Showing posts with label Eating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eating. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Improving my cooking skills
For the very first time in my life, I made pork. Turned out great! I made this with one of my new tupperware items: Ultra. I used two pots on top of each other to make the potatoes and the pork at the same time. Very convenient.
And by the way, that was a big pot for myself. L didn't not eat it. :(
Friday, November 19, 2010
RE: Frustrating
This I typed in the comments' box, but it was too long, so here we go:
----------------------
I don't know if you remember the times, when I was so frustrated with Lenara not eating solids and sticking to Mommy's milk. I read ONE book which practically solved all my problems: My child won't eat! by Carlos Gonzales. You HAVE to get it, Jen! I swear! It will help you. Just read the Amazon comments and you'll know you're not alone. I loved this book and it literally changed my life (or rather my perspective!).
And the family counselor I talked to during that stage (more bc of other family problems) told me, if nursing is becoming a problem for one of the two (Mom and/or kid) something HAS to change - bc the tension inside will rise slowly and be bad for your relationship - worse than even not breastfeeding at all. So I started taking my awkward feeling about nursing very serious from then on. I couldn't stand the sucking feeling at my nipples anymore - very suddenly, which surprised me... and shocked me at the same time, bc I knew breastfeeding until the "babys" are 2 is a good thing and I WANTED to commit to it. That's why I was so torn. It turned out (after some talking with the counselor) that I had always denied and depreciated when toddler came running to their Moms and pulling up their shirts - helping themselves. I thought it was disgusting (before I had my child). I think I only saw this in movies or documentaries on TV though. But still. Unconciously it had become a basic value that I couldn't easily overcome by just KNOWING, it's a good thing for the child to nurse as long as possible. As soon as I took my feelings serious, it almost naturally happend that we only breastfed in the mornings and evenings and eventually stopped altogether. Without me having to force Lenara not to drink anymore or to take something from her, that she needed (which was my biggest fear!). It happened naturally and very peaceful. So it must have been a good point in time for both of us. We replaced the breastfeeding before sleeping with a bottle of cow's milk - our intimate time remained (and sharing our bed also was important to me in that matter bc I def wanted to keep the intimacy).
Mommy's milk is so rich, I could imagine, that's one reason why Olivia doesn't eat a lot. Lenara started eating (for real) only after I stopped breastfeeding altogether. Or have you tried only 3 meals a day? Lenara sometimes still doesn't eat a lot. And after some time I had figured out, that if I drop the in-between-meals (like crackers and apples between breakfast and lunch) she would eat better for the big meals. I rather offer "dessert" - some yoghurt, apples, raisins or something like that, if I have a feeling she might be hungry still. And also she won't eat a lot, when she's tired. Which is my current problem, as we have switched our routine from nap (11:30 to 2:30) then lunch to -> lunch (12:00) then nap (1 to 3), bc it's getting dark at 5 and we would never be able to see the sunlight for our afternoon walk, if we have lunch after nap time. By the time we get ready to go out, it's 4 at least. So now she's usually tired for lunch and doesn't eat... but I will try it another while. People say it takes 4 weeks to break a routine. Anyway, what was I saying about food?
Our day nanny (who has 4 own kids) one time said, that - as routines are so important for kids - for some it's also helpful to have the same kind of food for the specific meal, i.e. bread in the morning, one dish with side and dessert for lunch, cereal for dinner. So they know what time of the day it is (as orientation) and they learn how much they should eat in order not to get hungry before the next meal. Maybe (for sure!) Olivia knows by now that Mommy will offer 1 million things throughout the day and she doesn't see a reason to eat NOW. There are plenty of chances LATER. And my opinion (based on the book) is that children always eat as much as they really need - no need to worry.
Philipp's Mom keeps telling me, he never (never!) ate vegetables - no matter what she tried - and believe me, she has tried a lot. ;)) You'll know it! But he was a very healthy kid. Never sick or anything. So his body must have gotten whatever it needed from the rest of the food he ate. That's what helps me not to worry too much about Lenara not eating (what I think is) enough vegetables. I keep offering, which is important to me and I keep giving her chances to wittness that I eat those things - and like them too! ;) I can't force her to eat it. So that's all I can do.
And I admire you for sticking to healthy food. I'm trying too. But I keep finding myself making exceptions way too often lately (especially since grandmas and fathers always make exceptions as well. I find myself sometimes under pressure... so my daughter won't end up wanting to move out before her 2nd birthday, bc everyone else is treating her with "better" food... and toys... and gifts... but that will be another post). Anyway, all I wanted to say is, I know what you're talking about. And I put out everything I tried myself or heard... take it or leave it. ;))
Good luck! I hope it won't be so frustrating for you anymore very soon!
----------------------
I don't know if you remember the times, when I was so frustrated with Lenara not eating solids and sticking to Mommy's milk. I read ONE book which practically solved all my problems: My child won't eat! by Carlos Gonzales. You HAVE to get it, Jen! I swear! It will help you. Just read the Amazon comments and you'll know you're not alone. I loved this book and it literally changed my life (or rather my perspective!).
And the family counselor I talked to during that stage (more bc of other family problems) told me, if nursing is becoming a problem for one of the two (Mom and/or kid) something HAS to change - bc the tension inside will rise slowly and be bad for your relationship - worse than even not breastfeeding at all. So I started taking my awkward feeling about nursing very serious from then on. I couldn't stand the sucking feeling at my nipples anymore - very suddenly, which surprised me... and shocked me at the same time, bc I knew breastfeeding until the "babys" are 2 is a good thing and I WANTED to commit to it. That's why I was so torn. It turned out (after some talking with the counselor) that I had always denied and depreciated when toddler came running to their Moms and pulling up their shirts - helping themselves. I thought it was disgusting (before I had my child). I think I only saw this in movies or documentaries on TV though. But still. Unconciously it had become a basic value that I couldn't easily overcome by just KNOWING, it's a good thing for the child to nurse as long as possible. As soon as I took my feelings serious, it almost naturally happend that we only breastfed in the mornings and evenings and eventually stopped altogether. Without me having to force Lenara not to drink anymore or to take something from her, that she needed (which was my biggest fear!). It happened naturally and very peaceful. So it must have been a good point in time for both of us. We replaced the breastfeeding before sleeping with a bottle of cow's milk - our intimate time remained (and sharing our bed also was important to me in that matter bc I def wanted to keep the intimacy).
Mommy's milk is so rich, I could imagine, that's one reason why Olivia doesn't eat a lot. Lenara started eating (for real) only after I stopped breastfeeding altogether. Or have you tried only 3 meals a day? Lenara sometimes still doesn't eat a lot. And after some time I had figured out, that if I drop the in-between-meals (like crackers and apples between breakfast and lunch) she would eat better for the big meals. I rather offer "dessert" - some yoghurt, apples, raisins or something like that, if I have a feeling she might be hungry still. And also she won't eat a lot, when she's tired. Which is my current problem, as we have switched our routine from nap (11:30 to 2:30) then lunch to -> lunch (12:00) then nap (1 to 3), bc it's getting dark at 5 and we would never be able to see the sunlight for our afternoon walk, if we have lunch after nap time. By the time we get ready to go out, it's 4 at least. So now she's usually tired for lunch and doesn't eat... but I will try it another while. People say it takes 4 weeks to break a routine. Anyway, what was I saying about food?
Our day nanny (who has 4 own kids) one time said, that - as routines are so important for kids - for some it's also helpful to have the same kind of food for the specific meal, i.e. bread in the morning, one dish with side and dessert for lunch, cereal for dinner. So they know what time of the day it is (as orientation) and they learn how much they should eat in order not to get hungry before the next meal. Maybe (for sure!) Olivia knows by now that Mommy will offer 1 million things throughout the day and she doesn't see a reason to eat NOW. There are plenty of chances LATER. And my opinion (based on the book) is that children always eat as much as they really need - no need to worry.
Philipp's Mom keeps telling me, he never (never!) ate vegetables - no matter what she tried - and believe me, she has tried a lot. ;)) You'll know it! But he was a very healthy kid. Never sick or anything. So his body must have gotten whatever it needed from the rest of the food he ate. That's what helps me not to worry too much about Lenara not eating (what I think is) enough vegetables. I keep offering, which is important to me and I keep giving her chances to wittness that I eat those things - and like them too! ;) I can't force her to eat it. So that's all I can do.
And I admire you for sticking to healthy food. I'm trying too. But I keep finding myself making exceptions way too often lately (especially since grandmas and fathers always make exceptions as well. I find myself sometimes under pressure... so my daughter won't end up wanting to move out before her 2nd birthday, bc everyone else is treating her with "better" food... and toys... and gifts... but that will be another post). Anyway, all I wanted to say is, I know what you're talking about. And I put out everything I tried myself or heard... take it or leave it. ;))
Good luck! I hope it won't be so frustrating for you anymore very soon!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Frustrating
It is hard to pick just one topic to write about because, well, I've never done this mothering thing before. Babysitting? Yes, no problem. Being a mom--totally different.
Well, maybe I'll talk about sleeping and the waking through the night (still!) or maybe eating, or perhaps family dynamics, or would it be more interesting to talk about diapering and how Olivia loathes it?
I've heard people say lately to repeat to yourself, "It's just a phase", over and over because that's the only sure thing about childhood. Depending on the minute, I can't figure out if it is supposed to be said with an endearing tone or an annoyed one.
How could I want the giggles and the cuddles to pass? But, how could I not want the screaming to?
Well, for this post, I will stick with eating since I am most pedantic about that topic at the moment. I've made a list and have tried to not worry so much but alas, I worry.
It goes a bit like this:
Phase 1.
We wake up around 7.
Well, Olivia wakes us up around 7.
Papa and I look at the clock, both of us attempt to be happy to be awake.
We're happy to see Olive, who is sooo infectiously happy in the morning (I have no idea how the two of us created a morning person).
Olivia breastfeeds like a starving maniac right when she wakes up which consists of her standing up but attached to me at her mouth, while I am lying down on my back, most mornings. Breastfeeding has gone beyond intimate and tender and is now a "Hook the car up to the gas tank" kind of intimacy. I produce the milk, she drinks it (while disinterested, pointing to her surroundings, yet still attached at my nipple). We get dressed for the day, brush teeth, and go downstairs. Mom is noticing that she has a "Mom uniform" and wants to replace it with a more trendy, fashionable look by Christmas. Current: jeans and a long sweater. Boring. Olivia dons tights under her outfit (we love to layer) and usually a nice warm knit since it's cold now.
Yes, this post is about eating and how frustrating it is to me, but why not break up the story with a little detail, eh?)
Phase 2. 7:45
We have gone past my crazy idea of thinking that she will still be hungry after this maniacal episode, so we skip a attempt a high-chair eating and head straight to the park, on a walk, or play inside...while I secretly am hoping that she is working up an appetite.
Phase 3. 8:45
Officially hungry, but not hungry enough to eat.
This phase of our "Trying to get Olivia to eat routine" makes me think of the saying "You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
This is where my mind goes blank. I try to give options, but after constant rejection, the floor, as well as my confidence that my child will eat, is diminishing in presence quickly. I believe in eating healthy food together, and talking. I'm not giving up on those two things. My daughter does communicate, and that, I admire. She has opinions that she is working on expressing, and I am listening.
If she doesn't offer what I put out though, she doesn't eat. At some point, it just gets crazy to offer tons of options to a child this young. I offer fruit and a grain cereal (not the sugary kind). Then we have some sort of protein option, like eggs or yogurt.
She feeds herself without a problem when she is hungry and interested so I have tried to stop "sneaking in bites" when she isn't paying attention. I know that those bites were more for my satisfaction than hers.
I clean up the floor, after documenting on the list posted on the fridge, the bites (usually about 5) that she has taken. I'm happy with that. We aren't breakfast eaters either. We call it quits for the morning. Mom packs a snack in the bag and we head to the
a)library b)playdate c)park d)walk e)stay home/no snack-packing needed
Phase 4. 10:45
Hungry. Maybe.
At this point in the day, Olivia will be content to eat whatever mom makes, mostly.
Most of it goes to Boone, our ever so obedient dog when food enters the picture.
But, like I think I said before, he does a stellar job cleaning the floor, so I put up with the canine, lovingly.
Olivia is great with routine. This, inevitably, will be the meal that consists of avocado, crackers, banana, raisins, and a small bit of carrot and/or apple. And, some Cheerios. And, some soymilk. I try to combine as many nutritious things into a bite as possible.
Yesterday the concoction was rice and whole wheat pasta with spinach, turkey, sweet potatoes, and soy cheese with marinara sauce. Messy, but yummy.
Happy Mama. CPS (Child Protective Services) stops knocking at my (sub-conscious) door asking if I am starving my child yet another day.
Happy Baby. Off running again.
Phase 5. 1:00
Breastfeeds in another awkward position, and goes to sleep in said awkward position.
Phase 6. 3:30
Olivia wakes up from her nap and is happy and energetic. This is where my mind thinks that Olivia will only be up for another 3.5 hours and therefore needs to get enough food in her little stomach so she will sleep through the night, just once, maybe.
We play and sometimes head out to seek some fun.
Phase 7. 5:30.
Dinner.
We have the grown up meal. We mush it up for Olivia, if needs be, or cut it up. We sit as a family while Olivia flings food all over the place, with little to no interest in ingesting the cuisine. Clean up crew is called in and the site premises is a catastrophe.
Phase 8. 6:15
Bath.
Phase 9. 7:00
Eating again.
One last try. Cheerios, maybe a little bit of avocado, and some nut butter. Perhaps a little bit of soymilk.
Nurses to sleep by 8.
Humor aside, it is very frustrating. By the end of these meals I am annoyed at the whole event am not fun again for a while. It just gets to me. The thing is, I love my food. I love eating. I look forward to it. I'm surprised I'm not obese. Really, I eat more than any of my past male counterparts and present. And then here is my daughter eating the quantity a small rodent would, but with particular preferences.
I'm starting to worry about it less and less though. She is healthy and active, and gaining weight. She wets enough diapers and has adequate messy diapers too. But, it is a struggle. I guess everyone has their different struggles. But, I really want to not treat it as a problem because kids are great at picking up those feelings.
Sometimes, we have really great days full of eating. I notice that on those days it is when she is distracted with the activity of other kids (while on a play-date) where she just eats and eats. So, I think that we are getting better at the whole eating thing.
For example, today, Olivia ate a whole piece of home-baked bread (I didn't make it). Before that I fed her some chicken and banana, so we had a great lunch today, in my book.
Like they say, it's all just a phase. Before I know it, she'll be eating everything, probably. Fingers crossed. Ugh.
The thing is, that sometimes, we cave. We offer her junk food when we are around it. French fries. Chocolate. Maybe once a week in small quantities. But, I am not going to be one of the Americans that offers sugar cereal and claim that's all she'll eat. Oatmeal. Rice cereal. Cheerios, bread, a bagel? Sure. She loves sweets and salty foods but I'm not going down that slippery path just so she will eat. I think that would be just as dangerous as distracting. I mean, who eats cakes or french fries because they are actually hungry? Nobody!
Well, maybe I'll talk about sleeping and the waking through the night (still!) or maybe eating, or perhaps family dynamics, or would it be more interesting to talk about diapering and how Olivia loathes it?
I've heard people say lately to repeat to yourself, "It's just a phase", over and over because that's the only sure thing about childhood. Depending on the minute, I can't figure out if it is supposed to be said with an endearing tone or an annoyed one.
How could I want the giggles and the cuddles to pass? But, how could I not want the screaming to?
Well, for this post, I will stick with eating since I am most pedantic about that topic at the moment. I've made a list and have tried to not worry so much but alas, I worry.
It goes a bit like this:
Phase 1.
We wake up around 7.
Well, Olivia wakes us up around 7.
Papa and I look at the clock, both of us attempt to be happy to be awake.
We're happy to see Olive, who is sooo infectiously happy in the morning (I have no idea how the two of us created a morning person).
Olivia breastfeeds like a starving maniac right when she wakes up which consists of her standing up but attached to me at her mouth, while I am lying down on my back, most mornings. Breastfeeding has gone beyond intimate and tender and is now a "Hook the car up to the gas tank" kind of intimacy. I produce the milk, she drinks it (while disinterested, pointing to her surroundings, yet still attached at my nipple). We get dressed for the day, brush teeth, and go downstairs. Mom is noticing that she has a "Mom uniform" and wants to replace it with a more trendy, fashionable look by Christmas. Current: jeans and a long sweater. Boring. Olivia dons tights under her outfit (we love to layer) and usually a nice warm knit since it's cold now.
Yes, this post is about eating and how frustrating it is to me, but why not break up the story with a little detail, eh?)
Phase 2. 7:45
We have gone past my crazy idea of thinking that she will still be hungry after this maniacal episode, so we skip a attempt a high-chair eating and head straight to the park, on a walk, or play inside...while I secretly am hoping that she is working up an appetite.
Phase 3. 8:45
Officially hungry, but not hungry enough to eat.
This phase of our "Trying to get Olivia to eat routine" makes me think of the saying "You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
This is where my mind goes blank. I try to give options, but after constant rejection, the floor, as well as my confidence that my child will eat, is diminishing in presence quickly. I believe in eating healthy food together, and talking. I'm not giving up on those two things. My daughter does communicate, and that, I admire. She has opinions that she is working on expressing, and I am listening.
If she doesn't offer what I put out though, she doesn't eat. At some point, it just gets crazy to offer tons of options to a child this young. I offer fruit and a grain cereal (not the sugary kind). Then we have some sort of protein option, like eggs or yogurt.
She feeds herself without a problem when she is hungry and interested so I have tried to stop "sneaking in bites" when she isn't paying attention. I know that those bites were more for my satisfaction than hers.
I clean up the floor, after documenting on the list posted on the fridge, the bites (usually about 5) that she has taken. I'm happy with that. We aren't breakfast eaters either. We call it quits for the morning. Mom packs a snack in the bag and we head to the
a)library b)playdate c)park d)walk e)stay home/no snack-packing needed
Phase 4. 10:45
Hungry. Maybe.
At this point in the day, Olivia will be content to eat whatever mom makes, mostly.
Most of it goes to Boone, our ever so obedient dog when food enters the picture.
But, like I think I said before, he does a stellar job cleaning the floor, so I put up with the canine, lovingly.
Olivia is great with routine. This, inevitably, will be the meal that consists of avocado, crackers, banana, raisins, and a small bit of carrot and/or apple. And, some Cheerios. And, some soymilk. I try to combine as many nutritious things into a bite as possible.
Yesterday the concoction was rice and whole wheat pasta with spinach, turkey, sweet potatoes, and soy cheese with marinara sauce. Messy, but yummy.
Happy Mama. CPS (Child Protective Services) stops knocking at my (sub-conscious) door asking if I am starving my child yet another day.
Happy Baby. Off running again.
Phase 5. 1:00
Breastfeeds in another awkward position, and goes to sleep in said awkward position.
Phase 6. 3:30
Olivia wakes up from her nap and is happy and energetic. This is where my mind thinks that Olivia will only be up for another 3.5 hours and therefore needs to get enough food in her little stomach so she will sleep through the night, just once, maybe.
We play and sometimes head out to seek some fun.
Phase 7. 5:30.
Dinner.
We have the grown up meal. We mush it up for Olivia, if needs be, or cut it up. We sit as a family while Olivia flings food all over the place, with little to no interest in ingesting the cuisine. Clean up crew is called in and the site premises is a catastrophe.
Phase 8. 6:15
Bath.
Phase 9. 7:00
Eating again.
One last try. Cheerios, maybe a little bit of avocado, and some nut butter. Perhaps a little bit of soymilk.
Nurses to sleep by 8.
Humor aside, it is very frustrating. By the end of these meals I am annoyed at the whole event am not fun again for a while. It just gets to me. The thing is, I love my food. I love eating. I look forward to it. I'm surprised I'm not obese. Really, I eat more than any of my past male counterparts and present. And then here is my daughter eating the quantity a small rodent would, but with particular preferences.
I'm starting to worry about it less and less though. She is healthy and active, and gaining weight. She wets enough diapers and has adequate messy diapers too. But, it is a struggle. I guess everyone has their different struggles. But, I really want to not treat it as a problem because kids are great at picking up those feelings.
Sometimes, we have really great days full of eating. I notice that on those days it is when she is distracted with the activity of other kids (while on a play-date) where she just eats and eats. So, I think that we are getting better at the whole eating thing.
For example, today, Olivia ate a whole piece of home-baked bread (I didn't make it). Before that I fed her some chicken and banana, so we had a great lunch today, in my book.
Like they say, it's all just a phase. Before I know it, she'll be eating everything, probably. Fingers crossed. Ugh.
The thing is, that sometimes, we cave. We offer her junk food when we are around it. French fries. Chocolate. Maybe once a week in small quantities. But, I am not going to be one of the Americans that offers sugar cereal and claim that's all she'll eat. Oatmeal. Rice cereal. Cheerios, bread, a bagel? Sure. She loves sweets and salty foods but I'm not going down that slippery path just so she will eat. I think that would be just as dangerous as distracting. I mean, who eats cakes or french fries because they are actually hungry? Nobody!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)