I love when the day after a long run is a bad weather day. It might just be my obsessed-evil-runner side rejoicing when a planned rest day turns out to be a day no one can run outdoors anyway. Or just the practical side of me pleased with planning done right. It’s a good feeling, either way.
The roads were so icy on Sunday morning that any plans we would have had were off and it extended my lazy weekend even further.
My husband took the time to clean the garage – looks like fun, right? I’d rather just blog about it.
And, of course, my kids jumped on the furniture and flipped through classic children’s literature watched the Disney channel.
In the picture above my daughter Emily looks really happy. She’s eating an apple and asking if we can please make donuts today in our new donut pan.
Yes, of course I was the grown-up adult who purchased that donut pan
She’s not actually using that language but it’s clearly what she means each time she asks. Which got me thinking about the issue of kids, paleo kids, kids and treats, and kids and paleo treats.
While my kids don’t eat fully paleo (I explain my thoughts here and they mostly haven’t changed) they do live in a household where most of what they’re getting to eat is paleo-ish and definitely not what most would consider processed junk. They are kids that ask for plantains and sweet potato fries and think of these things as dinner staples.
I’ve noticed, not surprisingly, that they each have their own “paleo kid personality type” and I thought it’d be fun to go through these so you can see if YOUR kids fit any of these.
Daughter # 1 – Diana – If Paleo means more bacon, burgers, and fries then sign me the heck up!
Also known as “the child who never liked pasta, milk or cheese”, this child is all about Paleo because it means she gets unlimited access to all her favorite foods. She’s also the kid who complained about eating the burger bun, wants seconds of meat but doesn’t like mac and cheese, and never even liked juice. Who is this kid anyway? Loves roasted broccoli and is happier eating big meals over a lot of snacks. This kid was born paleo and it just took me a while to realize that I should feed her this way.
Her views on paleo treats: “I like them.” “But I like meat more.”
Daughter # 2 – Emily – Paleo means pancakes that taste weird. I didn’t sign up for this so please pass the gluten free mac and cheese.
Also known as “the child who would eat fruit and pasta for every meal”, I would never restrict this child’s diet to full paleo. She loves fruit and eats it all day, cucumbers, peppers and carrots make her happy and without cheese, milk and yogurt she might not eat any fat and protein at all. Burgers, Applegate hot dogs or sausage work for her for dinner along with plantain chips (proof that anyone would happily eat plantain chips) and she genuinely gags on cooked veggies.
Her views on paleo treats: “They are the best part of paleo.” “I like them more than burgers and plantain chips.”
Son – Drew (the little one, age 3) – Everything in moderation dipped in ketchup.
Also known as “I don’t know what paleo means and I like a little of everything, dipped in ketchup”, this child just eats what he likes and does not waste his time eating. Scrambled eggs and fruit make him happy, and yogurt, cheese and orange juice also make him happy. Organic ketchup or marinara sauce is always on his plate for dipping and he wants plenty of “refills.” The only meat he eats without ketchup is sweet Italian sausage. He spends about 2 minutes on any given meal and not a second longer. No patience for veggies of any kind.
His views on paleo treats: I love cookies! And brownies! (jumping up and down.)
The rest of this icy/rainy Sunday at home will involve paleo donut making – hopefully a project that we can all be proud of in the end!
I’m linking up with Katie for MIMM today because at the end of the day there is nothing more marvelous than spending time with my happy and healthy children!
And, since by the time this post is published I will be on my third day home with them due to the long weekend, I am keeping my head up and staying positive because that’s what we mommys do on long weekends 🙂 Stay positive and try to forget that your house looks and sounds like Chuck E. Cheese’s on a Saturday at 6pm.
The mess will be long gone someday but the babies will be too. As hard as it can be to appreciate these little-kid years, I have enough under my belt now to understand now why it’s so important to.
Do your kids have food personalities?
How often do you bake with your kids? Do they enjoy baking or just eating the finished product?
Was your weekend lazy or busy?
Last night my son was convinced that I hid cauliflower in his dinner but I didn’t! I swear! I bake a lot and not always with my son so if he comes home to cookies, he questions if they are real or healthy lol.
My kids always ask me if something is “healthy” or “regular” so I can relate 🙂 I never mess with trying to hide veggies because I get enough crap for seasonings!
Isn’t it so funny how kids can have food personalities? Rob always tells me that he is worried for our kids because he thinks I will be super controlling over their food…not sure what that means but it sounds like maybe he is implying that I am controlling over his food. I love how you adjust each of their diets to how they like to eat while still making sure they are eating healthy and balances meals!
I think most moms want at least some say over what their kids eat, it’s hard not to cringe if you realize nothing but buttered pasta and goldfish crackers are being consumed (I’ve been there!) Good news (or bad news) for Rob is that you will lose interest in what he eats after you have kids. He might like it for a week or so before he realizes he will have to plan some of his own meals 🙂
What’s super hard for me is that my kids go to their dad’s every other weekend and we have a different idea on what healthy is. They are real southern cooks. Fried everything and potatoes are a must. When they get back to my house it’s hard to get then on board the health train.
If it were less often it would be easier to let slide but I can definitely see that being confusing and frustrating! My husband had divorced parents and it was the opposite – his mom would spoil him with junk when he spent time with her and then it was tough to eat healthier the rest of the time. I suppose at least they are cooking and it’s not fast food :/
I love how you explained their personalities! i used to babysit a girl who would only eat “cheese tacos” which was a wrap with cheese….trying to get her to eat a few blueberries was hard work haha. Uh oh! Your two girls are total opposites, but keeps life interesting right? 😉
Oh no! That’s challenging. At least we have a bunch of fruit eaters, although if they want sweet things that is really the only choice!
I think it’s interesting how they all have their own personalities when it comes to food and so early too. I wonder what defines that for each of them.
I’m not sure but it sort of went with each of their personalities from birth! My oldest wasn’t crazy about eating at all until “real food” came along and Emily wanted to nurse forever and not eat solids. Who knows, it is interesting though 🙂
Here is the question: would she be partial to a mac and cheese pancake?! On the one hand I can’t wait to have kids, to get to know their little personalities like this. On the other hand, they are just going to have to like my cooking! Our weekend was productive and lazy, just the way that I like it:D
A mac and cheese pancake? Interesting! She does enjoy a fried egg with cheese on top which is the only way she likes eggs. And good luck with your kids enjoying your cooking! I naively thought that they would eat what I served them as long as they didn’t know much else. Sadly for us it doesn’t work that way most of the time and it takes a lot of planning, strategy and work.
This was so cute! I love how they each have their own preference, but through your influence it is all a variation on healthy eating. I hope those paleo donuts show up on the blog soon. 🙂 I have a donut pan and I don’t even think I have used it once. Have a good Monday!
We actually made caramel glazed donuts from Against All Grain. They were good! I’ll work on my own recipe, possibly something chocolate glazed 🙂
It’s so funny how everyone has such different tastes and favorite foods. I think I was like your daughter Emily when I was little. Mac n cheese and fruit. I still haven’t grown out of the fruit obsession! My sister who is 17 still likes ketchup and sauces on everything.
Those tastes don’t change sometimes! I was always more of a meat and veggie eater, my favorite foods as a kid were cheese burgers and spinach pie, oddly enough 🙂
I’m most definitely like your daughter Emily — fruit and [white rice] all day, please.and.thank.you
And I don’t have any kids of my own, but baking with my mom was one of my favourite things when I was little. I’d always get upset when she told me that she didn’t have time or that our bananas weren’t ripe enough to make banana bread. Pft. I actually thought she was lying to me, but turns out she wasn’t.
My mom didn’t bake all that much but I have great memories of the times we did! It’s great that they are old enough now to actually help without making too much of a mess 🙂 So funny about the ripe bananas – sounds like a “mom lie” but of course it’s the truth!
Can I volunteer to be one of your kids?! Pretty please, I want to so badly(I kid you not, i come from a pretty brutal family). I’ll be the infamous steal-the-fat-off-your-meat kid that’ll be best friends with meataterian Kid #1 🙂
This post is adorable, I love it to death.
Another meatatarian is always welcome Linda 🙂
I love the breakdown of your kids eating personalities! I have a 6 month old who is just starting to eat solid foods and I often think about how I can best get her to actually enjoy eating healthy foods.
Every child is so different so there’s no one thing that works all around. I think resisting making separate “kid” meals is a good place to start – I got into that for a while and it sucked away my energy, didn’t guarantee they would eat and what they did eat wasn’t healthy. I make small adjustments now but basically everyone eats the same stuff.
Hi! I’m new to your blog. Love it! I think Drew is my man as far as relating to food choices. I too, love everything dipped in ketchup. And omg, I would PAY one of my kids to play with my hair. A lot, lot lot of money. Ahhhhh….
I love that he plays with my hair, it really is sweet! As for the ketchup I figure it’s better he eats everything with it over not eating at all 🙂 Glad you found me!
I love that you kids eat plantains! You are raising a great generation!
Haha, omg, yes! EVERYTHING dipped in ketchup for me too!
I was never that huge on ketchup which is probably why I’m so into my mayo-based dips. I find it funny that they genuinely love plantains and assume everyone eats them too. I mean why wouldn’t they, they’re delicious!
I can most relate to Emily. Pass me all the fruit, cheese and veggies, cooked as well as raw.
My poor Hubby isn’t a vegetarian by any standards and yet he eats a predominantly vegetarian diet simply because that’s what I make. He does well with it actually and usually orders something carnivorous whenever we go out.
Funny, because my husband really is more like Emily and not a natural meat eater. It took him a while to adjust to this way of eating without feeling like it was meat overload! He is by no means paleo but he does enjoy the dinners and breakfasts now.
I love how your kids eat so healthy, and how you don’t impose a strict diet on them but encourage them to eat and enjoy good foods! Your daughter Emily reminds me of my younger sister, who would eat mac and cheese all the time, used to hate vegetables, and still have foods that she can’t even deal with (namely, bananas).
I think I’m somewhere between Diana and Emily, I love meat but I also love fruit and cheese! But no ketchup at all for me, ever!
I was closer to Diana as a kid but did love pasta and mac and cheese! Funny how things preferences like that seem to stick 🙂
I have a combo of daughter #1 and your son. Hates bread. Loves veggies. Will dip any and all veggies (and anything else for that matter) in ketchup haha.
My weekend was like yours in that the husband was cleaning out a messy storage area and I’m here telling you about it. 🙂 Also we had that freakish ice on Sunday. Rather than getting my hair done I played a lot of princesses.
Not a bad thing at all! And that was a crazy unexpected ice storm! I was really glad my run was done!
I had a race this weekend but on top of that I had a jammed packet weekend. My hubby and I drove to San Diego for my race on Friday. We went to an oyster happy hour with a friend and met up with more friends for drinks afterwards. On Saturday we went to the race expo and then headed out to the beach to enjoy the beautiful weather. It felt great running my toes in the sand and water. I just love California winters…sorry east coast friend!
Sounds busy but really fun! The beach sounds so awesome to me right now 🙂
so…i wonder with your older daughter if she has any underlying stomach issues ? meaning….is she predisposed to like generally GF/paleo type foods because its what works for her body ? i only ask this because i found out as an adult that i am celiac and had to go gluten free. i always liked and wanted (still want) pasta, bread etc but i think as a kid i already sort of new that i felt bad here and there when i ate those things. at my house basically you ate what was cooked and it was overall “healthy” with lots of veggies and variety but i wonder if totally allowed to eat what i wanted would i have wandered towards a more GF diet naturally as a kid. some people say kids are in tune with their needs at a young age….me…i probably would have mostly eaten ice cream all day but you never know ! just a theory….
That’s an interesting point! When she eats gluten and other non-paleo things she seems fine for the most part, I’m actually more concerned that my son might have IBS/food intolerances since dairy has always been an issue for him. The topic of food preferences/tolerances is a really interesting one!