Picky! Picky! Picky!

Kids are funny about what they choose to put in their mouths. They have no problem sampling dirt or Play-doh but won't touch the delicious casserole you spent an hour preparing. My daughter's favorite food was chicken pot pie for a couple weeks and now she won't even take a bite. My boys are great eaters and will eat just about anything you put in front of them (or steal it from you if it wasn't put in front of them). My daughter, on the other hand, is very particular about what she'll eat. And of course her preferences change week to week. So what's a mom to do? There has to be some balance between making their favorites and putting your foot down. On one hand I think, "Deal with it, kid. You eat this or you skip dinner." Then I think, "wait a minute, as an adult there are foods I don't like and don't eat. Shouldn't she be allowed to have some choice." So, here's "Dealing with picky eaters according to Gina- random thoughts on kids eating habits."

One thing to consider when it comes to eating is that it's not just about taste, it's about texture. Maybe it isn't really the taste that offends your child, but the texture. I love yogurt but I can't handle strawberry or blueberry chunks in my creamy snack. I do love the flavor though if I can find smooth and creamy versions. Kids can be quite finicky about how something feels. Maybe the spaghetti sauce is too chunky, the squash too slimy, the onions too squishy. Try preparing things different or throwing a portion into the blender/food processor for a more consistent texture. Temperature plays a role too and may need to be adapted for younger eaters.

One big obstacle is finding ways to get your kids to eat their veggies. Carrot sticks and "ants on a log" (celery with pb and raisins) are great snacks. As a kid I loved frozen peas (just run them under hot water til separated). I use to thaw some frozen peas and carrots to give to my son. We would talk about the shapes and bounce the "balls" into his mouth. Tell your child to pretend to be a giant and eat the "trees" (broccoli). Try adding vegetables to their favorite dishes. My daughter loves alfredo sauce with peas and corn. Or food process the veggies and add to a sauce (hee hee, they'll never know). My mom adds spinach to her delicious smoothies.

Encourage them to keep trying new foods. Even if they didn't like it before they may grow into it. I've started a rule that you have to try at least one bite of everything on your plate and you can't whine and say it's yucky. I also give my kids small portions of everything and they have to clean their plate before they can have more of anything. You can take your child grocery shopping with you and let them pick out a new food to try from the produce section.

Give them healthy choices. If you have good food available and let them choose they'll learn good habits. Talk about "sometimes" (cookies) and "anytime" food (apple). If you're like me you may have to remind yourself of this often.

You can make it a fun, learning experience by talking about shapes, colors, counting, grouping, etc. My sister-in-law recommended talking about eating a variety of colors and reviewing what colors they've eaten. Read "Pinkalicious" to talk about what happens when you eat too much of one color.

Post your comment to tell us what you do to help your kids eat better! Don't be modest, if you have a good idea, share. And remember, even small and simple thoughts can help.

Food Storage

What do you do when life gives you flour? Make waffles. Food storage isn't just for emergencies when you are desperate and a meal of Spam and dried apples is acceptable. You should be storing things that you'll actually eat and use regularly. For me, peanut butter is a great food storage solution. I have no problem rotating this item. Other staples I try to keep up: honey, corn, diced tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, mac n' cheese, peas, powdered milk oats, flour, sugar, graham crackers, cereal, Goldfish, Ramen, cream of chicken, pasta, and canned chicken. I also throw canned veggies into my food processor for baby food. I'm slowly building up my supply and always looking for good recipes to use my items. Here's a couple I like:

Whole-Grain Waffle Mix
I love the hearty, homemade flavor of these and make them for dinner often. I put out spiced pears, applesauce, bannanas, strawberries, jelly, whip cream, yogurt, butter, and syrup for topping selections. I use my pizza cutter to cut up bite-size pieces for the kids. I love that I don't have to worry about adding fresh buttermilk. I put the mix in a ziplock bag and use a permanent marker to write the remaining ingredients.

4 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup toasted wheat germ
1 cup toasted oat bran
1 cup buttermilk blend powder (next to powdered milk in grocery store)
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons honey
Combine the first eight ingredients. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Yield: 8 1/2 cups mix (about 4 batches)
To prepare waffles: Combine eggs, water, oil and honey; stir in 2 cups waffle mix just until moistened.
Yield: 5 waffles (about 6 inches) per batch.

Spiced Pears (serve on top of waffles or as a side)
1 (15 ounce) can pear halves or slices with syrup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Drain syrup from pears into saucepan. Combine with brown sugar and spices and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 10 min. Stir frequently. Add pears and simmer another 5 minutes or until heated through.

Taco Soup
This soup is very easy and yummy. I cook a few pounds of beef all at once, spread it on a cookie sheet and freeze, then store in freezer bags. I keep the cans and seasoning in stock and fall back on this meal on busy days.
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 cans (15 1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, undrained
2 cans (15 ounces each) ranch-style or chili beans, undrained
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
crushed tortilla chips and shredded cheddar cheese
In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seaoning, corn, beans and tomatoes, Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Top with cheese and chips.

Share your food storage solutions! You could also include finding storage space, best prices on items, ways to store, items we never thought of, meals only from food storage, best way to rotate, or other helpful ideas and suggestions.