Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nutrition. Show all posts
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Table Etiquette
Well, I did something novel today. After a huge milk spill at breakfast (which is pretty much routine at our house), I decided to teach the boys about "rules at the table" from all over the world. I explained how there are different rules for different parts of the world, but some rules at the table are the same all throughout the world. For example, elbows on the table are rude in the United States. In France, you need to keep your hands above the table at all times. Then I explained that it is rude to talk with your mouth full. I asked them if they knew why and they said no. Then I shoved a bunch of food in my mouth, chewed it up a little, and then started talking (while purposefully letting a little fall out). They, of course, likened it to an episode of Spongebob where someone sticks his tongue out with food all over it (I have put a hiatus on Spongebob because of the constant quoting!). But in this case it helped, because it is gross even in the Spongebob episode. Then I explained how we say "please pass the food" instead of just reaching for it. And how we carry on polite conversation instead of fighting. And how we use our utensils isntead of fingers because using fingers is rude (I didn't explain that some places in the world use their fingers. That would get just plain confusing.) The entire rest of the meal was pleasant! Who knew that explaining "the rules" would contribute to more accomodating boys? I will remember this for next time...
Friday, June 20, 2008
Bright Idea: Magic Pictures
For today's bright idea, I will refer you to Ice Cream Diary, where she found a cool "new" (to me) invention on using the white crayon in the box. Click here to check it out. She's such a good writer, and this is a brilliant way to use the "broken" crayon in the box.
As for the food ideas this week, thank you to all of you who have participated! I personally have loved everything you have shared, and look forward to implementing them in our home. I can add that my kids will eat just about anything when it is dipped in something. For example, my boys love artichoke because it is dipped in butter. My 3 year old won't touch asparagus UNLESS he has a little bowl of hollandaise sauce to dip it in. Even unconventional things work; for example, my 3 year old likes apple dipped in ranch dressing. So, if your kids have a bit of a hard time eating veggies, ask them if they would like ketchup or ranch dressing or some other yummy condiment on the side.
Also, my kids don't like cooked carrots, but if I put butter and a little brown sugar on them, that will usually convince them that they are good enough to eat. And, I have a friend whose children will only eat the Gerber Graduates cooked carrots. Apparently, when she cooks and cuts them up her kids can tell the difference and they ONLY want Gerber Graduates. And they are 5 and 3 years old! So, I guess the trick is to play around with food and figure out what your kids will eat. Good luck to everyone, and please share if you have additional ideas!
As for the food ideas this week, thank you to all of you who have participated! I personally have loved everything you have shared, and look forward to implementing them in our home. I can add that my kids will eat just about anything when it is dipped in something. For example, my boys love artichoke because it is dipped in butter. My 3 year old won't touch asparagus UNLESS he has a little bowl of hollandaise sauce to dip it in. Even unconventional things work; for example, my 3 year old likes apple dipped in ranch dressing. So, if your kids have a bit of a hard time eating veggies, ask them if they would like ketchup or ranch dressing or some other yummy condiment on the side.
Also, my kids don't like cooked carrots, but if I put butter and a little brown sugar on them, that will usually convince them that they are good enough to eat. And, I have a friend whose children will only eat the Gerber Graduates cooked carrots. Apparently, when she cooks and cuts them up her kids can tell the difference and they ONLY want Gerber Graduates. And they are 5 and 3 years old! So, I guess the trick is to play around with food and figure out what your kids will eat. Good luck to everyone, and please share if you have additional ideas!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Food for Thought
I'll start with a few links for you.
First, Crafty Crow is holding a Funny Food Contest this week. Be creative with that food and see if it wins you a prize. Remember, kids love to see their food transform into something else. So getting them to eat nutritiously might be easier when it looks like this:
Check out Junior Society for some more inspiring photos.
While at Crafty Crow I saw another mom's ingenious idea for presenting lunch in a different way: Muffin Tin Monday! I love it!
And last here is a post one of my college roommates made on her super healthy recipe blog: How to Get Your Kids to Eat their Veggies! Lots of good advice that I may put into action when I get out of Fiji and decide I can live without my junk food.
Now I'm out of links and have to add my own two cents. I've had good parenting moments and bad parenting moments in this area. Mostly the latter. I forget to feed him breakfast. I consent to a spoonful of peanut butter as lunch. I regularly reward good eating with dessert. I have even resorted to playing the animal game at the table in hopes of getting my child to eat (he was usually a tiger stalking his chicken prey...it gets embarrassing when people come over for dinner or when we are at a restraunt and he demands to hear "bock-bock-begock" coming from his fork. I would suggest you don't even start down that road.) So eating is not my strong point in parenting. I have learned a few things though.
1. Schedule, schedule, schedule. Boy life is better when we have a plan and stick to it. Every time we eat it is at an appointed time: breakfast 7:00, Snack 9:30, Lunch 11:30, etc. It eliminates the struggles over non-nutritious mid-meal snacks.
2. Pull up a chair. Meals are much smoother if I treat it like an activity. No, I don't mean making it into a game. By giving my whole attention to the process of eating WITH my son, he is able to focus on eating and doesn't get so distracted. Makes for wonderful memories as well as healthy tummies.
3. Example. I fail at this. I'm the one that eats a candy bar for breakfast or moves from one snack food to the other all afternoon in lieu of lunch. I've learned to control my eating, at least in front of him, so he can learn how to take care of his body.
And somehow, with all the things I've done wrong in the nutrition area, I know I've done at least one thing right when the little guy leans over at dinner and says, "Mom, can I mix my broccoli into my noodles to make the noodles taste better?"
First, Crafty Crow is holding a Funny Food Contest this week. Be creative with that food and see if it wins you a prize. Remember, kids love to see their food transform into something else. So getting them to eat nutritiously might be easier when it looks like this:
Check out Junior Society for some more inspiring photos.While at Crafty Crow I saw another mom's ingenious idea for presenting lunch in a different way: Muffin Tin Monday! I love it!
And last here is a post one of my college roommates made on her super healthy recipe blog: How to Get Your Kids to Eat their Veggies! Lots of good advice that I may put into action when I get out of Fiji and decide I can live without my junk food.
Now I'm out of links and have to add my own two cents. I've had good parenting moments and bad parenting moments in this area. Mostly the latter. I forget to feed him breakfast. I consent to a spoonful of peanut butter as lunch. I regularly reward good eating with dessert. I have even resorted to playing the animal game at the table in hopes of getting my child to eat (he was usually a tiger stalking his chicken prey...it gets embarrassing when people come over for dinner or when we are at a restraunt and he demands to hear "bock-bock-begock" coming from his fork. I would suggest you don't even start down that road.) So eating is not my strong point in parenting. I have learned a few things though.
1. Schedule, schedule, schedule. Boy life is better when we have a plan and stick to it. Every time we eat it is at an appointed time: breakfast 7:00, Snack 9:30, Lunch 11:30, etc. It eliminates the struggles over non-nutritious mid-meal snacks.
2. Pull up a chair. Meals are much smoother if I treat it like an activity. No, I don't mean making it into a game. By giving my whole attention to the process of eating WITH my son, he is able to focus on eating and doesn't get so distracted. Makes for wonderful memories as well as healthy tummies.
3. Example. I fail at this. I'm the one that eats a candy bar for breakfast or moves from one snack food to the other all afternoon in lieu of lunch. I've learned to control my eating, at least in front of him, so he can learn how to take care of his body.
And somehow, with all the things I've done wrong in the nutrition area, I know I've done at least one thing right when the little guy leans over at dinner and says, "Mom, can I mix my broccoli into my noodles to make the noodles taste better?"
Monday, June 16, 2008
Theme of the Week Challenge
I got an e-mail last week from Megan:
"I am forever stressing about good nutrition and would love new ideas."Cue the blog! I realized that since we have gotten home from our trip, I have been so overwhelmed and distracted with all that purchasing a home entails, that I have only offered vegetables for dinner 3 times in 7 days. It is our job as parents to offer our children nutritious, healthy foods. So, how do you do that? What books have you read or websites have you found that have helped you? What do you do to "get" your kids to like vegetables? How do you feed picky eaters? What tricks of the trade have you figured out to help your family eat more healthfully? Please share with us.
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