My inspiration
Have you ever read the children’s book, Bread and Jam for Frances? It is an adorable, old-fashioned book in which a picky-eating young badger is fed only her favorite foods until she totally cracks and asks for the family dinner.
The publisher’s summary of the 1964 book reads, “In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her understanding parents grant her wish at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacktime. Can there ever be too much bread and jam?”
Originally published before I was born, it is surprisingly relevant today. While my kids don’t take doilies and salt shakers in their lunch boxes, I can relate to the idea of just giving them the very few items they will eat without complaint.
We have read this book about a gazillion times over the past two years and I can tell you that it has had no measurable impact on the types of foods Sawyer will try.
Waffle and peanut butter for Sawyer, a modern fable
I couldn’t help but wonder, if I gave Sawyer only peanut butter waffles for all his meals, would he crack and want the spaghetti? Would he finally try a scrambled egg?
Inspired by his preference for all starch all the time and emboldened by the news that real nutritionists think a whole grain waffle with peanut butter passes as a quickie meal, I picked up a Costco-size box of frozen (organic, high fiber, blah blah) waffles and about a gallon of fancy peanut butter. I am usually stocked to give this to him as his default dinner while the rest of us eat real food. I offer him some fruit, too, as if he’d take it.
Dare I up my game to follow the author’s lead and give him PB waffles for breakfast, lunch, and snacks?
Here’s a recipe for a frozen waffle and peanut butter > (for realz.)
[Love this infographic of 5 minute dinners from WomensHealth]
- Best Gifts for a One Year Old – Top picks for 2023 - October 10, 2023
- 6 Fool-Proof Strategies for When Your Toddler Won’t Stay in Bed - August 13, 2023
- 7 Super Great Nursing Sports Bras + 1 to Avoid - June 6, 2023
