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I recently sponsored a contest through a friend’s e-newsletter called The Scramble. We asked parents to submit their baby or toddler’s favorite homemade, healthy recipe and the winner would receive a Baby or Toddler Bistro Box. I am still receiving submissions but loved this one and had to share! As a nutritionist, I love this recipe because the vitamin C in the mango and tomato sauce enhance our ability to absorb of the non-meat form of iron in the beans and pita. Iron is very important for toddlers and generally more difficult for them to get from their diet as they transition from breast milk or formula to table foods around the age of one. This recipe would be fun to create with older children as well, and arrange the pita pieces into shapes such as a caterpillar.

I invite parents to add a comment with their children’s favorite recipes too!

Mango & Black Bean Pizzas

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed, drained, and mashed
• 1 ripe mango, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups lowfat cheddar cheese
• 4 whole wheat greek-style pocketless pitas

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Spray a baking sheet with oil.
3. Place pitas on baking sheet.
4. Spread the mashed beans over the pitas.
5. Spread the tomato sauce on top of the beans. (1/4 cup sauce per pita)
6. Sprinkle the cheese on top. (1/2 cup cheese per pita)
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 mintes (or until cheese is lightly browned & bubbly)
8. Remove from the oven and arrange mango cubes on top of the pizzas.
9. Cut into little pieces for your toddler to enjoy!