We used to sell at the East Chase Farmers Market in Montgomery, and one of my favorite things about that market was the conversations. People would stop at the table, pick up a bag of moringa powder, and ask what on earth they were supposed to do with it.

Most of the time I'd talk about smoothies, or stirring it into soup. But one woman stopped me cold. She had a toddler on her hip and she said, matter-of-fact, that she'd been mixing it into applesauce.

Green applesauce.

Her little one wouldn't touch anything green. Wouldn't go near it. But applesauce was safe territory, and once she stirred in a small pinch of moringa powder, the whole thing turned this bright green color. She leaned into it. Told her kid it was Dr. Seuss food. Green eggs and ham, green applesauce, the whole story. Kid ate every bite.

I've thought about that woman a hundred times since.

Moringa powder has a mild flavor, a little grassy, a little green, nothing sharp or bitter the way some supplements are. A small amount disappears into applesauce almost completely. The color is the giveaway, and apparently that can work in your favor if you've got a toddler who thinks green food is an adventure instead of a threat.

We use unsweetened applesauce at our house. A pinch of moringa powder, maybe a quarter teaspoon to start, stirred in well. That's it. You can add a little cinnamon if you want to soften the green flavor further, though most kids don't notice it either way.

A few things worth saying plainly: moringa is a food, not a medicine, and a small amount goes a long way for a little one. Start with less than you think you need. If your child has any health conditions or you have questions about adding it to their diet, ask your pediatrician first. That's what they're there for.

But for a healthy toddler with a mom who's trying to get some nutrition into the rotation without a fight at the table? Green applesauce might be your answer.

That woman at East Chase figured it out on her own. We just grew the moringa.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.