Monday, September 27, 2010

Foodies

Blame it on the baby, blame in on the media. We've gotten a lot better about what we eat and drink in our house over the last few years. I don't need to explain why do I? If I do, just watch Food Inc., read Fast Food Nation or take a walk around the grounds at Navy Pier. America, we have a problem.

We're not perfect, I'll put that out there right away. We've made changes in healthy eating that are good for us and don't put us into debt. It's a shame that in order to eat all the stuff that's good for us, you have to pay out the nose for it.

After Abby moved away from purreed fruits and veggies, we had to come up with something to feed the child besides hot dogs. I made a promise to feed her good, healthy foods while I can, before she finds out that Twinkies exist.

Here's what she's eating these days...and loving it.
  • Hummus on wheat toast
  • Shelled edamame
  • Extra firm Tofu
  • Hearts of Palm and Artichokes
  • Guacamole
  • Cucumbers
  • Apples and Peanut Butter
  • Plain chicken breasts, broccoli
  • Peas and pasta with parmesan cheese
  • Polenta with tomato sauce
  • string cheese, chopped up
  • strawberries, apples, blueberries
  • Yogurt mixed with oatmeal
  • Craisins
I meet a lot of new moms who can't figure out how to get their kids to eat anything or they can't figure out what to make, so their kids have a diet of juice and chicken fingers. But there are a few tips you can use to plan out meals that are healthy and yummy. I'll share some down the line. But in the meantime, here are a few tips to take or leave. 

1. Start each meal with the least appealing item and end with your baby's most favorite. No sense in giving them the good stuff up front- otherwise, they won't eat the rest. 
2. Frozen vegetables and fruits are great- store and make them in 5 minutes or less
3. Make pasta (or anything!) in advance- put it in a container in the fridge and serve it multiple times a week. 
4. That whole rule about try and try again? You should try it! It works. One week Abby loves --- the next week, not so much. The next week, she loves it. Keep it up and try your best not to raise them on fries and hot dogs. Trust me, it's possible (so far anyway!).

Best Baby Crap Worth Buying Part II

Now that Abby has gotten older, I have a few more things to add to the list of great baby crap.

Summer Video Monitor- This should have been on Part I's list, but it was forgotten. Sometimes the most important things are right in front of you and forget to mention them, right? The Summer Video Monitor was hands down the best gift I ever got. It's a monitor with video capabilities. You can hear AND see your child in the crib, so it saves you the time and worry of checking in on them when they are hellin' and hollerin' for you...or if you miss them at 10PM and just want to check in on the little bugger.  For example, you hear your baby crying...HARD. Like their leg is stuck in between crib panels. You reach for the video monitor to check and ....Nope. Just crying hard. It'll pass in 2 minutes.

Just hang the camera in the baby's room and carry the monitor with you. Seriously genius. The only downside is - if your camera is turned off, but your monitor is on, you can see other baby's under the same frequency. Freak. Kee.

Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner- It's a silicone piece that suctions down on the table for your child to eat off of. It washes off easily and is free of all the things parents freak out about these days.


More will be added as I think of them...or have time to write them, whichever comes first.