You’ve heard it before: the hardest stage of parenting is the combination of a baby and a toddler, especially when it comes to food. I couldn’t agree more and today we’re visiting my friend Sally in partnership with Parents Choice Baby Food to see how she makes it work…
This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media.
With Dot at 2 1/2 years old now, we’re starting to come out of that baby and toddler fog. There’s always a trade off and you can’t have it all. Work. Family. Friends. Self. Health. All crucial for our happiness right? As a mother of young children you’ll essentially have to pick two or three out of these five things and be okay letting others go. For me, sometimes I find myself slipping especially when it comes healthy cooking for my family.
I always had great intentions to grind my own baby food from scratch but the reality was most days I grabbed a jar of pureed butternut squash or a pouch of fruit and called it good. I appreciate a brand like Parent’s Choice which is budget friendly and made with simple, quality ingredients so you know exactly what you’re feeding your baby. The less mom guilt the better for my sanity! They also have an organic line of baby food as well. You can pick them up only at Walmart, and most are under .70 cents a jar which is a real steal for baby food.
I asked my friend Sally to share some tips on how she’s managing that juggle of feeding young children in a household with two parents working full time jobs outside of the home. She always seems to have it all together! Last weekend I visited their home in the Oakland Hills after they finished a family bike ride. Her, her husband Bryce, and their two young boys Miles (age 18 months) and Barrett (age 5) were busy making these homemade granola bars together in the kitchen (they were super delicious!). Barrett had one of those awesome kid-friendly knives and chopped all of the dried fruits himself (that, on its own is a brilliant tip for juggling two small kids).
Here were some of the brilliant tips she shared for feeding a young family:
Prioritizing family meals. “We both grew up with families that gathered around a table to eat dinner together every night. To us, that was a non-negotiable family tradition to continue. It’s a daily ritual that helps keep us grounded, connected, and focused on healthy eating. I’ve always found a way for our boys to eat the same meal as us. When they’re a part of the meal prep, they’re proud to share the fruits of their labor. Connecting over food fosters a sense of trust, and connection. Cooking and eating together has led to some pretty cool kid conversations about geographies and cultures.”
Your best grocery shopping game. “Grocery shopping is an art form. Making grocery lists is a chore and aimless grocery shopping adventures lead to the guilty moment of throwing away rotten produce. A friend of mine taught me a hack – use the iPhone Reminders app to create grocery lists. I have a “reminder” (aka list) for each of my go-to spots. When I’m about to head to the store, I open the Reminders app to quickly access my ready-to-go lists and simply toggle on or off the items that I need. This comes in extra special handy for speciality stores.”
Quick grab nutrition is always part of the list as well for quick snacks and meals, so Parent’s Choice to the rescue!
The Weekend Prep. “We try to get ahead on the weekends by making a big, all-in-one meal. Of course, this doesn’t happen every weekend but we make an effort to spend one weekend day at home cooking, doing laundry, and playing around the house.”
Easy Weeknight Meals. “Our family favorite is a red lentil soup with kale and carrots. It freezes well and hits all of the food groups. On nights when we have just enough energy to lay on the couch and cuddle with our boys, it soothes the soul. For nights when we don’t have a ready-made-meal, we keep it simple with veggies, rice or pasta and a protein. Curry is a regular meal around our house. And there are definitely nights when we lean-on frozen potstickers and fresh salad or raviolis and a quick tomato sauce.”
Cooking as a family.” Before we sit down at the table, our house functions like a bird’s nest in the middle of a dance performance held in a small kitchen. Two babies looking up and screeching for food (this is where healthy snacks come into play) while Bryce and I ugly dance to make dinner. When the boys aren’t asking for a snack or fruit pouch, they want to be right in the middle of cooking. Barrett has a set of kid friendly knives and helps with the chopping. Miles helps “wash” dishes as we go. The boys get so enthralled with their role in our quirky performance that iPads are far from their minds. Then when we finally sit down at the table, everything slows down and we say “Thank you for the food before us, the friends beside us, and the love between us.”
Snacking is key. “Snacks are critical for a peaceful environment in my house. It’s unreal how much a 5 year old and a 1.5 year old consume. Since snacks are unavoidable, I plan for them. It goes something like this: granola bars, fresh fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit and veggie pouches, seaweed, pretzels, and dried fruit.”
Prioritizing fruits and veggies. “It’s cliche but I do believe we are what we eat. Food and mood are connected. Even during crazy weeks we prioritize fresh fruit and vegetables. Rather than going overboard buying all kinds of produce, I think in terms of meals and snacks.” That’s why I love the ease of Parent’s Choice baby food. It’s easy to grab and you know they’re getting good nutrition.
Last but not least, give yourself space. “Going from zero kids to one kid was the biggest life change I’ve ever made. But going from one kid to two kids rocked my world and exploded my heart. I want the best for them and realize to give them the best version of me, I need space. Space to breathe. Space to be with my husband. Space to connect with nature, friends, and family. And most importantly space to be with each of our boys.”
Thank you Sally for sharing your brilliant tips on feeding your sweet littles. Any tips to add?