Category Archives: Family Mealtime

Feb 28Healthy Eating on a Budget for Families (+ Givea...

I know I'm not the only parent who struggles to feed my children a balanced diet, filled with a plethora of fruits and vegetables. And goodness knows, when we struggle, we aren't much fun. I am really excited to share a guest post from my friend, Kia, the founder of Today I Ate A Rainbow, an interactive tool that helps parents establish healthy eating habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day! Kia's tool makes it fun to feed kids a balanced meal - even...

Feb 253 Tips to Manage a Bouncy Youngster At The Table...

I am enamored with our Facebook Community. People share, offer support, and ask awesome questions. This post is dedicated to Jackie, who said she was frustrated that her daughter couldn't sit still for mealtimes - and acts like she has springs in her pants! Mealtimes can be a daily challenge, especially for families "blessed" with kids who don't like to stop moving (or who have ADD or ADHD!). You have seen it - whether in your own kids or in your local family friendly restaurant - kids flopping...

Feb 21Make Ahead Dinners: Grilled Turkey and Brie Sand...

Make Ahead Dinners: Grilled Turkey and Brie Sandwiches

The last thing I want to worry about when I am away all afternoon is what I will cook for dinner. These family friendly sandwiches are easy to make ahead and store in the refrigerator. All you have to do is grill them on the stove before serving. Not only are they easy and delicious, they are worth their weight in gold for solving the "what's for dinner" question!

Feb 185 Tips to Help Kids Accept New Foods

Little is more frustrating than trying to feed a child who is unwilling to try new foods. I have heard many stories from people in my Facebook Community who are worried about their children's limited food preferences and how it will affect their growth. Help your kids learn to accept new foods: Visually - see food and ingredients in different forms, at the farmer's market, in the grocery store and in the kitchen Scent - allow them to learn to tolerate the smell of different foods by cooking...

Feb 11Training Toddlers to Become Better Eaters

If babies are lucky enough to be born with their instincts intact, they can suckle and ingest enough nutrition to grow. At around the age of 6 months, eating becomes a learned behavior. It's easier for some babies (and parents!) than it is for others. Imagine yourself as a new eater for a second - you don't like the feel or flavor of something in your mouth, so you spit it out. Your parent smiles at you, scrapes it off your face with the edge of a spoon and then shoves it right back...

Feb 74 Tips for Successful Family Mealtimes (+ Pan Fr...

4 Tips for Successful Family Mealtimes (+ Pan Fried Chicken)

It's been a long day and you have even managed to make dinner for your family. Good work. But why do you still dread sitting down to the table for mealtime? Is it because of the complaining or food fussiness? Or the zoning out in front of the television? Is it the texting teenagers? There is overwhelming research that shows that families who eat meals together are healthier - not just physically, but mentally too. There are lower rates for drug use, eating disorders, depression and sexual...

Feb 4Feeding Challenges: Children with Developmental ...

Feeding Challenges: Children with Developmental Delays

If feeding your child is a struggle, you're not alone. If you can get past the frustration that you feel and think about it a little bit, eating is a complicated business. And eating can be particularly challenging for children with developmental delays. Let's take a step back and put on your scientist hat for a minute or two. I'll try to break down some of the challenges that struggling eaters might be facing. At the very least, it might offer a little perspective. Low muscle tone...

Jan 27Adapting Recipes for Fussy Families (Cabbage + C...

Adapting Recipes for Fussy Families (Cabbage + Carrot Slaw Recipe)

First, I should say that I'm not the biggest fan of the term "picky eater." And neither is my friend Christina, who explains the objection more eloquently than I can...But some families are plagued with a plethora of food preferences. And while I don't always cater to a finicky child, I do make accommodations sometimes. Dinnertime has been challenging at our house lately. Our daughter has always had a very sensitive palate, and lately, our son is copying her resistance to the foods on the...

Jan 19Dinner Tonight - Simple and Affordable (Split Pe...

Dinner Tonight – Simple and Affordable (Split Pea Soup)

Our schedule has been crazy these days, with appointments and other activities running smack into the dinner hour. The schedule, in combination with our limited eating-out budget, has forced me to plan ahead even more than I used to and have some meals prepared in advance. Last night, after dinner, I quickly prepped some ingredients for my favorite crockpot split pea soup. In case you were wondering, the price of split peas from the bulk bin can't be beat. Bring your old jars to the store...

Jan 3January will Rule (Better Eating Habits and a Sc...

January will Rule (Better Eating Habits and a Scone Recipe)

There's nothing quite like finding someone who is supportive and inspiring. Andrew is one such fellow. He shares many of my philosophies on food and pushes me to go even further than I might on my own. I loved participating in his October Unprocessed challenge with a video about keeping backyard chickens and am very excited to join his new challenge, January Rules. Sometimes feeding my family can seem overwhelming, especially since I spend the majority of most afternoons schlepping my kids...