Post by Jessica R.

Thanksgiving weekend 2006 was almost over and we were all sitting in the living room chatting about nothing the way one does when they know they have to leave but they don’t want to just right that second.

We had just finished lunch maybe an hour or so before, but all of a sudden I was hungry. And I wanted a banana. Slathered with peanut butter. The mere thought of the sticky peanut butter and the silky sweet banana was making me drool. I almost pushed my toddler out of my way in my haste to get to the kitchen.

And that’s where, putting my banana hastily dipped in peanut butter into my mouth, that I realized what was going on.

Some quick mental math confirmed it.

I didn’t need a pregnancy test to tell me what the banana/peanut butter combo was screaming.

With each pregnancy I craved peanut butter and banana sandwiches, avocados, and one memorable day McDonald’s French Fries. Those things are such a part of my pregnancy memories that today, most definitely not pregnant, seeing any of those foods takes me right back to those days when I wasn’t in control of what my appetite demanded.

Post by Jessica R.

At some point last summer, someone gifted me the single most helpful kitchen tool I’ve ever owned. Considering the fact that I probably have the best stocked kitchen this side of the Mississippi, that’s actually saying a lot.

It’s not my blender, my chopper, my grater or even my stand mixer. And it wasn’t until I had children that this particular tool came in handy.

It’s the simplest tool possible, but having my kitchen shears at hand has really changed dinner time at our house. They make short work of chicken nuggets, pizza, even spaghetti! Freeing up my time to actually eat my own dinner instead of hacking away at everyone’s dinner with a dull knife.

I’m a pretty mellow mom. I don’t get upset if paint is spilled or marker somehow ends up on the couch cushions, but I’ve become nothing short of obsessed about my kitchen shears. If anyone even looks like they’re considering using them for an art project or to open a package I fly across the room and snatch them out of harms way.

What can I say? I’ve gotten a taste for eating a warm dinner and I refuse to go back to my pre-shears days!

Have any “little helpers” come to your rescue in the kitchen or at home since you had children?

Post by Jessica R.

There is much talk these days about fighting obesity and teaching our children about “real food” so that they learn to eat well. I’m all over doing just that, but it’s not always easy.

My daughters love fruits and vegetables, so I’m lucky, but like many children they hate to taste new things. My oldest rejects anything remotely new with a quick disgusted grimace, pushing it out of her sight as quickly as possible. The little one can at times be cajoled into at least putting the new item to her lips, but rarely does it ever pass into her mouth.

I don’t stop trying, but it is frustrating to have to throw out perfectly good food because my babes won’t relent and eat it.

I’ve tried getting them involved in the cooking process with limited results. I’ve tried getting them involved in the grocery shopping, with equally limited results. I’d try the popular “hiding healthy food in familiar food” technique, but my goal is to teach them to eat well, not trick them into doing it.

I’ll admit that recently I’ve fallen into a bit of a safe rut just for the sake of not having a fight on my hands every evening. But this morning I came across something that has given me new hope! The snack tray idea.

You can use muffin tins like these to prepare balanced meals for your kids. Use the cups to present a variation of veggies and proteins. One cup can be for dip, another for carrots, broccoli, or whatever other vegetable you want to try. Mix it up and present old favorites next to new offerings. The fun serving tray might be just what it takes to get your child to try something new, and if he doesn’t, that’s ok, you’ve only wasted a tiny portion of the new food, enabling you to serve up a whole new portion of it the next day! The tray above has more sweet stuff than I’d offer up for a dinner or a lunch, but this technique is perfect for sneaking healthy options into an afternoon snack or into a playdate tray.

The options are truly endless!

The best part of this technique is that it allows you all to see exactly how bright and fun a truly balanced meal can be. The more colors a meal has, the healthier it is, and this allows all of those colors to shine. It’s a lesson and a party all in one.