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Toddler Eating: What's going on and what to do about it

Any parent remembers a time they were steaming, boiling, dicing, chopping, pureeing, and mashing a variety of healthy food combinations for their hungry infant. There were times in our household, I would fill a cereal bowl with whatever I had prepared, presumed it was an ambitious amount to give my little girl, and was amazed when she didn't seem to slow down until the very last bite. Fast forward to the months before her second birthday, my girl who would eat anything and everything was suddenly someone who could forgo dinner easily. Meals, at times, had become almost rude interruptions. So what was going on? What were we, the parents, to do?

What the Experts say

In infancy, children are doubling, and even tripling their weight. Conversely, in their third year, the average toddler gains approximately 4 lbs. (1.8 kg) and grows only 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm), according to Dr. Steven Dowshen, Chief Medical Editor of the KidsHealth website. Moreover, by their second birthday most children are avidly asserting their autonomy. Making decisions, mainly saying, "no," allows them to feel in control. Dr. Claire McCarthy writes on Parents.com that eating also becomes a low-priority activity when there are towers to build, dolls to dress and a world of other possibilities to explore!

When to Worry

Dr. McCarthy states that a loss of appetite in toddlers is rarely a concern. However, contact your doctor if your child is:

• losing weight
• complaining of a stomachache or other pains
• vomiting, having diarrhea or blood in his/ her stool
• experiencing a fever, cough or other signs of illness

What you can do to

• Be patient and have perspective. it may seem that your toddler is eating next to nothing. However, if they aren't showing symptoms outlined above, they are likely just listening to their own hunger cues. Also, they are trying to establish their control. Remember the adage, "it takes two to tango". If your child doesn't want to eat, and you insist, meal time has turned into a senseless battle. A standoff of wills. Offer encouragement. If it doesn't work, wrap up the food or leave it out for when she is hungry.
• Have tupperware and/ or cling wrap on hand to save any food that remains uneaten
• Give choices. No, I am not saying be a short order cook. All I'm saying is if offering food choice is inconsequential, offer them! For instance, for breakfast, quite often I let my daughter decide between two cereals. At snack time, I let her decide on where she sits at the dining table or at her own table we have from IKEA.
• Let them help! When it's safe for them to partake in making a meal, do so! They will feel empowered, will learn as they go, and likely will sample throughout.
• Offer nutrient dense food as often as possible. It only makes sense; if they are skipping meals, when they eat, it needs to be good stuff as much as possible.
• Make food exciting!!!



photo credit: thevintagemodernwife.com

• Mickey Mouse or snowman whole wheat pancakes seem to be hilarious!
• Mini bento style meals or bites size food in an ice cube tray are interesting and also offer choices.
• Dips, such as all-natural ranch, caesar dressing, mayonnaise or hummus make veggies more flavourful and fun.
• A creamer filled with milk on the side of cereal means a toddler can pour the milk themselves.
• Fill the bottom drawer of the fridge with small containers or little ziplock baggies of cut fresh fruit, veggies, and/ or cheese to allow your little one to access healthy food themselves.
• Make popsicles. We received this set from Tupperware as a gift. I chop fresh or frozen fruit, top with a little bit of juice and freeze. Or, I will simply pull the lid off of some all-natural yogurt, place a straw, or popsicle stick inside, and freeze.
• Get sneaky by incorporating vegetables in their favourite foods! My daughter loves pizza and pasta. So far, she happily eats vegetarian pizza and will eat this spinach pasta by Giada De Laurentis.

  

  photo credit: Jennifer Bishop Design

Do you have your own easy, fun, inexpenisve tips on how to get your toddler to eat? Please share them! Write or tweet me and you could be featured in this post or a future post of mine!

Whole Wheat Crêpes

With a two year old and an almost eleven month old, a hearty breakfast is more pertinent than ever. While my daughter is watching her morning cartoons, and with my son pulling himself on my legs, I whip this recipe up. I cook three immediately and then use the rest of the batter for the following two days. I top with about a tablespoon of pure maple syrup and incredible, organic frozen raspberries from Spud.ca

Ingredients

1 cup warm water

1 cup 1% milk

4 large eggs

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 cups no additive whole wheat flour

Directions

Preheat a mid-sized frying pan on medium heat. Spray with olive oil. Put all wet ingredients in a bowl, slowly whisk in flour. Take approximately 1/3 cup of batter, and spread it around the pan until pan is fully covered. Allow batter to cook until edges brown and lift from the pan, flip and let cook for 30-60 seconds more. Spray pan again and repeat. Makes approximately ten crêpes.

Nutritional information

For approx. one crêpe

Calories 133

Fat (g) 5.9

Carbs (g) 13

  - Fiber (g) 2.7
  - Sugar (g) 1

Protein (g) 5.4
Sodium (mg) 33.3

A Letter on Baby "Must-Haves"

photo credit: Danielle Jonas

So there I was visibly pregnant, waddling around a baby store with my husband in tow. The time had come to start compiling a list of what we both wanted and needed for our little one and his or her nursery. As I flipped through the crib mattresses like pages of a very over-sized book, I examine each label carefully. Of course, this was our baby. He or she was going to have the absolute best. I noticed a label that read "organic" and figured it was a must have. As we made our way to the diapers, I looked at my husband, "These ones!" I beamed.  "Alana," my husband said somewhat disapprovingly, "all you did was choose the most expensive ones." My heart sank. They had to be the most expensive for a reason right?" Have you ever had or known someone who's had an organic mattress?" Dammit! It was true. I wasn't thinking. For the first time in my adult life, I was emotionally going through a store making not-so-wise choices. After having my 'aha' moment in the store coupled with experience of having my first, I became a whole lot more prudent. What is and isn't important for each family to have for their baby is dependent on so many different variables. When asked by an expecting friend for my list of "must haves," here is what I wrote.

My friend, Christine:

We are hoping you might be able to help us figure out the must haves for new babies! 
There are so many products out there and we are limited on space and money so we would like to keep it smart. We are starting to look now so we can find deals/ secondhand, etc.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
xoxo

My response:

Hey!

Obviously you will need a crib, carseat, stroller... I feel the latter two end up being a bit personal. Okay I'm just going to dive right in, here's my strategic list of "Baby Must-Haves":


Bassinet/ crib: I highly recommend doing research (government websites, consumer reports and online reviews are all good resources). Then, start searching on Craigslist.  I got our bassinet for 30% less than it was being sold online and it has rarely been used (we, the parents chose to co-sleep). 

Baby swing/ bouncy seat: See if you can borrow someone's baby swing and/ or bouncy seat. Our daughter out grew out of the swing we borrowed before she was four months. And, they retail for about $150 brand new. We got a bouncey seat on sale for $25. Nonetheless, it wasn't something we used too much.

photo credit: mogs.org

Changing pad, no changing table: Once they start rolling (around four months), you'll change them on the floor. We bought a change pad at Walmart. I recommend foregoing the cover for the change pad; the pad itself should be water resistant and therefore you can wipe/ clean/ disinfect as needed. Just put it on top of baby's dresser until you no longer need it. 

Few newborn clothes. An ample number size 3 month PJs and onesies: We've all heard about kids growing "in the blink of an eye". The expression couldn't be more true for the infant stage. Some "newborn" sizes are meant for up to 7 lbs., while others extend to 10 lbs. Either way, with the average Canadian baby weighing in at 7.5 lbs (3400 g), some outfits may only fit once. For the most part, we rolled the sleeves of 3 month sleepers. 
The reason I suggest onesies and sleepers especially in the first few weeks, is that most new moms are just getting their bearings and starting to get to know their little one. Jammies are easy, cover the baby up perfectly, and probably work match what you're in anyways! Onesies are great underneath (they also help contain blow-outs, if and when, they happen). If baby is born in summer, they are great as is!
I say get ample onesies because no matter how often you are doing laundry, whatever supply you do have will be puked on, peed on, and leaked on in every way imaginable, and even unimaginable for that matter.

A good number of receiving blankets: These are key for burping and quickly wiping up those imaginable and unimaginable mishaps outlined above! 

Second-hand, quality breast pump: Of course, this is only if you plan on breastfeeding. A good breast pump goes a long way. It helps if you end up with a clogged duct, or worse still, mastitis. Furthermore, if you'd like to introduce a bottle, mix milk into pablum, or increase your milk supply, you will be relieved you have the pump. When I asked roughly a dozen momma friends what they use themselves, all of them but one said go for electric. 

The idea of second-hand may have you squeamish. When I had both a public health nurse and a nurse at prenatal suggest renting, I realized it wasn't uncommon. As it turns out, every piece that needs to be sterilized can be.  Renting one adds up quickly. I bought my Medela Swing for $70 on Craigslist (regularly $200 retail).

Use throw pillows instead of a nursing pillow: This way you can use more/ less pillows to get the desired height based on your position.

New/used on a good quality baby carrier: You'll likely use it A LOT. I recommend ensuring there is a waist strap to alleviate pressure on your lower back. We had the original Bjorne lent to us, and though I loved the structure of the carrier, I needed something with more support. Fortunately, we got a new one as a gift. After asking many mommy friends, and casually surveying moms at a "Baby and Me" yoga class, the two brands that were consistently recommended were Baby Bjorn (at least one model comes with a waist strap), and Ergo Baby. If you are interested in some of the reported benefits of regularly using a carrier, check this out!

Finally, the parenting book(s) I had recommended to me the most, and incidentally resonated with me the most was the series by Tracey Hogg called the Baby Whisperer.

Hope this helps!

xo
Alana

Did I miss anything you would suggest? Write me or tweet me!

Hearty Spin Dip and a Little Quip on Friendships with Kids

I have the incredible good fortune of having understanding, empathetic, accommodating friends with and without kids. With that said, this video from Elle on Friends without Kids absolutely nails the concept of socializing with little ones. With girlfriends on the way over yesterday, the memory of this video kept me chuckling through the juggle of cleaning, maintaining what had been cleaned, keeping the kids fed, happy, and entertained while prepping an appy.

Because one girlfriend was visiting from out of town and would be conducting her own juggle of her daughter's nap time on the road, and catching up with us. Finger food was a must. Here is the recipe, I whipped up:

Hearty Spin Dip & Pita Chips

This recipe is quite literally a healthy spin on a traditional spinach and artichoke dip, inspired by Eat Shrink and Be Merry's "Hearty Choke Dip" the biggest difference is mine is all-natural.

Healthy Spin Dip

Ingredients

1 can (398 mL / 14 oz ) artichoke hearts, not marinated

½ yellow onion, coarsly chopped

3 large garlic cloves, peeled and cut into thirds

1 tbs extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 ½ cans of chick peas (approximately 600 mL / 21 oz)

250 g/ 9 oz of all-natural cream cheese

½ bag (150 g/ 5 oz) of frozen cut organic spinach, thawed

1 tsp grated lemon zest

1 tbsp (approximately) lemon juice

 6 +/ - dashes hot pepper sauce

 ½ cup shredded Asiago, Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese (60 g/ 2 oz) 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 ºF/  220 ºC. Drain artichokes. Pat both artichokes and thawed spinach with paper towel. Cut artichokes in half and place them, along with the onion and garlic on an baking pan sprayed with vegetable oil. Spray the contents of the tray with more olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Roast uncovered until garlic turns golden brown (about 10 minutes). Place drained chick peas, cream cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, remaining olive oil, and hot sauce in a food processor. Blend until smooth. Remove artichokes, onion and garlic from oven. Allow them to cool for roughly 5 minutes. Reduce the heat of the oven to 375 ºF/ 190 ºC. Then add roasted veg, spinach, half the grated cheese, and salt and pepper into the food processor. Pulse until mixed well.

Smooth mixture into a casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and place uncovered into oven for 30 mintues or until the contents of the dish start to bubble and the cheese turns golden brown.

Whole Wheat Pita Chips

Ingredients

½ dozen whole wheat pitas

Extra virigin olive oil spray

Garlic powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 ºF/ 205 ºC.  Cut pita into triangles and then separate triangles in half. Place on cookie sheet. Spray with extra virigin olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Bake for 5-7 minutes (until chips are light brown). Let cool for about a minute before serving.

Have your own healthy "spin" on a recipe? Send it in, and you could be featured on the blog!

Happy MAMAste

A few of my favourite Vancouver-based companies have come out with some beautiful Mothers' Day offerings I'd love to share.

Come into a yyoga studio and say "MAMAste" on May 11th and receive a class for free! With locations in Whistler, North Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Toronto, and several throughout Vancouver, I love this studio because the calibre of their teachers are unrivalled and it feels like their schedule has a class every hour. If you want to give back in gratitude for your gratis class, all day Mothers' Day the studios will be accepting donations for SickKids Foundation in Ontario and BC Children's Hospital Foundation in BC.

For anyone who wants to gift themselves or add something reasonably priced to their Mothers' Day wish list, Aritzia's "Madre" tshirt is a beautiful statement piece. Not only does it say "Mother" in Spanish, proceeds from the shirt's sales go to "Cause We Care," a charity that provides assistance to vulnerable, single mothers.

And finally, not only is it great to receive love on Mothers' Day, it is also ever so crucial to honour our moms for all they've done for us. This quick video from lululemon is heartwarming, whimsical, and a great reminder of what my own mom means to me!

Rainy Days, Runny Noses

I've made the mistake more times than I'd really like to admit. The weather is coming down in buckets, and/ or my kids have colds, and somehow I think, "it's okay, we'll just take it easy today". With a ten month old, this is actually a safe thought. With a toddler? Not so much! Even with pink eye, a horrible cough, or a green runny nose, the world is still their oyster and a lack of stimulation leads, at least in my household to unbearable whining and seemingly incessant boundary testing. Here are some of my favourite ideas to occupy my kids, well mainly my toddler, on days we can't go out and play!

Painting w/ a Wine Cork "Stamp"

Sounds simple enough, I know, but my daughter LOVES this.

What we used:
- wine cork(s)
- washable paints : I only give the lids from my Sargent Art washable paint so I don't have to worry about the entire paint set being mixed into different shades of brown!
- paint smock or old t-shirt: we have the Crayola Beginnings Tidy Top, bought at The Real Canadian Superstore for less than $4
- Bristol board or any sizeable paper : the reason I suggest this is you aren't left with a multitude of semi-finished art projects. We reuse the same board several times before it gets displayed. Also it covers a greater surface area resulting in less cleanup afterwards.

Sensory "Pond"

I got this idea when my friend, Kristin - mother of three, shared this blog post with me on Sensory Sinks. It has been a wonderful way for my toddler to be stimulated while I take some very rare time for myself to dry my hair or paint my nails!

What we use:
- a large mixing bowl placed in the bath, or a sink accessed by a stool
- a little bit of Jell-O mix to give the water both a scent and colour
- foam cut into shapes : dollar store
- glitter : dollar store
- glow in the dark or synthetic rocks: dollar store
- Little People and other bath toys we already had

The best part of this activity is all you need is the general idea and your own imagination, and resourcefulness.

Box "House"

Now, the stipulation with this idea is you need to already have a box or somehow find one. But if you do, oh the fun you can have! Our most recent one started as a train, and ultimately became a house.

What we used:
- furniture box
- serrated or x-acto knife to cut door
- crayons or felts to decorate
- stickers
- existing toys to use in "house"

Rain Puddle "Adventure"

Despite what your grandmother may have told you, going out in the rain won't give you a cold or more of a cold. In fact, I look at our "adventures" finding puddles as a natural humidifier when the kids are a little congested.

What we use:
- rubber boots
- rain jackets
- rain shield for the stroller
- stomping feet
- an eye for puddles and a spirit of adventure!

Homemade Jello Playdough

Playdough is an incredible medium to stimulate the imagination (you can really create anything the mind can dream up) and it's excellent for working the muscles needed to learn how to print (check this out for more info on how Playdough can develop fine motor skills).

What we use:
- 1 cup white flour
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 3 oz pkg of no name Jello
- 2 tbs cooking oil
- 2 tbs cream of tartar

The original recipe, and "how to" can be found here!

Make Cookies

With the help of a small step ladder, my two year old loves dumping ingredients into a bowl. She also very eagerly samples throughout the entire process!

What we use:
2 cups whole wheat no additive flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup butter or non-hydrogenated margerine
3/4 cup organic brown sugar
1/2 cup raw organic sugar
1 egg and 1 egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup crushed pecans

For instructions, and nutirional info, check out my old blog!

If you have any tips, ideas, comments, or questions, write me!
Or, tweet me

Intro & a bit About my Family

There are many different reasons families choose to live on a budget. Some are naturally frugal, others have a goal to be fiscally responsible; life circumstance can lead to a need to scale back or be more prudent; while others may just live in an expensive area and as such need to make concessions to live comfortably.

My motivation to maintain a healthy, happy family without breaking the bank comes from a little bit of all of the above. I've always felt I come by my innovative frugality honestly. When my maternal grandparents immigrated to Canada, my grandfather's law degree wasn't recognized so he had to go back to school. Throughout her whole life, my grandma epitomized  "save where you can, spend when it counts," a concept I apply readily to many aspects of my life. In turn, my mom was sure we never went without but weren't indulged. My dad was let go of his job when I was young. When he went into business for himself, our family experienced a fair bit of financial difficulty. My mom being my wonderful mom coupled with being an elementary school principal resulted in my childhood being rich experientially without costing much!

To say mine and my husband's first few years together were a whirlwind would be an understatement.  Not too long after we met during the 2010 Olympics, Sebastien, a Canadian living and working in Belgium, moved to Vancouver, one of the least affordable cities in the world. In our roughly two and a half years of marriage, we have moved twice, been to Europe twice (Sebastien's parents and sister are still there), had two beautiful, dynamic babies, and gone down to one income.

Having a healthy, happy, rounded household is at the forefront of everything I do while trying to be budget conscious. There are many a night, I spend searching parenting articles, dreaming up crafts or other activities for the next day, and googling healthy not overly complicated recipes for dinner. Here I will share stories, reviews of the above mentioned things we may have tried, recipes, promotions, and any other tidbit that may be of help to others. In turn, please write me with your own tips on how you achieve overall health in your family on a simple budget!

Alana