Snacks

I like my kids (all of us really) to eat yogurt every day. Jacob, Jane and I love it - so we eat it every day for a snack between breakfast and lunch. I instituted this with the bigger girls too - but haven't been able to maintain it after they go to school. (When we eat pancakes for breakfast I make them with yogurt - so at least that's something!)

The other typical snack we have is after school. I have to say that recently I have all but eliminated this snack - it really does seem to take the edge off dinner. We eat dinner around 5:30 every day (sporting activities allowing.) After school snacks are usually around 3 or 3:30 - I think it's just too close. If they don't eat enough dinner they wake up even earlier than usual, because they're hungry - which kills me! So the snacks have been nixed.

That said - there are days when we just need them. Maybe we're at a late swimming class, T-ball practice, playing late at the park because it's a beautiful day, or some other reason dinner will be later. So, I have decided that when they have an afternoon snack, it needs to be something that I don't mind taking the place of part of their dinner, that way I'm not as bothered if they eat less at mealtime.

Here are some of our favorite snacks -

Sliced bell peppers.

Celery with peanut butter or cream cheese.

Apples with peanut butter. (The only form of fruit Emy or Jane will eat.)

Crackers and goat cheese (or any kind of cheese.)

Hummus with carrots or pita chips.

Snow or snap peas.

Any bean (black beans are our favorite, but we also love small red, or chick peas.)

Broccoli, cucumber or carrots with ranch for dipping.

Popcorn
(OK, not alright with this taking the place of dinner - but it's an easy and yummy snack and not too filling, so sometimes we get away with it.)

Jacob will also eat any fruit - watermelon, berries or a banana are his favs. Of course, my little girlies won't touch the fruit. Sigh.

What are some of your favorite snacks?

Picky Eaters

When Rebekah was a baby and toddler she was the GREATEST eater. She ate everything, loved vegetables, and would choose an apple over a candy bar any day. We ate a lot of vegetarian food, and spicy food, and a wide variety of food and she downed it all.

I was quite pleased with myself. I was absolutely convinced that my great parenting choices had created her habits. I thought that parents who complained about picky eaters were just pandering to their children. I was of the opinion that kids would eat what you wanted them too, once they got hungry enough - so only offer them good food.

Then I had Emily.
Oh boy, did pride ever goeth before a fall!

While Jake will eat just about anything you put in front of him and Rebekah is still pretty good - Jane and Emily are very picky. I have parented them in much the same way, breastfed them all exclusively, made my own baby foods, and followed the same habits as I introduced solids (not a day before 6 months old.) It has produced very different results.

When Jane won't stay in her seat and eat her food, she has to sit in the highchair.
It's not pretty.

You'd think we were beating her the way she wails.

She tries to get out - and often comes pretty close.

It's tough on the heartstrings too - though my frustration by this point has usually reach a level that gives me way less compassion for those tears!

So here's what I've decided - some kids are born great eaters, and others are born picky. The only thing we can do as parents is offer them healthy food, model good choices (still working on that one) and not beat ourselves up about it. The occasional treat (aka bribe) is probably OK too.

Jacob Eats

I have often commented to friends that our Heavenly Father knew I needed Jacob in between Emily & Jane. In so many ways he is the "hardest" child - but when it comes to eating he saves my sanity!

Jacob LOVES to eat.
He relishes it. He makes small approving noises.
He tries almost anything new. He eats fruit. He eats large portions and second helpings.

Meal times are not social events for Jacob, he stops talking as he picks up his fork. His head goes down and he is focused on eating and nothing else until his plate (or 2) are cleared.

When we recently ate out Jacob asked me where we were going for dinner, and what would I eat? I told him it was somewhere I hadn't been before - but it was Greek, so there'd probably be fish, and lamb. Also grape leaves, yogurt, lemon and olive oil. He said "MMMMM" and smacked his lips - then said "Please will you bring me something."
We got an order of baklava to go, and he had it for breakfast the next morning.

Jake feeding you is a joy and a pleasure!

Emily's School Lunch

I don't really want my kids to buy school lunch. It's really not a good option. In Emily's case, it's really just not an option at all. Although I think she is a very healthy eater, she is also very particular. There's non way the school could cater to her preferences, so I do. She doesn't eat any kind of fruit, which is always such an easy thing to toss into a lunch box. She also doesn't like too much repetition, and I was getting tired of trying to come up with things for her each day. We came up with the perfect solution - a meal plan, just like we use for dinners. She has a rotating weekly schedule. She gets a variety of foods she likes to eat, and I don't have to think about it anymore (other than to make sure we have in the foods she likes - which we almost always do anyway.)

I have this pretty much memorized, but it's also printed out and stuck inside the pantry door as a reminder.

She has to take a snack every day (they eat it in class in the morning.) She also takes 2 SIGG water bottles - one in her lunchbox & one to keep at her desk.

Monday
Cream cheese mini bagel
cucumber slices

snack - crackers

Tuesday
Spinach & goat cheese salad
honey whole wheat pretzels

snack - baby carrots

Wednesday
Cheese sandwich (on wholewheat, no condiments) in warm weather
Thermos of soup (& oyster crackers) in cold weather

snack - broccoli (or other raw vegetable) & ranch dressing

Thursday
Crackers & brie
baby carrots

snack - snow peas (sometimes raw green beans)

Friday
Order school lunch

snack - we're going to see if we can get away with a cookie (even though they're technically not allowed.)