Feeding a Family

Menu planning is just one of my many weekly tasks.  I happen to enjoy writing out my list, although thinking up meals for every night of the week can be tedious.  Once I have a menu planned, I go through the grocery store aisles in my head, making sure my list corresponds perfectly. Every list begins with fresh fruit (the first thing I see in the store) and ends with a loaf of bread from the last aisle. I hate back-tracking…sometimes I would rather not buy something than back-track.  That’s silly…I know.

Since the girls started eating solid food, our grocery bill has risen and the planning takes just a bit longer.   I try my hardest to limit the amount of processed food the girls eat.  While, I’ve given in to the made-for-baby puffs, anything else that comes in a box/container/can tends to be organic.  I love Annie’s products; luckily I often find them on sale at Giant Eagle or Target.

Once I get home with all the groceries, I am faced with another task: making sure the girls get the recommended amount of fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains and protein everyday.  I think one of the hardest parts is limiting carbohydrates.  I don’t lose sleep over it or anything, but preparing fruits and vegetables isn’t quite as easy as handing the girls a cracker.  There isn’t a fruit the girls won’t touch and they continue to surprise me with their willingness to eat new foods.  We were particularly excited when they ate asparagus, beets, eggplant, black beans and portabella mushrooms without hesitation.  I think they could do without broccoli, but I keep finding ways to sneak it in there.  I am a fan of variety, so if anyone has any healthy meal ideas for toddlers, I’m all ears.  One thing I like to do is puree cooked carrots and cream cheese together.  The girls love it on soft wheat bread and it’s an easy way to get in a serving of veggies.  

By being conscious of what we consume on a daily basis, it leaves room for splurges now and then.  You won't find me denying the girls a cheese puff at grandma's house, chocolate from grandpa, or a bite of my dessert.  Everything in moderation is our motto.