First Post -- Every Stage is a Challenge.

I am a Registered Dietitian and a member of the College of Dietitians of Alberta, as well as a member of the Dietitians of Canada. I have been at this for just over 13 years. A good long time. My speciality is infant and child nutrition, but I also have a passion for the dynamics of family feeding. As my two children (ages 9 & 7) get older, I find myself more interested in family meals, and am always trying to make mealtimes less stressful, more enjoyable, and delicious (and lets not forget nutritious!) for everyone. I have found this to be challenging as they get older, especially when they are in their extra activities during the school year.

Every stage seems to be difficult, and the hurdles just get bigger and bigger. Parents need to think more on how to overcome the frenzy. For example, when I had my son, I really thought that breastfeeding would be easy. Well, it was not. I really thought nothing was harder than breastfeeding. I did it, but it took a lot of determination and doctors appointments and weekly weights (remember, I am a Dietitian). That in itself is worthy of its own posting.

Then, the solid foods.....ahhhh..........this will be better, right? Wrong. I thought I knew everything about solids. The cereal box said to give them infant cereal until they are 24 months. Who would have thought that they would grow tired of that? Not me. And I really did think that my child would like pureed meat. They did not. I did make my own baby food, and that did help somewhat. Not with the meat.

Then the Independence stage...let them feed themselves. Really? Hmmm. Everywhere mess. Every crevice of their baby bodies. Every crack in that darn high chair. In their hair. In my hair. Just the thought of that stage..... lets just say that I am happy to be done with that. Yet, there are more hurdles as you graduate from one stage to the other.

Now that my children are older, one of my biggest hurdles (which I have not yet cleared) is "What the heck to give them for school lunches?" I have to say that I LOVE summer vacation, as it means that I don't have to make those freakin' lunches (and I get to spend time with the kids). Just about everyday their lunchbox comes home with just a bite out of their sandwich. Thankfully they eat their fruit most of the time. But that smell. That lunchbox smell at the end of the day. Yuck. And never mind the smell of the lunchbox on a Sunday night when you have forgotten to empty it on the previous Friday. Double yuck.

Another hurdle is the taunt of hearing "Lets do take out!" or worse yet..."Can we go to McDonald's?". During the year with hockey and dance and piano, it is hard to control. If meals are not planned, plan on take out. We are slowly getting better, and since I am a cookbook fiend, I have some great books to help with our meals. It is an ongoing challenge.

The countdown is on. It is now July 8th, and I have just under 2 months of "Feeding Frenzy Freedom" before the "Family Feeding Frenzy" starts. Lots of "F" words! I plan to enjoy every minute of our summer. Can I clear or go around some hurdles once the fall comes? With planning (and a bit of luck), oh yeah!

Bring it on.