and all of this food talk makes me think…  how i feed the young’n's:

we have a cup of milk first thing (a shot of coffee in the coco for the two older ones – yes, i do, stand down!) and a banana, poptart, granola bar, or other some such insta-food.  at about 9:30 or 10 we have a big breakfast – pancakes, french toast, eggs, something substantial (sometimes this is a leftover that doesn’t really qualify for breakfast – ever noticed kids don’t care?  and to be perfectly honest this is sometimes frozen pizza – yes, i do, stand down!)  then “lunch” is usually after naptime closer to 2pm – and something like lunchmeat, peanuts, fruit, veggies, toast whatever is easy and snacky – not formal-sit-down, just wander in and out, buffet style.  then dinner is more structured.  i try to cook a full meal and we all sit at the table together with daddy and talk and laugh and say about a gazillion times, “sit down”  “eat”  “we don’t need to see the food in your mouth”  “sit down”  “be careful”  “try not to spill”  – you know.  (disclaimer:  this is natural and unforced.  i always read these “you must have a meal with your family” books.  and i agree, but it just comes easy.  and it doesn’t have to be dinner – when does it work for you?  when my honey was working nights – he wasn’t home for dinner and his biggest meal of the day was at 7:30 in the morning when he got home – so that was our “come together” time.  do what works.) 

baby eats what and when we eat (you know, once he’s eating food other than from me!)  occasionally the dinner is too spicy and we pull out some leftover that he can eat.  we don’t fix “kid” foods at meal times.  the older ones (everybody but the baby) eat what we eat or go hungry.  there’s usually something they’ll eat.  if not, so sorry for ya.  and besides, all the other meal times are catered to their likes, so get over it.  dinner (and weekend breakfasts with daddy) are grown-up meals.  we also don’t force food.  you must take one bite of everything on your plate (and everything on the table gets put on their plate – even if that’s one lima bean) or you don’t get whatever dessert or treat we have.  there’s no plate cleaning.  there’s no forced feeding.  try it, eat it, or be hungry til the next meal.  and no sweets if you refuse the food.  we will fudge on this rule for toddlers – 1 and 2 year olds, but the olders (including my almost 3 year old must adhere).  and they know this.  and we still have the battle at most meals.  but they’ll learn eventually and my oldest has.  he has actually expanded his palate.  either we had something to do with that or it was gonna happen anyway, either way who cares.

so… there’s us.  how’s the food at your house?