The ABC's Toddler Nutrition

Oh my Gosh!!  My very first Guest blog!!  Can I get any more excited?  I think not.  Not only do I have the most awesome friends, they are also hilarious and fabulous writers.  This is one of my "mommy's in crime" that I am so privileged to know and complain-about-my-kids with.  Brandy Anderson people!  Give it up!  *Hand Clapping*  She is a genius and I'm pretty sure she's a super hero on her off days.  Except for the fact that she struggles with the basics of her kids eating habits just like the rest of us.  So here is her version of how to get your toddler to eat... anything.  (packaged Pancakes?  I died, love it!)

First and foremost I want to thank Adria for the opportunity to be a guest on her blog.  We have been talking about it for what seems like the forever, and being the slacker that I am, I kept coming up with excuses for not actually writing one.  Although, I'm sure the real reason she wanted me to write a guest blog was so she would get a week off. Yeah I'm pretty sure that’s the reason.... Regardless I'm honored!

A little about myself, my name is Brandy, I'm a full-time mom and part time hairstylist.  I have a 2.5 year old son, Bryce, who gives me the inspiration and qualification for writing this guest post. He has inspired a lot of subjects, but Adria has pretty much covered most of them in previous posts. So my guest post today is simply called, "No, you can't have ice cream for breakfast!"

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wedding with some friends I have not seen in a long time.  Since seeing them last, we have moved to different states and had children.  We were sitting at the same table for dinner, so of course our conversation revolved around our children. You would think we would be 'getting all kinds of crazy' considering we didn’t have our children with us, but having a child changes a lot, who am I kidding- having a child changes everything.

So we are talking and I ask her about her son's diet.  He is a year older than Bryce, so I am hoping she has some words of wisdom. I am always asking other moms about what their kids eat because my child’s diet sucks.  I want to know I am not alone in this daily battle. She agreed, confirming her son doesn't eat anything either, in fact her husband gave me a rundown of their sons daily meal plan, and it went something like this….

why eat fruit when you can stuff your face with
cupcakes?

 "In the morning, he wants packaged chocolate muffins, sometimes two packs." I start to laugh because I know that if Bryce knew what prepackaged muffins were he would not eat his pancakes anymore and would demand them for breakfast. (Not that the packaged pancakes he likes are any better by any means.) She goes on to tell me that she has actually made him homemade muffins and he turned his nose up to them.  Yes, I know that gesture well.

or this?  Really, though?  Can you blame her?

He continues, "For lunch he eats maybe a couple bites of chicken nuggets, not an all white chicken nugget from Chick-fil-a but chicken parts from McDonalds." At this point I am laughing my ass off (can I cuss Adria? Not sure the rules, if not you can change it to butt or whatever you feel is appropriate) because I'm lucky if I can get my kid to eat fried chicken from Chick-fil-a or McDonalds.

ain't nothing wrong.  Don't judge!

He finishes his story by telling me for dinner "I shove a couple bites of Macaroni and cheese down his throat, then he poops the size of a softball.”  I am laughing so hard at this point, because all of it is entirely true.  I'm so glad I'm not alone in this battle.  They painted the same picture that I deal with daily! 

I have discussed his diet with my pediatrician and basically besides force feeding, which she did not promote, I am stuck with my kids’ crappy diet.  I cook healthy stuff for dinner... I try not to buy artificially flavors and colors, etc. I read labels.  I buy whole wheat pasta/bread..I'm not 'granola' but I do try the best to buy healthy things for my family and myself. Bryce would be thrilled if his daily meal plan consisted of (in no particular order) yogurt, fruit snacks and maybe fruit for every meal.  Along with a side of cookies, crackers, and M&M’s…seriously!  Ugh!

Tonight as we were reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I had an epiphany when we got to my sons favorite page in the book. I have attached a picture in case you are not familiar.  It dawned on me why it is he likes it so much; it’s an entire page of his favorite food groups, Salt and Sweets!  

I decided to conclude with a few random thoughts about my experience in toddler nutrition.

• I could feed a small country based on all the food and money I have thrown away trying to get him to eat.
• He poops more than he ingests, I don’t know how.
• His favorite food group is Sugar.
• His favorite drink is sugar water, aka watered down apple juice.
• If he likes something one day (that is not sugar and actually semi healthy) I will buy more of it and…he will never eat it again. See #1.

So instead of stressing myself, like I have since my son started eating solids, I decided to relax.  He is a happy, healthy growing boy.  I just thankful my sister in law is a dentist.

Brandy Anderson