good eats | adventures with BLW

baby.led.weaning. 

I had briefly learned of this term around the time the twins were Baker's age.  I was taking time to make purees for Parker and Jolie and absolutely I loved doing it and found some foodie creativity in creating my first babe's their first foods.  while I did enjoy it.. it would take me hours on a saturday to prep about a month's worth of food (x two) to stash away.  

while I was pregnant with Baker, I found myself curious in what BLW was all about.. and then she made her surprise arrival and I didnt think about food again until we were sitting at the 4 moth check-up and Dr. B mentioned starting her on rice cereal. 

I was not ready.  

we made the executive decision to wait until she was 6 months old before starting solids, and with that brought up the curiosity of baby led weaning again.

I found HUGE encouragement after reading blwideas.com and thought- this could be so much fun!  and if I am being honest - I also really struggled with the idea of making baby food again.  not because I didnt enjoy it, because I did, but ultimately I wanted to just try something different.

Baker hit the sixth month mark and it was time to introduce her to her first foods!  I was so overwhelmed to think about what was okay?

what was appropriate?

what she should eat?

what should I avoid?

 finally I just started to offer things to Baker that we were eating.  I wasn't trying to make it into a big to-do or find myself in mega stress over it.  

she's only been eating solids/table food for about a month and for the most part its going pretty good!  there are some things she absolutely will not try/eat/entertain at all (ahem..bananas), but for the most part she will fiddle around with it and half the time some of it makes it into her mouth. 

the amount she eats wildly depends on how she is feeling.  

did she get a good afternoon nap?  

is she sleepy?  

does her mouth hurt? 

cranky?

she could be totally uninterested in those same sweet potatoes that she had a few nights ago or the veggie burger she gobbled up the first time around but definitely not this time.. truth be told- at this age table food is all about exploration.  learning textures, fine tuning those motor skills, and simply introducing flavors to your little one.  sure we can get that added benefit of a full belly, but the most important form of nutrition from birth to twelve months is breastmilk or formula.  so, as quickly as I feel myself getting frustrated when she is tossing her food all over the floor because she would rather play in it than eat it (truth!!), I have to realize that its totally okay.  

so- what are we actually eating over here?? 

as far as Baker is concerned- she is definitely not eating three full meals every day.  she is eating a mid-morning 'meal' of yogurt and sometimes fruit and then her main course of the day is at dinner time.  occasionally I will share some of whatever I am eating for lunch or breakfast- she and I have gotten to the point of not being about to eat around her while I am nursing.  I was eating a bowl of cereal the other day while nursing (the hunger is real.) and she popped off and grabbed it with all she had and the cereal (lucky charms cereal with the glorious b l u e milk remaining) went all over the chair and the carpet below.  not to mention the other morning I was eating the usual PB + banana toast and she got herself a handful of banana.  she's such a busy bee!  

she usually eats or plays with what we are eating, but often when we are on the go she will eat a fruit pouch pretty quickly and then eat whatever at the restaurant.  we finally figured out how to suck those pouches (therefore no spoon required!) and its been an easy way to get prunes in her, too.. if you know what I mean:)  we are being pretty modest in what we give her right now mostly because her skills for feeding herself are still in the beginning stages, but some of our the BLW beginner meals include:  

scrambled eggs // olive oil, smoked paprika, black pepper // + shredded mozzarella cheese

wheat/corn tortilla 

whole milk yogurt mixed with fruit puree // we really like ella's kitchen fruit pouches

whole milk yogurt mixed with almond butter (she LOVES this)

toasted whole grain waffles (we like the VAN's brand) + sliced strawberries

homemade baby pancakes // store bought mix + breastmilk or water

grilled cheese sandwich cut into stripes 

chicken nuggets (all white breast meat)

sprouted whole grain toast + all natural almond butter

roasted root veggies // olive oil, rosemary, pepper + baked at 400 for 30 minutes // + shredded chicken // cooked in the crock pot for 6 hours on LOW with water and a little salt and pepper

steamer bag cheese + broccoli rice + all natural deli meat

homemade bbq chicken pizza  //skip the pineapple- citrus at this age can be hard one your little one's tummy.

crock pot italian chicken // chicken breast + zesty italian dressing on LOW for 6 hours.

baked pasta // we love ziti!! 

store bought cheese + spinach tortellini

black bean cakes with avocado cubes (still working on her accepting the texture of avocado) 

sweet potato hummus // combine 4 cups (baked) and mashed sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup tahini, 1/4 cup lime juice, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 2 teaspoons ground cumin // add 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for older kiddos and adults // + wheat toast

broccoli bacon mac + cheese // we skipped the bacon for 7 month old

store bought veggie burgers

spaghetti squash burrito bowls + italian chicken sausage 

wheat, soy, eggs, almond butter, and strawberries are all potential allergens. avoid serving all together until you know your babe doesn’t have a reaction with any of them individually.  dairy milk is not okay until 12 months of age- but cheese and full fat yogurt are okay.

salt + sodium should be limited.

I'm always looking for fun food ideas for my kids!  recommendations + corrections + fun new things to try are definitely welcome! 

preparing for solids

Her first bites.  

We are SO close to getting Baker's first taste of this messy and delicious milestone. 

At Baker's four month check up, her pediatrician mention starting cereal, but I hadn't noticed her increased interest in food when we would eat around her- besides.. I just wasn't ready yet.  The twins started eating oatmeal cereal at four months, and at 6 months I started making their fruits and veggie purees (part I + part II).  The first time mom in me really loved preparing all their foods..and it never advanced from the purees and oatmeal. By the time they got to twelve months of age- they had only had a little bit of 'real' food and so the struggle was real in the introduction of table foods.

This time around with Baby Baker I am definitely going to experiment and try a hybrid of both pureed foods and baby led weaning.  I'm doing this for a couple reasons..

 o n e.. I want the transition to solid (non-pureed) foods to be easier and well received.

t w o.. toddlers.  twin toddlers. running my life.

Although- I bet they would LOVE to help feed her.

This is going to be such an experience for all of us!

While we are still a couple weeks away from trying our first sweet potato, I've put together a guide to help you and me make this transition easier when the time comes- and that time is coming at high speed!  I think I might be ready.. and Baker is SO ready- homegirl grabs everything in sight and directly puts it into her mouth.  

Here we go!

spatula spoons // pocket bib // bowls with a rubber bottom  

stackable snack cups // food masher // silicone food storage tray

While I plan to start with soft pureed foods - oatmeal first, as I did with the twins, and then I plan to introduce pureed fruits and veggies pretty quickly.  While I'm all set with my baby brezza, I love this Dr. Brown's mini food masher  for a quick mash when I need something quick.  A bowl with a rubber bottom- because I had my fair share of bowls kicked off the counter (or out of my hand) by the twins on more than one occasion. Spoons with a wide, shallow base make it easy for your babe to get the food to their mouths - and I love these because of the spatula feature to help wipe away the mess that doesn't make it into her mouth.

OF COURSE the bib is essential.. and a bib with a pocket would be preferred:)  It is time like these when I wish we had an inside dog to clean up after us.

Lastly- the storage.  These silicon freezer trays hold about 2 ounces of food in each little pod, and the flexible tray makes popping out the frozen purees easy peasy.

The stackable snack cups make on-the-go really convenient!  Feeding Baker while out and about just got simple with these leak-proof cups!

I'm so excited for this next milestone- maybe its the foodie in me, I dunno.. but she is growing just way too fast!

WE EAT | Mealtime Favorites

I KNOW I have been slacking on the Meal Plans these last couple weeks.  I have pretty incredible food aversion, and while I've attempted to meal plan and have dinner on the table, it is rare that I'm actually eating it. So, meal planning has fallen to the bottom of my list, because, frankly, I can't even so much as look through my magazines without getting grossed out by something. 

Unless you are a fruit, or end with the word SALAD, I'm not interested.

2014 was the start of Parker and Jolie eating table food - and for us to start sitting down as a family. 

WE EAT was born and I've had the most fun opening up our dinner table to you for sharing our meal time as a family in the evening.

I've decided for this 2nd Day in January of 2015 (<< still typed out 2014 before I corrected myself) to share TEN of our Mealtime Favorites!   

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Turkey Meatballs

Black Bean Cakes 

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Chicken Sausage & Spaghetti Squash Pie

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

BBQ Chicken & Cheddar Stuffed Sweet Potato

Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

White Bean Chicken Chili

Caprese Mac & Cheese

..and not just one, but TWO more for 2015 good luck;)

One Pot Mexican Quinoa

Apple Chicken Sausage Meatballs with Smashed Butternut Squash

WE EAT | Organic

Truth be told, I want to feed my kids healthfully.  My dietitian brain says - I MUST feed them well- EVERYthing organic, pre-washed, washed again, no sweets, no sugar, healthy proteins - steering clear of all saturated fats.  

And then I'm whipped back to reality and my mom brain says I MUST, but then there is always room from some of that fun stuff (like marshmallows and chicken nuggets).  

Seriously though.  Offering your kiddos the healthier option more often than not and making those treats an occasional occurrence is the healthiest (and most affordable) leg to stand on.  

The number one thing I come across as a mom chatting with other moms is the confusion over organic vs conventional (non-organic).  The grocery store can be a scary place to go when shopping for yourself.  Throw the obligation of feeding a couple of small mouths in the mix while standing front and center, empty basket in tow, you'll find yourself in a bit of a dilemma attempting to decipher between the vast array of produce available, and this is all before the mere thought of the term ‘organic’ comes to mind.  

That word is sprinkled throughout your grocery, placed randomly, or so it seems, on fruit, meats, and packaged goods- what does it actually mean?  While definitely not random, the word “organic” refers to the way farmers grow and process products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. The USDA requires that organic produce be developed without using conventional pesticides and fertilizers made with artificial ingredients, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

New organic foods are appearing daily with our choices now ranging from organic cereal to butter. Butter.  Organic butter is healthy (not.) Most families (like ours) cannot afford to go completely organic. But, which foods should you buy organic whenever possible, and which are okay to buy non-organic?

Meat, Dairy, and Eggs: Free of antibiotics, added growth hormones, and pesticides- organic meat, eggs, and dairy products are among those products I would recommend choosing organic over the conventional product. Organically raised animals eat an organic diet that does not contain pesticides or fertilizers. In the organic spectrum- I would suggest to purchase these items whenever available and as budget allows. We buy organic milk and yogurt 100% of the time, organic cheeses about 50% of the time (because that stuff is really expensive for the amount you can purchase - and we eat a lot of cheese), and organic meats when available.  

• Meat including Beef, Pork, Chicken, and Turkey
• Milk and Dairy Products
• Eggs

Fruits and Vegetables: The Environmental Working Group has developed two lists of produce items in regards to going organic. The Dirty Dozen are fruits and vegetables that are most likely to have higher trace amounts of pesticides, and the Clean 15 are those fruits and vegetables that are least likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues.  Most often I purchase the following organic fruits & veggies (when available and on sale): 

apples, grapes, spinach, kale, strawberries, blueberries, & potatoes (we eat the skins).  

See the FULL LIST {here}

Know Your Terminology. The terms “natural” and “organic” are not interchangeable terms. You may see “natural” and other terms such as “all natural,” “free-range” or “hormone-free” on food labels. These descriptions must be truthful, but don’t confuse them with the term “organic.” 

Only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA organic standards can be labeled with the organic seal.

The Cooking Light website has awesome clarification of some of these terms {HERE} and again related the baby food making {HERE}.  I used this as a resource when I started thinking about making Parker and Jolie's first baby foods {Part I HERE and Part II HERE}.

Not all foods have to be purchased organic. Packaged or highly processed foods such as chips, pasta, crackers, bread, cereal, oil, and canned or dried fruits and vegetables don’t have a difference in safety and nutrient values between the organic and non-organic versions.  Those organic fruit snacks or organic cookies aren't doing much for you outside of increasing your grocery budget.  

The Envirnmental Working Group provides excellent insight, as well as a full list (beyond the clean 15 or dirty dozen) They also have a PDF download for easy carrying when shopping for your produce.  Before I had these down to a science in my brain I actually did carry it around as a reference.

The gist.. Dietitian over her shops the conventional most of the time and splurges on the organic for some of the important things.  

What about you?  Organic all the time, most of the time, or not at all?

WE EAT | 'Berry Good Oats

If I let my children own the pen that writes the meal plans they would choose oats for every single meal.  We eat oats often.  Peanut butter oats are a favorite.  Sometimes we put granola in it.  Most of the time we add a little sliced banana.  Other times its brown sugar and cinnamon.

I continue to try to be creative as the week's go by for a variety of options to mix in to this whole grain.

Today I give you..

 Berry Good Oats

(serves one)

1/4 cup whole oats

2/3 cup (organic) whole milk

1 tablespoon strawberry fruit preserves

1 sliced strawberry

3-5 sliced blackberries 

2 teaspoons chia seeds

You might be questioning the chia..but the girls hardly notice them, and it gives these berry oats a little nutritional boost. Chia seeds are higher in antioxidants than blueberries and have more calcium than whole milk. They are very high in Omega-3s, magnesium, fiber, iron, potassium, and protein.  I bought 2 pounds of chia seeds at Sam's for like $7 bucks.  Bulk isn't always the way to go, but it is for sure in this case.  

Jordan uses chia in his smoothies and oatmeal, so we have a family of chia users up in here.

..can we talk about these bowls?   Nûby™does it again with their Sure Grip™ Bowl.  I actually think this is really intended for spoon feeding younger babies, but the polypropylene bowl is practically non-breakable (when thrown from the alpha heights of a high chair..) and the rubber bottom helps keep the bowl put when Parker and Jolie are attempting to spoon out their food, rather than chasing it around their entire tray.

The contour shape helps to keep the oats on their spoon rather than in their lap and eventually onto my floor.

Ginny has learned very quickly where to lay for the best chance of catching a taste.  

Parker never fails to provide the very best foodie faces.  

I have no doubt that in twenty years she will question my photo opportunities. 

The same way it pains me to view the hundreds of baby pictures of me with a mullet. 

Adorable, yo.

Jolie Grace.  

WHY does she put the spoon in her hair at every meal?  If we aren't wearing a big fat hair bow, we are wearing our food.  

I find oatmeal for hours after breakfast is over.  

 Owell- at least they are loving what they are eating.  Saving a little up on top that mop won't hurt anybody.

These oats are good!  Berry Berry good indeed.

WE EAT | Weekly Toddler Menu Plan

Whole Wheat Orzo Salad with Buttermilk Dressing HERE

French Toast Bites HERE

Mexican Macaroni with Grilled Corn HERE

3 Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake HERE

Bacon & Corn Griddle Cakes HERE

{I used the leftover grilled corn from the macaroni recipe}

Black Bean & Quinoa Salad HERE

Summer Vegetable Rigatoni with Chicken HERE

Peaches & Cream Smoothie {serves 2}

1 cup whole milk, 1 cup frozen peaches, 1/4 cup whole milk vanilla greek yogurt

-- 

Blend until smooth!

Chicken Sausage & Black Bean Soup

1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil

1/2 pound chicken sausage, casing removed

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 - 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or chopped

1 tablespoon chili powder 

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

Salt and pepper

2 (15 ounce) cans no salt added black beans

3 cups 99% fat free, lower sodium chicken broth

Optional toppings: tortilla chips, crumbled queso fresco or other mild cheese, sliced scallions, pickled jalapeños, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro

--

In a dutch oven or heavy pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin and coriander; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, to toast the spices for a couple of minutes.
In a food processor or blender, puree 1 can beans and 1 cup chicken broth. Add to the dutch oven along with the remaining 1 can beans and 2 cups stock. Simmer over medium-high heat for a few minutes to thicken.
To serve, line the edges of soup bowls with a few tortilla chips. Add the soup, and any of the toppings 

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

1 (16 ounce) bottle Zesty Italian dressing

2 cups BBQ sauce (I love Sweet Baby Ray's Original)

4 boneless/skinless chicken breasts.  

--

LOW for 6-7 hours. Shred and serve warm. 

Strain the "juice" off of the chicken and use it for additional- as SO yummy - sauce.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Hash

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes

Drizzle of olive oils

Salt & pepper to taste

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans, rinsed and drained

4 whole eggs, slightly beaten with a splash of milk

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 ripe avocado, cubed

Shredded cheese

1 lime, cut into wedges

Salsa or hot sauce (for the adult tastebuds)

--

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place sweet potato cubes on a large baking sheet. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until sweet potatoes are soft and tender. Stir a couple of times while they are roasting.

In a non-stick skillet, heat the onion and black beans over medium-high heat. When the onions are fragrant, stir in the eggs and gently scramble. add in the roasted potatoes ad chopped cilantro.  Serve with cubed avocado and shredded cheese.  (Squeeze of lime and a spoonful of salsa for non-toddlers)

WE EAT | Weekly Toddler Menu Plan

Chicken Fried Rice* {HERE}

Whole Wheat Orzo & White Bean Salad* {HERE}

Greek Chicken & Artichokes* {HERE}

Sweet Potato Hash* {HERE}

Lemon Blueberry Biscuits {HERE}

Guacamole* {HERE} 

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

{1 c frozen strawberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 c whole milk, 2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt}

Sweet Potato Hummus*

{Combine 4 cups (baked) and mashed sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup tahini, 1/4 cup lime juice, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper}

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken* 

{Chicken breast, bottled Zesty Italian dressing, BBQ sauce - LOW for 7 hours, shred}

Spinach Quesadillas

{Whole grain white tortillas [Tia Rosa], fresh organic baby spinach, shredded monterrey jack cheese}

Bean & Quinoa Burgers*

{1 cup cooked quinoa, 15oz can black beans, rinsed & drained, 16 oz jar mild salsa, 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium taco seasoning.  Combine all ingredients and form into patties- bake on a baking sheet coated in cooking spray at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, turning once.}

*Dairy Free

We Eat | Breakfast Oats

Breakfast rut.

Story of my life right now.  Typically when I meal plan, I really focus on lunch and dinner because the girls usually eat the same things every morning.  

Until this week.  

This week they decided they aren't really into the 'regulars' {waffles and peanut butter; bananas and Cheerios; toast and fruit} so I pulled out the big guns.  Big guns would be referring to whole grain oats.

Whole Grain Oats {1/4 cup}

All Natural Peanut Butter {1 tablespoon}

Brown Sugar {1 teaspoon}

Sliced Bananas {1/2 banana}

I've made this on the stove as well as the instant oats packets (original).  No matter how I've made it, I always add a splash of whole milk to cool it down - speed up the temperature cooling rate for serving it to my hungry and impatient little birds.

We are still really working hard and mastering the fork and spoon.. and the whole concept of a plate and bowl.  Parker has seemed to pick it up really quickly, but then again, Parker often resorts to dumping out her food in its entirety to her tray before eating a single bite.  

I think we've found another favorite!  I made sure to make it a tad thick so that it was easy to get on the spoon {and actually make it to their mouth} 

 Totally in love with that 'oat-faced' smile. 

Any go-to toddler breakfasts in your house?

I'm all ears!

WE EAT | Toddler Meal Ideas

At one years old the girls started eating regular meal times- three meals and three snacks a day.  Like every new parent, I was super concerned whether or not the girls ate enough at a meal or throughout the course of a day.

Daily servings for toddlers

• Fruit 3-4 servings a day: fruit- 1/2 to 1 small fruit, 2 to 4 tbsp canned fruit
• Vegetables- 3 servings a day: 2 to 3 tbsp cooked vegetables
• Dairy- 4 to 5 servings a day: dairy- 1/2 cup milk (whole milk for 2 years or younger) per serving or 1/2 cup yogurt
• Protein- 2 servings a day: 1 to 2 oz meat, 1 egg per serving, or 4 to 5 tbsp cooked legumes
• Grain products- 3 to 4 servings a day: 1/2 to 1 slice of whole grain bread; 1/4 to 1/2 cups rice or pasta, preferably whole grain like brown rice, whole wheat pasta or quinoa pasta, or 1/2 cup to 1 cup dry low sugar cereal, 1/4 to 1/2 bagel, 1/2 to 1 whole wheat or corn tortilla

Children catch on fast and they know when to cry, whine or charm their way into a certain food selection. Parker is notorious for this.  If ever its a mealtime when they are trying something new and it isn't up to her expectations, (this is my life..) she gets pretty upset and refuses to eat.  Jolie is typically less picky and will try everything.  Once Parker sees her sister eating, she will often try several bites before deciding she's done.  I do my very best to offer well-balanced and nutritious meals and healthy snacks- and the occasional convenience mixed in here and there- letting the my girls eat or not eat the amount of the food offered. Children often need to be exposed to the same food many times (10-20 times) before it is accepted.  Reinforcing the importance of regular meal times and healthy food choices help to mold good eating habits formed early in life.

I have found that meal planning for the girls, just as I do for Jordan and I, has been incredibly helpful in forming my grocery list and planning and preparing meals ahead of time when I can.  It also provides a no-brainer explanation when it comes to feeding the girls when I am not home with them or we happen to be out and about.  

A typical meal plan for Parker and Jolie at 15 months (has been the same since 12 months) 

Breakfast (7:30-8am): mini waffles with peanut butter (4 mini waffles, 1 tablespoons peanut butter), 1/2 slices banana, 1/2 cup organic whole milk 

Snack (9:30am): 1/2 cup whole milk Greek yogurt or fruit pouch 

Lunch (12-12:30pm): 1.5 ounces diced deli turkey, whole milk mozzarella string cheese, sliced grapes or strawberries OR 2 tablespoons guacamole spread on whole wheat pita bread, mandarin oranges 

Snack (2:30pm): whole grain goldfish, fruit pouch, multi-grain Cheerios, graham bunnies (Annie's), veggie stix 

Optional Snack (5pm): apple slices, multi-grain Cheerios, veggie stix 

Dinner (6pm): turkey meatballs, cheesy broccoli OR scrambled eggs with cheese and turkey dogs OR baked chicken nuggets, baked sweet potato fries, steamed carrots with a little butter OR whole wheat pasta, red sauce, and chicken or turkey sausage OR whatever we are eating that night (casserole, etc.)

The things on this 'toddler menu' is usually on repeat in some sort of fashion every single week.  For the most part the girls eat the same breakfast on most mornings.  They love the mini waffles and peanut butter.  Would probably eat them every meal if I let them.

Toddler Breakfast Meal Ideas:

• Mini waffles with peanut butter and sliced banana
• Whole cooked oats mixed with whole milk yogurt and a little brown sugar, blueberries/strawberries.
• Mini Banana Pancake Muffins (recipe here)
• Whole cooked oats mixed with mashed banana, and a dash of cinnamon
• 1/2 English muffin, 2 teaspoons peanut butter, sliced berries
• Scrambled eggs with spinach and cream cheese (1 whole egg, 1 tablespoon cream cheese, 2 tablespoons chopped organic baby spinach), whole grain toast with strawberry jam
• Cheesy Scrambled Eggs (1 whole egg, 1 tablespoons whole milk shredded cheddar), 1/2 cup organic whole milk yogurt.
• Mini Omelet Cups (I make these in bulk and freeze them for later use)- 8 whole eggs, 1/2 cup whole milk, shredded cheese, veggies and meats of choice.  Bake @ 350 degree in a mini muffin tin for 25 minutes.  
• 1/4 cup Cheerios (we do the multi grain), 1/4 cup diced melon (cantaloupe), 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt
• Fruity cream-cheese pinwheels (Spread low-fat cream cheese on a small whole-grain tortilla. Top with sliced fruit. Roll up the tortilla, and then slice into “pinwheels.”)

Smoothies (makes 2 (8-ounce) smoothies)

• Morning Glory Smoothie ( 6 organic baby carrots, 1/4 c 100% pear juice (such as Gerber brand), 1/2 c frozen pineapple, 2/3 c vanilla Greek yogurt, 1/4 c frozen mango)
• Banana Split Smoothie (1 c frozen strawberries, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 c low fat chocolate milk, 2/3 cup vanilla Greek yogurt)
• Berry Berry Green Smoothie (1 c loosely packed organic baby spinach, 1 c frozen mixed berries, 1/2 c vanilla Greek yogurt, 1/2 c whole milk)
• Life's a Peach Smoothie (1/2 c frozen peaches, 1/2 c frozen strawberries, 2/3 c vanilla Greek yogurt, 4 fresh basil leaves)
• Love A'cado Smoothie (1/4 ripe avocado, 1/2 cup organic baby spinach, 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries, 1/2 c frozen mangos) 

Toddler Lunch/Dinner Meal Ideas:

• Alfredo Veggie Pasta (frozen mixed veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green beans), whole wheat tube pasta & homemade Alfredo sauce- recipe here) with mandarin oranges (canned in juice)
• Baked chicken nuggets (all white meat), 1/2 cup chopped broccoli with American cheese, strawberry slices
• Guacamole (recipe here) on whole wheat pita bread, sliced green grapes
• Baked fish sticks, 1/4 cup steamed butternut squash, 1/4 cup chopped broccoli
• Grilled cheese (American 2% cheese slices, whole grain white bread), Veggie Stix, peaches (canned in 100% juice)
• Creamy Tomato & Sausage Tortellini (recipe here), 1/2 c sliced pears (canned in light syrup)
• PB&J on whole grain white bread, sliced apple sticks (no skin), 1 cutie orange
• Beef Stew (recipe here), whole wheat egg noodles, cinnamon applesauce pouch
• Turkey Dogs and Cheesy Cheddar Scramble, 1/2 c sliced peaches (canned in juice)
• Deli turkey meat (Boar's Head), cheesy broccoli rice (Green Giant steamer bag), mango applesauce
• Mexican Egg & Refried Bean Tostadas (3 whole eggs, splash of whole milk, diced tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers- spread fat free refried beans on a corn tostada, top with egg mixture and serve with cheese and plain Greek yogurt), sliced green grapes
• Veggie Burger (brown rice), sweet potato hummus (blend together: baked sweet potato, skins removed, 2 tablespoons tahini paste, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/4 tsp kosher salt), 1/2 c blackberries
• Cheese Broccoli Quinoa (recipe here) with rotisserie chicken (white meat), 1/4 cup steamed carrots, apple sticks
• Turkey Meatballs (recipe here), cheesy veggies (Green Giant steamer bag), fresh mango slices
• 2 ounces deli turkey or ham (Boar's Head),  5 whole grain crackers, whole milk mozzarella string cheese
• Turkey Sausage Alfredo Pasta (homemade Alfredo sauce- recipe here- lean turkey or chicken sausage, whole grain/wheat tube pasta),  steamed broccoli, sliced grapes
• Mini Egg Frittatas with deli ham and hash browns (recipe here)
• 2 oz Deli turkey, 1 oz sharp cheddar cheese cubes, 1/2 c mandarin oranges (canned in juice), 1/4 c steamed peas
• 1/4 baked sweet potato, 1/4 c shredded rotisserie chicken, 1/4 c melon
• Bean burger (recipe here), 1/4 c cubed avocado, 1/4 c blueberries, 1/4 c sliced strawberries
• 1 sliced hard boiled egg, fresh veggie sticks (zucchini, squash, carrots), 1 half whole grain English Muffin
• Curly whole wheat noodles with peas & zucchini in marinara sauce sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 cutie orange 
• Greek Cous Cous (grape tomatoes, chopped, skins removed cucumber, feta cheese, sea salt an olive oil), applesauce pouch
• Veggie Quesadillas (white tortilla, cooked sweet peppers, onions, tomatoes, shredded monterey jack cheese- grilled or sautéed until cheese is melty), plain Greek yogurt for dipping, 1/2 c cantaloupe
• BBQ Chicken Pizza (recipe here), 1/2 sliced strawberries
• 2 oz Grilled chicken breast, 1/2 c baked sweet potato fries, 1/2 c steamed broccoli with American cheese
• Mexican Turkey Bowl (1/2 c cooked ground turkey, 1/4 cup black beans (rinsed), 2 tablespoons diced fresh tomatoes, 2 tablespoons diced sweet bell peppers), 1/4 c sliced grapes, 1/4 c blueberries
• Mini Meatloaf (recipe here)- make and freeze leftovers, mashed potatoes (boiled red potatoes-skins on-, buttermilk, salt, pepper), steamed broccoli
• Turkey & Veggie Sloppy Joe (recipe here), 1/2 cup strawberry honey Greek yogurt
• Broccoli, Chicken & Rice Bowl (1/4 cup brown rice, 1/4 cup chopped steamed broccoli, 2 ounces rotisserie chicken, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese), applesauce pouch
• Ham & Cheese Muffins (recipe here) 1/2 c mandarin oranges
• Pizza Minis (whole wheat pita bread, marinara sauce and shredded cheese) with veggie toppings
• Hummus Pinwheels (recipe here), sliced green grapes
• Chicken, Bean, and Cheese Quesadillas (recipe here) with 1/4 cup steamed corn & sliced peaches

There is my toddler meal planning list to start. This list will grow and I will surely update (because I like to look back and while I'm meal planning myself!) I make my meal plan a week ahead of time so that developing my grocery list is super simple and quick.  I make my list from the meal plans (both the little birds and for the adults) and it allows me to manage my budget in such a way to keep it under control.  Going to the grocery store without a list is a terrible habit to allow myself to do.  I would spent $300 and come home with nothing.  We've all been there. 

Be productive, make a list, feel accomplished.

Good luck!  Feel free to email me with any questions you may have (click that 'contact' button at the top!)

Snacks are next!

We EAT | PB&J

This is Parker and Jolie. 

You know them, right?  They are my children.

And they L.O.V.E. peanut butter. 

Like.  loveeeeee it

We eat it everyday. And it is surely no surprise at all that these little PB-obsessed birds love it, too. 

I ate it every.single.day. while they were in my belly.

Peanut butter crack as a former co-worker used to call it..

Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly Sandwich

there were peaches, too.. but peanut butter reigned over all at this meal.

Peanut butter is one of those 'scary' foods for young babies. We waited until 1 year to offer it to them for the first time.  Made sure to be in a safe and controlled environment when we did it, too {we were at the fire station with a house full of medics sitting at the table with us}

The rest is history.

We eat a PBJ a couple times a week.  I've fallen in love with Uncrustables. 

The Uncrustables travel easy in the diaper bag (they are kept frozen) while we are out and about- and thaw out just in time for lunch.

I know they will for sure eat it and I'm thankful for that.  Last thing I need is two cranky and hungry babies when we are out trying to accomplish a to-do list a mile long.  They do so much better when they have full bellies. 

How do you think I make it through the grocery store?  Snacks.  Lots and lots of snacks.

Uncrustables.. its peanut butter and its jelly.  On white bread.  So, yes.  We love them.

..and again with stuffing the food in the straws of their sippy cups.  Any one else's kiddo do this?

I'm thinking that our next little girl will have a name starting with a "B"'.  That way our little PB&J love will be complete.  What do you think?

Good.  Me too.

{Jordan might be keeling over in his chair right about now with the thought of a FOUR girls in his house...}