Lifesong: Try This At Home

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{Random update: Sorry for the absence to blogging: our wireless internet is down, the Geek Squad is coming out today. Also, Christian has been sick again, we went back to the doctor today and he was referred to a specialist. Next week we see a pediatric ENT, where we'll probably discuss tubes.}

Now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

Today I was reminded that it really is the simple things that can bring the most joy to my kids. I saw this idea for the Muffin Tin Lunch, and I thought it looked cute, simple and different. Especially since if my kids are what they eat, they will burst into little Chick-Fil-A nuggets any day now.

So, I gathered some yummy foods and put them in the muffin tins. I thought I had two large muffin tins, but I couldn't find the second one, so Christian got the mini-muffin tin (he didn't mind.)

Our Muffin Tin Lunch consisted of: cucumber slices, crackers, carrot sticks, Ranch dressing, yogurt covered cranberries, banana slices, cheese cubes, sprite melon (that Ansley begged me for at the grocery store; similar to a honeydew), grapes and yogurt covered raisins. (It's important to note there is no ranch dressing in Christian's tin at this point.)

I wasn't sure how Christian would do with it, but he loved it. Dove right in, sampling all the items. He was delighted by the choices, and didn't throw a SINGLE thing on the floor. Who knew it just took a mini muffin tin to stop this bad habit? His favorite: grapes (no surprise here), followed closely by yogurt covered raisins.

Ansley thought it was COOL. She, of course, was the most excited by it, because it was just different and fun and neat and didn't involve any chicken. She loved looking at everything, picking out what she was going to eat, and talking about each one (no surprise here either; she does not have an unexpressed thought). Her favorite, she told me with enthusiasm: yogurt covered raisins, followed by the yogurt covered cranberries.

So we're all sitting, eating, and there's a lot of chatter about this exciting Muffin Tin Lunch. (I'm eating the same things, just not in a muffin tin). Then Christian notices there WE are dipping items in ranch, and HE is not. So after some pouting (read: screaming) he gets some ranch, too. And our lunch was never quite the same after that.

He really did a good job of eating everything, but Ansley and I watched in amazement (and laughter) as he proceeded to dip EVERY item in the ranch. And then finger paint with it. But look at those cute little pudgy hands! Oh, I could just lick the ranch right off them! (Ok, not really, because I'm quite germophobic and Christian is sick yet again, so just the thought gives me the heebie-jeebies.) But I do love those little chubby fingers.

And Ansley did a great job, eating everything and having a great time with it. She talked about this one lunch for literally hours afterwards.

I took this photo just before she gobbled up all those yogurt covered cranberries. (She was saving them, she told me later.) I'm not sure why she left all the bananas - interesting.

A healthy, fun change of routine for lunch. Try it with your kids, and let me know how it goes!

Comments

Terrific idea! A fun way to get mine to eat up their fruits and veggies just because it's different for the regular PB&J. :)

Posted by: Renee | July 23, 2008 at 08:46 AM

How fun! I can't wait to try this...but I don't think Taylor will be ok with the mini tray so I hope I can find my 2nd big one! Thanks for the idea...hope all is well!

Posted by: Emily | July 23, 2008 at 09:08 AM

How fun is that!!! Maybe it will get my picky daughter to eat real food! She is almost 16 months and doesn't like real food yet.
Hope Christian feels better soon! Tubes are a lifesaver! Turner got hers on March 5th (just shy of 11 months old) and she hasn't been sick since!! I highly recommend them. She is a completely different child since that day.
Blogger lurker and friend of Desta's.
Jill

Posted by: Jill Elya | July 23, 2008 at 02:00 PM