Menu planning? / art / and a bit more

Menu Planning - What's that?

I was asked by a reader a few weeks back -  "What does a meal plan look like in the wiseman house??How do you find the time to make everything??"

Lets start by answering the first question.  I will address the second half in tomorrow's post. We don't have a menu plan.  I used to plan all the meals every second Friday; then make sure the groceries were all bought and so on.  I found that I was spending too much time researching what to cook and then things would happen and the planned meals were not mad; then food would be wasted.  So sometime over this last winter I stopped pre-planning my meals.  I like it better this way - some of my best cooking comes from just opening the fridge and getting inspired but what's in there.

To give you an idea of what C Monster eats (he does not always eat what we do - he is 2 and 2 year olds are picky - at least mine is) I decided for the next 3 days I will post a diary of everything that goes in his mouth plus recipes if applicable.  As you will notice as you read C Monster food intact we are not perfect he also eats a lot of crap - well sometimes.

Saturday April 3rd - C Monster's Food Diary

Breakfast: 

Organic Spelt Waffles with Organic Maple Syrup 

Strawberry & Kale Smoothie

Breastmilk

Morning Snack:

12-14 Organic Raw Unsalted Cashews

1 PCO Toddler Berry Granola Bar

Strawberry & Kale Smoothie (left over from breakfast)

Lunch:  

He refused to eat

Glass of Organic Almond Milk

Breastmilk

Afternoon Snack:

Kiju Organic Apple/Grape Juice (%50 juice / %50 water)

Supper:

1/2 Slice of Cheese Pizza from Amato

Glass of Organic Almond Milk

Breastmilk

Evening Snack:

1 Square of Chocolate

1/2 Box PCO Raisins

4-6 Organic Unsalted Raw Pistachios

Homemade Herbal Iced Tea

Breastmilk

 

 Strawberry & Kale Smoothie Recipe

300g frozen strawberries (1 bag)
5 curly kale leafs vines removed
1 banana peeled
3/4 cups yogurt
1 cup apple juice
2 tbsp maple syrup

Place Strawberries in blender and crush using your blender's ice crushing mode. Once all large chunks are gone add Kale and half of the apple juice blends scraping sides occasionally until kale is mostly chopped. Add all remaining ingredient and process until smooth. Makes 3 - 4 smoothies.

I place C Monster in his sippy cup with a few ice cubes; when he done I put it in the fridge - he knows to ask for it when he wants it back.

Organic Spelt Waffles Recipe

1/3 cup Spelt flour

1/4 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup milk

1 tbsp melted butter

2 egg whites

1/4  cup plain yogurt

1/2 zuchinni, shredded 

1 1/2 tbsp mixed seeds

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. In another bowl beat the egg whites until they are just stiff peaks (it’s better that they are a little soft than over beaten). Mix all wet ingredients (minus eggs) into the dry ingredients until just combined. Preheat the waffle iron.

Add the egg whites to the bowl and fold together quickly.  Brush or spray the hot iron with a little canola oil and then cook the waffles per your iron’s instructions.

Serve with butter, and maple syrup.

Makes 5 waffles.

Art - crocodile

Yesterday C Monster did some painting; I am particularly proud of this one.  He told me it was a crocodile. I see it do you?

Coxwell &  Fairford 

After some residents in our are complained about too much trew trafic the city temporarly blocked off one section of Fairford at Coxwell - to see if it would improve things.  The youth of the neighborhood did not waste time to take over this section of pavement that is now safe for them to play in.

 

Looking Forward To

Seeing Christophe reaction to his easter egg hunt and finally building a box around our vegetable garden tomorrow.

Cheaters Lunch / Doc / Bottled Water

Cheaters Lunch

Even the beast mothers in the world sometimes "cheat" when it comes to lunch. I would like to say that I always make elaborate meals and never feed my son food from a box (I can however honestly say he never gets lunch out of can) but life gets in the way and sometimes you just don't feel like cooking.

On the menu today for lunch was Annies's Organic Whole Wheat Shells & Cheddar. If I am going to buy something pre-made I try to get items that have all real ingredients (no dyes or chemicals added). We have a few pre-package foods that we like to keep on hand in the house the above is one and the other is Amy's Organic Frozen Cheese Pizza.

Both of those are not cheep; and I like that because it's makes me think twice before opening the box and serving it for lunch. We don't get these to cut cost; cutting cost is done by making our own breads, sauces and all sorts of stuff - We truly just get these for convenience. I feel like I can justify it by making sure that all the ingrediants on the list are similar to stuff I have in my pantry - am I just kidding myself who know?

Is there anything you buy for shear convenience?

Doc

C Monster had his 2 year check up today. We had a good visit; a good discussion about vaccination and what vaccines he would get this year. When we bring him to see the doctor it's never a one way conversation; the doctor can not just tell me to do something and I will - it's a partnership he tells me what he wants and I tell him what I am willing to do and we come to an understanding.

So, the Monster will be getting 4 vaccines this year; his last combo for Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio/Hib and 3 for Pneumo conjugate. One vaccine every 3 months.

The C Monster weighted in at 33.5 lbs and is an incredible 35.25" tall.

The Story of Bottled Water

A good reminder to all to fill up a reusable bottle with water before leaving the house... Thanks for sharing this with me Geoff

Looking Forward To

Attending my LLLC meeting Tomorow