Taming the toddler at mealtime

If your toddler is anything like mine, their eating habits change constantly. One day she eats 3 meals and 2 snacks a day without protest, and the next she wants nothing but crackers at lunch time and a cup of milk for dinner. I've conceded to the fact that at 2 years old, she is pretty much in charge of her own eating habits, BUT it's my job to offer her healthy options in reasonable portions throughout the day. I get bonus points if I manage to make it fun! Hahaha!

Finding foods that are fun and healthy can often be a challenge for busy moms. It's not the end of the world if your kid eats a hot dog once a week (gasp!), or chicken nuggets, or spaghettios even. When that becomes the habit everyday is when it becomes not only a health issue, but a development  issue. Your young child needs a variety of foods for good health, but they also need exposure to variety to continue healthy habits as they get older.
So what should you do to get a decent meal into that picky toddler?

1. Offer different foods in different ways.

I buy most of my fruits and vegetables from the fresh produce department. This gives me the freedom to prepare them in any way I choose. If I offer my 2 year old fresh blueberries, she pops one in her mouth, and immediately gags and drools a blue mess down her new shirt, I don't assume she hates blueberries. Maybe she doesn't like the texture or the skin was a bit bitter. Next time I can put them in a pan with some honey or sugar and make a compote to top her pancake or waffle at breakfast or add them to a batch of applesauce muffins. My daughter happens to LOVE eating fresh blueberries that have been frozen (the store bought frozen berries tend to have a tough skin). She calls them "popsicle berries." Fun to eat with a fun name!
I've heard many moms talk about grating carrots and adding them to all kinds of foods for an extra veggie boost. Put them in spaghetti sauce (or spaghettios if you must, lol), macaroni, soups, ramen, even ketchup!

Get creative, search for recipes, try out your own ideas, but don't ever stop TRYING to offer healthy foods because the child has rejected it once. Kids' tastes can change from day to day.

2. Make it a fun activity!

As adults we want to sit down at a table with a plate of food, untensils, a napkin, and a cold drink to enjoy a meal. Kids, especially toddlers, find this to be the most incredibly boring way to get nourishment. Mix up the routine at mealtimes, and you'll find your little one consuming a lot more on average than when they are forced to sit and mind their manners. Here are a few ways we keep it lively:

-Offer fun plates and utensils.

-Give them a few choices. 1-3 options is optimal for youngsters.

-Serve lots of finger foods.

-Have them plate their own food so they can choose the portion size. 

-Let them help prepare the meal to get them interested in the food.

-Make a pallet and have a picnic in front of the T.V.

-Take your pallet outside, and have a real picnic in the yard!

-pack up lunch on the go on busy days, and let them eat in the car or where ever.

My 2 year old is enjoying a sliced up turkey dog, raw carrots with ranch dip, red grapes, cheese cubes, cheetos, and cold water in her Hello Kitty travel cup. 

3. Always give them at least one dish you know they will eat.

When a toddler sees a familiar item it makes them feel comfortable. When you hand them a plate of food that is totally foreign to then they are likely to turn up their nose and run. 

4. Keep it separated.

When we think of meals like tacos, nachos, salad, or pasta we envision a plate of food put together to create one cohesive entree. A child sees a pile of food all mixed together and TOUCHING the other food! It may seem silly to cater to such a whim, but in my world, this is one of those times when I live by the old parenting adage "pick your battles." Would you rather fight your child to eat something they perceive as "gross", have them refuse to eat, or simply plate all the ingredients in separate piles instead of assembled in a traditional way? They may eat each ingredient separately or they may choose to build it themselves to their own liking. Either way, your kid is eating instead of battling you at mealtime. 

What are some ways you keep mealtime fun and battle-free?

Back to School!

First off, let me say "Hello again!"
I've had quite a few changes happen since my last update including moving from our home in Oklahoma to an apartment in Austin, TX! I'm currently in the 9th month of my 4th pregnancy with ANOTHER baby girl. Some things haven't changed. I'm still working as a stay at home mom, selling crochet accessories on the side, and making our little space the best home possible for our expanding family.

Ok, now with formalities out of the way, I'm going to jump in where I left off. This week marked the beginning of the school year for my oldest 2 kids, and that means I'm back to packing those lunch boxes!
We are using our old favorite lunch containers which are similar to a bento box, but a little less fancy. I purchased these at walmart almost 2 years ago, and they have been well worth the $5 each I spent. 

For my 6 year old first grader, sandwiches are a favorite. She loves ham and cheese on whole wheat, but ONLY if it has plenty of veggies! Her first day she had fresh baby spinach,  and tomatoes on her sandwich, along with a blueberry yogurt tube, a spinach and grape tomato salad with ranch dressing and a dill pickle, raisins, a cutie orange, cheese cubes, and cheetos (which were a special treat she chose at the grocery store the day before school started.) I've set up lunch accounts in the cafeteria for both girls so they purchase cold milk at school to drink.

For my 9 year old (yes, my oldest is NINE!) 4th grader, who prefers meatless meals most days, I packed 6 tortilla wedges with cream cheese filling, pumpkin seeds, a strawberry yogurt tube, organic white corn tortilla chips, red grapes, cheese cubes, grape tomatoes, and a dill pickle. 

The second day, each child got a ham and cheese sandwich on whole wheat with tomatoes and pickles, cheetos, and sunflower seeds. The 1st grader chose strawberry yogurt, grapes, and gummy bears as a treat. The 4th grader opted for cheese cubes, blueberries, and a mini chocolate bar for dessert.

I try to let them express their own personal likes when I'm packing for them. Instead of asking "what do you want for lunch?" I give them 1-3 options for each food group. I'll ask "Do you want grapes, apples, or blueberries?" Or "would you like yogurt or cheese cubes?" That way they get a healthy variety, and I don't spend an hour in the kitchen catering to my indecisive kids' every whim.

Today is the 3rd day of school, and the girls requested a similar lunch to these except opted for peanut butter sandwiches, which are (thankfully) still allowed at their school. They are required to sit away from kids with nut allergies, and wash their hands once they are done eating to avoid contamination. 

Tomorrow they will be getting a lunch tray from the cafeteria since they will be serving chicken nuggets, corn, and a wheat roll. It's not the most healthy meal, but always one of their favorites. I'll take the opportunity to make a short post about the lunch I prepare for my 2 year old, and how I get her to eat it!

I hope you've all had a great start to the new year! I'm glad to be back!