Healthy Toddler Comfort Food: Chicken Sopas

The worst thing ever is for our children to get sick.  If only we could take their place or take on even some of the pain.  But as reality goes, we can only do so much.  A lot of TLC (tender, loving care), proper monitoring, partnering with your pediatrician, and lots of rest can do wonders for a child feeling under the weather.

One of the first things that goes out the window when kids are sick is their appetite.  So we should make sure to prepare nutritious food that is also delicious to entice them to take in their much-needed nourishment.  Giving them comfort food is a way of showing them our love.

Growing up, we would always have Chicken Sopas whenever one of us caught a cold or had a fever. It’s a healthy toddler comfort food. Now I cook it whenever my daughter is not feeling well. It is a soup with meat, vegetables, milk, and pasta.  It’s a complete meal on its own. It’s delicious and nutritious, and very easy to prepare.  Its creamy soup base and diverse assortment will leave your toddler wanting more.

Chicken Sopas

Ingredients:

• ¼ kilo chicken breast
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1bell pepper, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1pack elbow macaroni
• 2 cups evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• fish sauce or rock salt
• pepper

Directions:

1. Boil the chicken breast in 2 cups of water.  Set aside the liquid when the chicken is done.
2. Shred the chicken breast.  Set aside.
3. In a cooking pot, sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil over medium heat.
4. Add in the carrots.  Give it a quick toss.
5. Then add the shredded chicken.
6. Add the bell pepper and stir for a few seconds.
7. Add in the elbow macaroni.  Give it a quick stir to incorporate all the ingredients well.
8. Quickly pour in the chicken broth and about 3 cups of water.
9. Let it simmer.
10. Pour in the milk. Stir gently.
11. Add the fish sauce or salt and pepper to taste.
12. Make sure the macaroni is cooked al dente before taking it out of the flame.

Enjoy this healthy toddler comfort food together and nurse your little one back to health.

Photo from flickr.com