Passover can be a challenge for feeding finicky eaters. I have an four year old who once upon a time ate everything in sight (as his eighteen month old brother does now), but now he is very set on things he likes and does not like. He insists that he only likes rice, pasta, cake (things we don’t eat on Passover) so I was wondering how on Earth I would he would manage on a holiday during which we don’t eat any leavened food.
It is an additional custom (or stringency) that my family also refrains from processed foods on Passover because we are concerned about the possibility that crumbs might have gotten into the food at the factory. This is a custom adopted by Lubavitch (and I think some other) Chassidim. It certainly adds a new dimension to home cooking!
I was very happy to discover my oldest, Schneor, is enjoying Passover, even the food. We are fortunate that he loved matzah. Most kids like matzah, I think. I don’t know whether it is the crunchiness, the interesting shape, or the fact that he went to bakery and saw it made by hand. In any case, both boys sit and chew it into interesting designs.
Latkes are usually associated with Chanukah, but we love latkes as a Passover treat. All you need is grated potatoes (about 6, then squeeze out the water), 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons of oil, a bit of salt and oil for frying. Shape into patties and fry them up. I also enjoy making ice pops out of juice, frozen banana coated with nuts or pudding pops (I can make pudding on the stovetop).
Some kids really love sweet potato pie. A nice crust can be made from ground nuts combined with stiff egg whites. Coat the bottom of the pan, and then add a filling of boiled sweet potatoes, sugar and oil. Bake like you would a cake.
There are many more ideas of great homemade food for Passover. Of course, chicken soup and pot roasts are also favorites, at least for my husband and my baby. My Schneor seems to be a budding vegetarian, and passes on the meat, but he loves the mashed potatoes on the side.