Healthy Eater

Day Seventy-six: Toddlers don't always like everything you give them to eat. Mine doesn't at least.

Ariel is a good eater. She always has been. Her chubby cheeks and adorable rolls can attest to that...they have been with her from the beginning. However, she's been working on getting rid of them. Over the last few months, along with her own personality she has discovered her stubborn will. Some days nothing I give her seems appealing. Usually, its only a few things that are completely unappealing. Thankfully.

Most days at least one meal is difficult as she turns her nose up to the spoonful of smoothie or picks out only the grapes from a fruit salad. I'm most distressed by her amazing ability to forget her favorites. One day she loves bananas, next they make her cry, next she loves them again. For months (literally), she LOVED mandarin oranges and apple sauce never refusing either; one day about 2 months ago, she refused to eat both of them. She hasn't since.

I had heard about this stage. Now, I am experiencing it.

Some days aren't so bad. Today, was one of those days. In fact, it was great. She ate a well-balanced, filling breakfast. She drank her juice water all day. She ate a healtly lunch including some chicken which she is rather finicky about. I can never predict if she'll like any chicken I give her...more often than not she doesn't. Not today. Even dinner went well. We had chicken chow mein with rice. Ariel has never liked this family favorite, but I tried it out on a whim. She ate three small servings! I think she would have eaten more, but Jason has already finished it off.

On a related topic, she's really loving her new straw drinking ability that she figured out last Thursday. She's realizing that a whole new world is open to her. She can try my smoothies and slushes and juiceboxes...without a sippy cup. I'm so proud of this achievement. She got a wonderful round of applause at Three Amigos when she first did it. She deserved it.

Thank you, God, for a good eating day with Ariel. I realize she doesn't have to eat perfectly every meal or every day, but because some aren't so good the ones that are good are a real treat (and relief). Thank you for her healthy appetite so much of the time. I know things could have been a million times more difficult and have real serious consequences. We are blessed with her health - the good health You have given her. Please help me to have the patience I need as we continue eating multiple meals every day.

And thanks for the straw moment.


What's this about? I decided on my birthday to make a commitment to being intentionally thankful. I challenged myself to post one thing I am thankful for everyday this year.