Favorite 5 — TheDiva-Dish.com

I get a lot of questions about the type of food I feed Boo, and how she does with healthy choices.

(Let's not forget she has her own opinion on healthy eating, which I wouldn't suggest following.)

A while back I did a week long series all about toddler food and picky eaters. (If you haven't checked it out, please do!)

But I feel like I need to do more than just a week long series and share some of the things that Boo eats on a weekly basis. That's why Every Week on Wednesday, I'm going to have a toddler food post called:

I'm hoping that I can share some of the things that have worked for us each week, whether it be:

I can't promise that it's going to be all unicorns and roses, and everything I post that Boo likes your child will like. You see, most likely getting Boo to eat some of the food took some MaJoR convincing, and a little Mickey Mouse hot dog dance to get her to try at least one bite...

But alas I'll share that all, and hopefully you will learn that there is no need to run to the nearest golden arches to save your sanity.

(Or in Boo's case, the nearest self serve Fro-Yo...)

Ok, so let's begin!

Today I'm going to start off with the most important meal of the day...

Boo is at that stage where she doesn't like her food put together, if that makes sense.

So for example, she would refuse to eat an omelet because in her eyes it's too un-familiar and complicated. So instead, I take everything that would be in her omelet and put it all separately on her plate.

Did I mention she's 100% Diva?!?

(If your toddler is fine eating it all together than by all means do so!)

Before I talk about the omelet, I should mention I try and incorporate each of the following into each meal. (Key Word: Try)

In this meal I am missing the grains, but I usually will makeup for that in the snack a few hours later so that's ok.

For the veggies and fat I used cherry tomatoes and avocado. Boo LOVES both, so I knew this would be easy to get her to eat!

(She's been eating avocado since 6 months, and recently after introducing her to tomatoes multiple times, she loves tomatoes.)

Berries is another favorite of Boo's. She could eat a whole flat of berries no problem...So could I.

(You can guess where our money goes...)

Obviously that was an easy one to get her to eat...

For the scrambled eggs, I cooked them in a little bit of coconut oil.

You must try eggs cooked in coconut oil!! It's amazing!

She was a little hesitant at first to eat the eggs, but I offered her a 'Big Girl' fork that was pink, and she was really excited to use it for her eggs. It's the little things for Boo that make eating not so stressful for her.

There you have it!

If there is anything you would like to see on Wednesdays, let me know!!

P.S.

I just love this little girl... :-)

One of my earliest memories of cooking and falling in love with food came from spending a week or two in the summer at my grandparents house.

Each time I would come, my grandpa and I would go grocery shopping together and get a list of ingredients that made some of my favorite meals. (Don't forget the large box of fudgsicles!) Then every night for dinner, my grandpa and I would cook dinner together. I remember him letting me do all of the cutting, dicing, pouring, mixing, etc. and I loved every second of it! It truly gave me a sense of how cooking can truly bring people together, and establish passion and memories to last a life time.

Something that my grandparents always had in their backyard was a lemon tree, and a lot of times we would go out and pick bags full of lemons. Some to make lemonade, and some to pass out to the neighborhood.

When it came to making lemonade, what I most remember was pressing those lemons on their little electric juicer. It was my favorite part!

I can still remember pressing with all my strength on that little juicer to try and get all the juice out, and continually asking my grandpa, "How many more lemons??"

I also remember adding cups of sugar..Pretty sure more than one.

But more than anything I remember the taste, and going back to the fridge through out the day getting glass..after glass...after glass...

Yummmm! Suga! :)

Despite the fact that I probably consumed more sugar in those two weeks than I would in that whole summer, I wouldn't trade those sweet memories for anything.

Today, I don't have my grandpa to pick lemons and make lemonade with me, but I definitely can make lemonade and drink it in his honor. All in gratitude for teaching me to love spending time in the kitchen, especially with the ones you love.

To me, the food taste so much sweeter when it's made that way.

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c. lemon juice

3/4 c. liquid sweetener (honey or agave work best)

zest of 1 large lemon

1.25 liter sparkling lemon water

3/4 c. strawberry puree

Lemon slices, strawberry slices, ice

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, heat sweetener and lemon juice until sweetener is dissolved. Let sit to cool. (I put mine in the freezer for a fast cool down!) Once cool, stir in lemon zest.

2. Puree strawberries (if you hadn't done this already). In a pitcher add sparkling water, pureed strawberries, lemon juice mixture, lemon slices, strawberries, and if needed ice. Stir until combined.

3. Serve cold, or over ice. (Stir every so often, as needed.)