Wordless Wednesday: Sophie Is Still a Hit & O Wants To Crawl

Tuesday Tip #1: Snack Stations

Before last week, snack time in our home went something like this:

Me: "Do you want this?"

JD: "no"

Me: "Do you want this?"

JD: "mmmmmm no"

Me: "Do you want this?"

JD: "No!

Me: "Do you want this?"

JD: "NO NO NO"

Me: Fine, have another squeezy pouch.

Not fun.


Also, I am infamous for letting produce go bad.  I have the best intentions in the produce department of serving snacks filled with fresh fruit and veggies, but at snack time, I just don't have time to wash & cut things.  We were in a snack rut.


So I found this idea on Pinterest, and put it all together last week.  I am taking the time when I get back from the store to wash and package things in snack size bags/containers, and putting them in larger tupperware bins.  When JD is hungry (or Hubby and I want a late-night snack), healthy options are ready to go.  It makes packing for the day easier, and anything that makes things more toddler-friendly is a-okay in my book.  


When first putting them together, I couldn't believe how many snack options we already had spread between various cabinets, pantry, and fridge.

The refrigerator box contains washed & cut carrots, celery, berries, and tomatoes, yogurt, cheese sticks, and apple butter & peanut butter for dipping crackers or toast.

The counter box has raisons, applesauce, dried fruit, cereal bars, squeezy pouch things,  puffs, and a couple kinds of crackers.

I put the counter station next to the fruit bowl as a reminder to always offer fruit first.

Also, JD really loves getting to pick his snack.  The past few days he's been ordering us to put the containers on the floor so he can pick through everything before making his decision.  The little guy feels empowered.   


Another motivation for keeping it up: I spent a fortune on those huge tupperware containers, so I will use them!


Disclaimer: I have had to enforce the "This is Snack Food, Not a Meal" rule after I realized Hubby had been feeding JD breakfast from the snack stations.  This isn't a huge deal since there are some good breakfast options in there, except it depletes my stations before my day starts, and the kid needs to eat all that cereal, oatmeal, waffles, and eggs I bought!


What do you serve at snack time?

The "Schwinn 8 Easy Steer Beginner Tricycle" Is Great....

...for the one riding it.  For the one pushing, it might as well be a stroller- and a stroller with no cup holders or place to put your diaper bag.  A stroller I can only use when somebody else is pushing O's stroller.  But maybe I'm just spoiled by our double stroller.

The Schwinn Easy Steer Tricycle

JD has totally not even attempted to move this thing on his own (he keeps his feet firmly on the little pegs)- except for when he pushes it around the yard, giving his rocks a ride.  I'm not sure if it will be effective at teaching him how bikes really work, but I'm taking the opportunity to enforce safety rules.  It is really easy to steer using the handle- even with one hand.  And it has a 3-point harness, so JD hasn't been able to jump off while it is moving.

As far as the rock collecting capabilities, it does come with a basket up front, dump bucket in the back, and a tiny backpack that attaches to the seat.  That is heaven for my toddler/pebble hoarder.  

  

When should I expect to be able to remove the handle and send the kid on his way (with O and I trailing close behind of course)?