We’re big on birthdays in our house.  I’m not entirely sure why.  Perhaps it’s a direct function of the proximity of Kate Margaret and Carter’s birthdays.  My little Irish twins are exactly 51 weeks apart which lends quite well to a whole week of celebrating.  Of course, I planned having them perfectly spaced as such…a […]

I’m always trying to figure out ways to sneak additional nutrition into my little ones’ diets. At ages two and three, they are very particular about what they’ll eat. The blended identity of a smoothie is a perfect way to appease a picky eater. If the flavor is desirable and the color appealing, you’ve got a winner. I know your thinking that smoothies are nothing new; everyone under the sun makes them. Well, yes and no. I want you to think about smoothies differently than the usual suspects of milk, banana, orange juice, etc. There is an opportunity to get much more sophisticated and sneaky. Popsicles are just a frozen extension to a smoothie...

When it comes to getting my toddlers excited about new and unique foods, I will do most anything. The easiest method is a no-brainer. Since children are curious by nature, simply observing their parents enjoying a new food can really pique their interest. Don’t forget that displaying some enthusiasm, talking about the food (color, shape, texture, flavor, history, etc), and tactile exploring are great ways to introduce new foods. Sometimes, a child will want to expand their culinary horizons on their own accord. Recently, I was surprised when my ultra-finicky child did just that with a piece of an exotic fruit that I hadn’t seen in years.