what i feed my toddler

If you're lucky enough to have children, feeding them (especially a two year old) could quite possibly be the biggest battle of your life.  One day they love scrambled eggs, the next day they throw them on the floor.  All they want is dessert:  "But I want ice cream"  "Eat your dinner then you can have ice cream."  (Takes one bite) "Okay I want my ice cream."  "No dude, eat all of it."  "But I just want the ice cream."

YEAH, ME TOO.

Fortunately for me, Patrick is a pretty decent eater.  And by that I mean he will try almost anything and he's also pretty good about being bribed.  (Mother of the Year right here.)  When feeding a toddler, I think the key is to just put it on their plate.  Even if you're 99.9% positive your child will not even glace toward asparagus, just cut it up and put it on there, and do it over and over.  Kids may not like something the first time they see it, but if it keeps coming around they're more likely to give it a shot.  There is nothing more annoying than a kid that will only eat hot dogs, french fries and macaroni & cheese.  It's not the kid's fault, it's the parent that is enabling them.  Just put it on their plate.

That being said, if you're responsible for feeding a child/children, sometimes you just want some ideas.  You're sick of making the same lunches and dinners time and time again.  I decided to take some shots of the types of meals I put together for Patrick.  Trust me, I understand it's nothing special.  I'm not trying to be anything but a normal, exhausted Mom that's attempting to get some semi-nutritional food into my kid's stomach.

So if you're lacking in the idea department, maybe these will inspire you.

By the way, if you need real family dinners, here's what's on my menu this week:

• My parents got me a cookbook for my birthday written by my new idol:  "The Pioneer Woman."  I'm going to try her favorite meatloaf.  Have you guys seen her blog?  It's amazing.  She's amazing.  
• I made these creamy taquitos a few weeks ago and I'm dying to make them again.  If you like chicken and cilantro they're right up you're alley.  They're really kid-friendly too - just go easy on the chili powder.
• A craving for Chipotle has me wanting to make this sweet barbacoa pork that can be put in the crockpot and left on all day.  Super easy to put together in the morning before a day at work.  Or even easier, just go to Chipotle.
• With Jeff not eating sweets until Easter, I've calmed down in the dessert department, buuuuuut...I will be picking up my new Pampered Chef brownie pan any day now so I'll have to try these brownies for a crowd.  The crowd will include:  Patrick and myself.