Finally, Broadening Our Horizons!

It has finally happened. I am fairly certain that it might be safe to say that my tiny trio have agreed that new foods are not harmful or bad.

Used to, they only would eat things with which they were already familiar, such as bananas and chicken strips.

Lately, however, I have been sneaky and have found ways to introduce new foods that are quickly becoming favorites.

How did I manage this feat of epic proportions with three toddlers to please?

First off, I knew that I had to keep serving the usual fair at the usual time of day each was expected.

We still eat waffles for breakfast every morning. The difference now is that they are blueberry, and are accompanied by different cereals to try each morning.

In this way, I have managed to wean them off of solely eating Cheerio's and have introduced them to the wonders of the different variations of Chex cereals and even a Fruit Loop here and there.

Lunch must still consist of a chicken strip, cut into tiny bits and pieces. Kian also will still request his favorite "Fwench Fwies" to accompany his "Chickie," too.

However, as of late, nobody is protesting to my adding a bit of ham or turkey here and there for something different.

For dinner, we have somehow integrated the use of forks and spoons along with little cute bowls full of anything from chicken noodles to macaroni and cheese.

Gone are the days of drawn and quartered hot dogs served next to tiny cubes of cheese and tortilla bits.

They have progressed to the wonders of Ravioli and sometimes even a bit of left over stir-fry.

Our snacks have really changed, as well. Used to, it was Cheerios all the way.

Now, the babies have developed a taste for tiny cheese crackers, a glowing Ritz cracker addiction, and even the occasional (very very occasional) baby Oreo cookie.

I have even discovered a nifty snack mix. Cheerios makes it, and it is similar to what we used to make at Christmas time and called "Nibbles" in my family.

Cheerios Snack mix comes in regular and cheese flavors, and has all sorts of nifty things in it like little cracker twists, pretzels, and even a sort of Melba toast in miniature.

My kids love this stuff and could sit there and eat it all day long, if I let them!

Of course, I don't let them, but they would certainly like to try if I wasn't watching them like a hawk!

They still love their old favorites, too, such as their baby flavored Goldfish and plain Teddy Grahams.

Another Holiday find, is that they adore pumpkin bread of any sort. I have found that if I buy a generic pumpkin bread mix, and cut it with a basic yellow cake mix, I can make a batch of 6 loaves, freeze some, and have happy babies for about a month!

They like to eat it with their dinner, usually, because they can easily spear it with their new Backyardigan's forks!

It's amazing how fast their little taste buds have grown over the past few months.

They have even cultivated a love of oranges, thanks to a thoughtful neighbor of ours who brought us a few the other day!

Now, if I can only find a way to keep them from sharing their new-found favorite foods with one-another across the table via flight, I just might be in good shape!