What does a picky eater eat??

What does a picky eater eat??

(11/9/08 - 11/15/08)

I have had a heck of a time getting Jacob to eat “real” food. This has been going on (for those of you who don’t follow this blog) for a few months now. At first I wasn’t worried about it because I was still nursing which was giving him his majority of nutrients that are needed throughout the day. Now that I am down to nursing only in the morning and at night we are being faced with the “picky eater syndrome” that I am sure most parents deal with at some point. I have found a few tricks that seem to be working for Jacob, some I have thought of or found on my own and others I have gotten from awesome blogs like this one or from this website.

Now please keep in mind as you read about the following foods that even though it might look like “WOW Jake eats a lot!” some days that could be the case and then others days or even multiple days in a row he could go all day on half a chicken nugget a raisin and a few oyster crackers! YUK!!

Beverages:
PediaSmart Vanilla
Lactose Free Organic Formula
Mots for Tots Fruit Punch or Apple Juice (one small juice box)

Food:
Silver Dollar Cinnamon Carrot Pancakes Organic (recipe below)
Sweet Potato Waffle (organic freezer section at Super Target)
Plain Eggo
Piece of Whole Wheat Toast with butter
Tyson’s All Natural Chicken Nuggets (2)
Cheese Quesadilla
Mini Corn Dog
All Natural Hot Dog
Broccoli Cheese Chicken Nuggets (organic freezer section at Super Target)
Fries dipped in waaaayyyy too much ketchup
All types of crackers (saltine, oyster, graham, Ritz)
Banana
Fig Newtons
Yogurt covered Craisins (dried cranberries)
Any kind of dried fruit (cherries, blueberries, raspberries, raisins)
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Stage 3 Gerber Organic baby food

More crackers are eaten then anything above, but we are slowly starting to move away from ONLY crackers and he is getting so he doesn't only expect crackers when he is sitting at the table. The PediaSmart drink has also been a lifesaver. A single serving has twice the protein and vitamins than the same amount of regular formula. Although I have to admit that I don't mix it according to the package directions or I would soon find myself broke as they call for 1/2 cup of mix per 6 ounces of water. I just act like it is regular formula and add about 5-6 formula scoops per 10 ounces of water. It is still thick, creamy, and tastes like a watered down vanilla milkshake

I know that I have a lot of people who read this blog (I can track visitors) but I don't seem to have very many comments left on this blog (except Mr. LIAYF who is a very loyal reader/commenter - THANKS) but if you are reading this blog and know of any good AND NUTRITOUS things that I could try to get Jake to eat please let me know. And please don't say things like green beans, peas, or broccoli cause I have been there and tried that!!! Jake also is in the "I can do it myself" mode so if it requires good use of fork/spoon technique we might have to wait on it, but good "finger food" ideas are great!!!

Now here is a recipe that I created myself and I have to say that it tastes GREAT!! Everyone in my house likes them and they honestly taste like french toast pancakes. But of course have some veggies snuck in!

Cinnamon Carrot Pancakes

1 Cup of Organic Pancake Mix (or any pancake mix that requires only water)
2/3 Cup Water
1 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1/2 Cup Organic Applesauce
1 Medium Organic Carrot shredded
1/2 - 1 tsp. of Cinnamon (season to your taste)
1/2 -1 tsp of Sugar (this is optional I thought they were good without but Jake likes it sweeter)

**The first three ingredients are according to the package directions, your water and oil measurements could be different depending on the brand of pancake mix you purchase**

I use a TBSP. measuring spoon and make a bunch of silver dollar pancakes. I then put them onto a baking sheet and put them in the freezer (I have a large freezer in my garage) if you only have your kitchen refrigerator freezer you can put wax paper or aluminum foil in between layers on a plate or in a bag and freeze. Once frozen I put them in a freezer bag and when I need them I can just microwave one or two for about 25 seconds. If you want serve them "as is" or with butter and some syrup for dipping! I hope you all try them out and like them as much as we do!

Week 37 - I will take that chemical free food to go please!

Week 37 - I will take that chemical free food to go please!

(4/27/08 - 05/03/08)

Before Jacob was born I have to admit that I would eat just about anything that anyone gave me without thinking too much about what I was eating, or how it could affect me. Anyone that even remotely doesn't live under a rock knows that the newest craze is "Eating Organic". Well this can be a very expensive thing to do. Since I am a mother to only one little angel, and am lucky enough to be able to be a stay at home mommy I have been making my own baby food for Jake since he was 5 months old.

His favorites from the beginning have been sweet potatoes, peaches, and pears. But there are other things that he likes as well. Most people might think that making your own baby food is time consuming and expensive, but in fact it isn't. I purchased a baby food cookbook (Solely for the age appropriate recommendations and spices), the book also came with two ice cube trays that have 1 ounce sections with a lid.

To let you know how NOT EXPENSIVE it is I will give you a scenario of making vs. buying. If you are looking at the 2.5 ounce stage 1 sweet potatoes (non-organic) they are approx. $.49 (let's round up to $.50), one ice cube tray has 12 sections or 12 ounces in it. So if you do that math you have about 4.8 or 5 jars of baby food per tray. I can purchase 4 sweet potatoes (average size not too big not too small) and once I peel, boil, add some bottled water, and puree it. It will fill up two and a half ice cube trays or make approx. 12 jars of baby food......if purchased that would cost $6.00 and I only spent $1.99 for the raw sweet potatoes. Add that up over months and months and you see my point. Depending on what food you are talking about you could save a little more or a little less.

I then label everything, pop them out of the ice cube trays into plastic bags and when I need them I put them in a little gladware bowl with a lid and head out! Yes it takes a little more time but once you get it made it is worth it.

Now onto the reason for this post.....I was reading the other day about organic foods and how with childhood disease, ADHD, Autism, etc.etc. people are starting to go organic and watch more closely about what they are putting into their children. I found the most awesome website: http://www.foodnews.org. They have a pocket guide (and a link to a full 45 item list) on this website. What blew my mind was the "dirty dozen"!

Well if you look at this list and you remember back to about a dozen sentences ago Jake's favorite foods are in the TOP 12!!!! HOLY CRAP!!!! I thought I was being the best mom in the world by making my own baby food and it turns out his favorite was pears and peaches!!! The WORST ONES!!! The chemicals in peaches alone are enough to make you want to scream, and enough to make me want to breastfeed until Jake is old enough to get a job, move out, and purchase his own ORGANIC Chemical Free food!!!

So this week has been spent researching organics, remaking his "dirty dozen" foods with Organic produce, and purchasing other items that are ALL NATURAL like laundry detergent, cleaning supplies (that come in contact with his toys), and just trying to be more natural.

Yes, yes, yes...I know some of you think I am being crazy, I am mean hell we grew up with metal sliding boards, gravel underneath our swingsets, no helmets, yada.....yada....but hey!! We also didn't have the crazy problems that kids these days have to face and if I can do something that will help make my son, my husband, and myself healthier then so be it!!! CALL ME CrAzY!!