Toddler Meals: On Our Table this Week

Soba Noodles with Pan Seared Tofu, Kale and Carrots.

Manners were always a big deal at our house growing up. No elbows on the table, don’t start eating until everyone is seated, chew with your mouth closed, put your napkin on your lap etc. While I’m certainly no prim and proper lady, I do want my kids to have solid table manners and its something I’ve been thinking about and struggling with a bit.

For a while, we were asking little Fig to stay seated until dinner. That idea lasted about a week when our semi-peaceful dinners  turned into a total sob-fest complete with food throwing, drastic escape attempts, and high pitched howling. Turns out that two year olds can’t sit still for very long ( duh) and asking him to do so seemed a little unfair.

Now Fig will eat a few bites, run around and play and then come back for more. He’ll probably come back to the table three or more times in a single meal; nibbling here or there before its back to his favorite game; trying to run the dog over with his mini-wheelbarrow (too bad for him she’s too fast and too smart to become toddler roadkill).

There are some things that Fig is great with; like using his utensils and drinking excellently out of open cups. He’s also a little bit of a clean freak and hates when he spills food on his shirt or his area asking me to “clean!”.  But I still struggle with the whole running around like a wild banshee at dinner situation and his constant want to sit on our laps and pick from our plates. I’m hoping that my motherly intuition will guide me on this one but I guess only time will tell.

In the meantime; here is what my little gus has been eating as of late:

Green Thai Curry with Peppers and Tofu

Black Lentil Bowl with Tomatoes and Avocados

Sweet Potato and Brown Rice Burger with Guacamole

Buckwheat Soba Noddles with Kale. Sweet Potatoes and Seaweed.

 

Coho Salmon , Fennel and Tomatoes

Eating the bread first; typical!

Lemon Cream Orecchiette Pasta with Parsley

Sweet Potato Wedges and Eggplant, Chickpea, and Tomato Mix

One of the few non-oatmeal breakfasts we have. Buckwheat Waffles with Strawberries, Greek Yogurt and Chia Seeds

Yum Bowls

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Sage Aioli

Carrot and Carrot Top Salad with a Lime Ginger Vinaigrette ( was spit out by Fig!)