Food
Posted by: Victoria Mason, January 12, 2010 in 8:28 pm
With one child it was not so bad. I made her lunch, served it and typically ate alongside her. Adding a second child into the mix, in full high-chair utilizing mode, has suddenly made lunchtime incredibly crazy. I have begun to do everything the “experts” say not to do. I eat standing up. I eat on the run. I never feel relaxed or satisfied. When lunchtime is over I’m hard pressed to tell you just what exactly it was that I ate. If I try to sit down to eat my own food someone else needs more milk, more fruit, more whatever. More everything. Each time I sit down there is another request. So now I no longer sit.
I was discussing this with my mother this week and she said, “Just do what my mother did, she had four kids after all.” Apparently my grandmother simply made an announcement one day that when she sat down to eat she wasn’t getting up until she was finished. That’s it. I decided to employ this rule in my house and it worked too. I made every one’s lunch, didn’t serve it until everything was ready for everyone and when I did, I made sure I sat down too. As I sat at the table I explained to the kids, “I need to eat at the same time as you, I will not be getting up until I am finished with my food. If you need anything you can get it yourself or wait until I am done. That is how it will work from now on. Understand?” And for the most part they did.
It takes me more advance thinking on my part as well as coordination and planning to serve everyone all at once instead of as I make the food, but I’m more sane and relaxed this way. If I’m more sane, then so is everyone else.
Posted by: Frogmama, November 28, 2009 in 9:13 am
Is there someone special you think of every Thanksgiving? Someone, perhaps, who knit you a warm, fuzzy hat with your initials or who baked you a blueberry pie even though blueberries weren’t in season? How nice.
Well, I’ve got someone I think of too.
Aunt Burty, God rest her wrinkled soul, was my second cousin’s twice removed aunt, or something like that. You know those fake eyes you hot glue to crafty projects? The eyes that don’t line up and have a mind of their own? Now put those eyes behind bottle glasses and add red lipstick and a newt. That was Burty.
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Posted by: Michael Sajkowicz, November 12, 2009 in 12:52 am
For parents of young children, the thought of going to a restaurant with the kids may be daunting. With a little preparation, you can turn a chaotic meal into something manageable. Here are some tips to help those dinner outings go a little more smoothly!
1- WET WIPES. Meal time can be messy enough at home but the same disaster can be more than just a little inconvenient in the restaurant. Wet wipes, which are always good to have on hand anyway, could end up being a lifesaver at the table. Keep a pack or two handy on your night out and you won’t be dragging your kids back and forth to the bathroom.
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Posted by: Michael Sajkowicz, October 20, 2009 in 11:50 am
Plum Organics has announced a voluntary recall of a small selection of their Apple & Carrot Baby Food in Portable Pouches due to potential botulism contamination.
Look for a best by date of May 21, 2010 and the UPC code #890180001221.
This product was sold nationwide at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores.
Plum Organics has issued a press release with full details:
EMERYVILLE, CA, October 19, 2009 — Plum Organics ™ announced today that it is taking the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling one particular batch of its 4.22 oz. Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food with the best by date May 21, 2010 and marked with the following universal product code (UPC) #890180001221 located on the bottom of the package. These pouches are sold individually at Toys-R-Us and Babies-
R-Us locations nationally.
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this product and no other Plum Organics products are affected. As a further precaution, samples from every Plum Organics product manufactured before and after this batch were tested and found to be within quality standards.
The recall was undertaken as a precaution due to the risk of potential contamination with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and sometimes life- threatening condition. Consumers should not use these products, even if they appear to be normal, because of the possible health risk. Symptoms of botulism poisoning in humans include general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
Their full statement is available here.
Posted by: tiff snedaker, August 27, 2009 in 7:20 pm
My non-perfect parent moment – I used to work nights. It was before I had my 2nd. I would come home from work and get maybe an hour or two of sleep. This basically meant I was a walking zombie. I remember dozing off on the couch and giving my two year old at the time a box of cereal and turning on a cartoon for him to watch. 10 minutes later, I woke up and noticed something all over Chandler’s face. He was saying….”mmmmm….lemmy! (Yummy) He had gotten into a box of chocolates that I had bought the day before and had eaten more than half of them. There were about 30 in the box to begin with. Needless to say he had an upset tummy the next few hours and I felt awful. I know he enjoyed it at the time though…lol. Word to the wise – don’t fall asleep with your two year old roaming your apartment!
Posted by: Victoria Mason, August 7, 2009 in 4:03 pm
I’ve been traveling for work a lot lately. A day here, four days there. I am becoming quite familiar with the scent of a town car, the various “safe” bathrooms in this great nation’s airports and how lacking they are in fresh food. Carbs abound in airports that much is known. Salt, fat and sugar are right on its heels. They fill you up, they get you high and satiate you for short periods of time. When you travel it is all about getting yourself from point A to point B. However your body needs and craves the fuel that really drives it. Vegetables and fruit are what I need and lack.
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Posted by: honestbaby, July 22, 2009 in 8:55 am
Sometime between 6 and 10 months your baby will probably show interest in feeding themselves.? Usually they are already sitting up and will reach for your food or try to grab your fork.? The excitement of this milestone may give you the urge to feed them whatever you are eating but you need to choose their first finger foods carefully.? It should be something that is easy for them to grasp with their fingers but soft enough that they won?t choke. Here are some of our favorites:
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Posted by: J Corbin, July 16, 2009 in 2:00 am
A generation ago food allergies were far less frequent than they are now. Parents could send in homemade treats for their children’s parties at school and serving peanuts on airplanes was commonplace. Unfortunately, times have changed as an increasing number of children are diagnosed with food allergies every year. Nearly every packaged food product now displays what allergen it contains and/or was made in the same vicinity of. Most schools now require that any food sent in for a party be store bought to avoid any possibility of homemade snacks containing even the slightest residue of “harmful” allergens. How did such a drastic change come about so quickly? What has happened in our society and environment to make food consumption so restrictive and frightening?
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Posted by: Megan, July 15, 2009 in 11:58 am
My most imperfect parenting moment…I gave my 10 month old egg whites. He broke out in hives instantly and started scratching out of control. They went away shortly but, I still felt like the worst mother ever! Who knew babies couldn’t have egg whites???
Posted by: Victoria Mason, June 22, 2009 in 2:01 pm
I review products weekly on my review blog and while I am often sent many wonderful, engaging and sometimes down right bizarre items to test out and write up there are a few select items that I just cannot wait to get my hands on right from their release.? The Dulce Gusto ($169) coffee machine by Krups Nescafe is one such item.
When I first layed eyes on this orb-shaped machine I was skeptical.? It makes only one drink at a time and while those drinks are numerous in flavor (cappucino, espresso, americano, hot chocolate, lattes and more!) I was leary of the taste, quality and price tag.? Would having something suck up more counter space really be worth it?? Would I even use it to justify it’s price?? One word: Yes!
Since receiving the Dulce Gusto as a birthday present (Thanks Mom and Dad!) I have used it at least once a day.? Even after weeks of use I still cannot wait to start it up each morning. Here’s why- in about 30 seconds I have the perfect espresso, latte or cappacuino and it tastes identical to the ones I get at the local SBUX.? No more running out mid-day with the two kids in tow to get my latte fix and forking over my meager writing wages to the local barista.? Now I am the barista whenever I want to be and it is fabulous!?
To me, this machine is entirely worth it if you a.) only need one cup at a time.? b.) Like specialty coffees and/or c.) are looking for a way to save money.? It’s a bigger up front cost but it saves time and money in the long run.
