love it when a plan comes together. Hope your little ones love it, too!