Easy Feedings

Forgive me for being on airplane mode for so long. I'm trying to get back to what I love -writing (while two little monkeys hang from my arms no less). So feeding time for the Little One has improved since I found Sprout Baby food -it is actually food I would serve at home and to everyone (if everyone were on a semi-liquid diet that is).

Don't get me wrong I'm not that into pre-packaged food (G-d sometimes I wish I were). But, these little packets are so convenient when you are out and don't want to lug the glass containers around -like on airplanes!

Speaking of which, I also really like Plum Organics because they have a spout that the baby can suck out of instead of having a spoon -mine always think it is funny to take away the spoon and fling it at another passenger. Try them -they'll love it!

Food Faces

Helping to encourage a toddler to eat isn't always the easiest thing. I've never understood the idea of fun food. To me food is a necessity and at the best of times a wonderful celebration of taste, texture, fragrance and talent. But fun?

Well, I've turned over a new leaf and here I am in 'mommy-hood' trying to make food fun. Imagine my delight when I get an email from my friend Gloria with this wonderful photo:

She has used a Japanese rice shaper and then used a Nori cutter for the faces -how ingenious! I suppose you could also use one of those crafting cutters too. How cute are these? Thanks for the idea Glo!

Half Wrong?!

I thought I was pretty nutritionally savvy until I took the Washington Post's nutrition quiz (here). Take the quiz and let me know how you do. I'm avoiding giving away any of the answers but some were very surprising. Good luck!

Baby's First Bento Box

Well, it was inevitable --the Little Man has started school. He is now in pre-school (where has the time gone?!). So I've really been wondering what to do about his packed lunches until I got inspiration from the Vegan Lunchbox. She serves up some amazing lunches which have inspired me to use a Bento Box too.
So when I was driving around San Diego I noticed a Japanese store. Well, I should say it was a total Japanese emporium complex and I'm in love with it! So baby's first Bento Box came from their dollar store -isn't it cute?!

Let me explain the pieces. The yellow boxes with that white cover all go together to form one tiered lunch box that is held together by that little elastic belt with the car, fork with holder, the lucky napkin and finally the little red cloth bag that holds it all.

Confessions of a Veggie JetSet Mom

It is personal. Today I took the Little Man to his regular baby checkup and I found out that his growth has jumped! He has always been a vegetarian, none of those mystery jarred cat food smelling meat pots for him. On previously visits I expressed concern about his slow (but steady) growth when I was seeing other children grow fast and chubby. The JetSet Doctor took a long hard look at JetSet Dad and I and he let us know there isn't a slim chance he’ll ever be a Yao Ming (yes, we are not much taller than gnomes -it's those pesky genes). However, his recent stellar growth is good news for me because I live in a place that is hostile to the idea of a vegetarian let alone a vegetarian baby.

On Wednesday my neighbor was telling me about how a recent child custody case here in Italy was overturned because the mother was a vegetarian. Turns out the ex-couple’s child would beg his father for meat and McDonalds on his custody weekends. The judge (not a nutritionist or doctor) said that it is unhealthy to have a child not consume meat and that a child should at most be able to make that choice for themselves when they are 18 years of age.

I’m a firm believer in the adage, “If you know better you do better.” Doing better for my child that means that I try to make every meal count. Every meal is nutritious and prepared with the best ingredients possible. Meat has a dirty track record and I don’t want my money or family anywhere near it. I’m not saying going veggie is for everyone but at least getting more vegetables is.

Take a look at some of my Amazon “Veggie Reading” (on the ride side menu bar) for great ways to go vegetarian or even to learn new ways to incorporate more vegetables in your diet for the health of your family and the planet.

For the science:

• The China Study : The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever
• Also take a look at Dr. McDougall's website here
  

For day to day children's menu:

• Raising Vegetarian Children : A Guide to Good Health
• Feeding the Healthy Vegetarian Family
• New Vegetarian Baby

For recipes that will knock your socks off (vegan style):

• Vegan with a Vengeance
• Also check out the website PPK Kitchen