Weekly Meal Planning is back! My kitchen is still not complete but at least we now have counter-tops, a sink, burner, toaster, and microwave. I’ll be sure to post some pictures when it’s all done.
Life is good.
I’ll be relying on the slow cooker and burner for most of the meals this week. I’ll be trying a tasty-looking shrimp dish. I’m also trying a new chicken meal in the slow cooker.
I’ll be expanding my meal planning with a “salad of the week.” My goal is to vary the salads we eat, which was one of the reasons for the 8 Salads That Will Get Kids Hooked post.
For more meal ideas see Org Junkie.
What’s Cooking this Week?
Monday: Have it Your Way Tacos
Tuesday: Veggie Lasagna with bread and salad
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken, carrots and potatoes with fruit salad
Thursday: Tomato Shrimp Pasta, bread, and salad
Friday: Leftovers
Salad of the week: Apple Pecan Cranberry Spinach Salad
The Fallacy of the Good Eater
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how differently my kids eat right now. My 4-year old daughter (Big A) is picky, still somewhat afraid of new foods, and is pretty erratic in how much she eats.
My 19-month old boy (Little D) is still eating with gusto at almost every meal. In fact, he has always had a big appetite. He is smaller than my daughter – usually 20th percentile for weight and 60th percentile for height at well check visits. She’s usually about 50/50.
It’s interesting to hear the comments family and friends make when they see Little D eating. “Wow he’s a good eater,” is common. And if he’s really going at it we might hear “excellent eater!”
My sister-in-law, whose 13-month old who eats much less than Little D, always says “I wish Little R ate like that.”
What do you think people would say if Little D was a bigger-than-average child? Would he still be a good eater? Or would they stare at me when I keep giving him food?
The definition of a “good eater” changes for adults. It seems those that are more controlled with their eating are considered the better eaters. Adults always seem to justify eating more food by saying “I really shouldn’t do this but I’m having more.” Or they make excuses like “It’s vacation — I’m going to eat what I want.”
I guess my point is that these judgments around eating keep people from getting the right amount of food their bodies need. Kids who eat less are not worse eaters than those who eat more, especially when they are following their appetite. And why shouldn’t a big kid have a big appetite?
My son doesn’t understand the good eater thing yet, but my daughter sure does. Sometimes when she finishes her food she’ll look at me and say “look mom I finished.”
I always tell her that eating more food is not better. She needs to listen to her body (stomach) — and not mommy or anyone else.
News: The Fat Debate and Snacking for Meals
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) annual conference was held in Boston a few weeks ago. One session that received a lot of attention, The Great Fat Debate, had four expert panelists on to discuss the role different types of fat have on health.
While there was plenty to disagree on, all the panelists agreed that replacing fat in the diet with carbohydrates is not beneficial for health (basically a low-fat diet).
What scientists now know is people are better off including healthier fats from plants and fish. There are some who think saturated fats (animal-based) are not as unhealthy as Dietary Guidelines say but more studies are needed to confirm this. I’ll be posting more on fat’s role in the diet in the New Year.
A survey conducted by the ADA Foundation showed that more than 40 percent of children aged 8 to 17 don’t eat breakfast every day. And more than 20 percent do not eat dinner daily. The survey also found that missed meals were often replaced with snacking.
In my post “Is Your Kid a Good or Bad Snacker? I talk about the positive role snacks play in the diets of children. When timed appropriately and included as nutrient-rich mini-meals, snacking is beneficial for children (and adults!).
In order to manage hunger appropriately, meals are essential. I tend to graze more on weekends (Sunday) and am never satisfied the way I am with sit-down meals.
Well, that’s enough rambling for now. I hope you have a great week!
ant to create your own dinner rotation? Get step-by-step help in Maryann’s book The Family Dinner Solution.
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