A lot of my conversations with my children revolve around food.
Snack food to be exact.
To avoid the typical conversation that begins with a constant stream of whining about needing a snack, I started making these snack trays. When I'm on the ball, I make up a snack tray for each child at the beginning of the day. I fill a mini-muffin pan with little snack foods as seen here. Normally, I'd put some M&Ms or mini-marshmallows in one of the slots just for fun, but I don't have any on hand today. So the kids have their snack trays and can eat from them whenever they want throughout the day. When EVERY bit of food has been eaten, then I refill it, which means that bit of broccoli has to be consumed before I put out any more Scooby-snacks. It's a good system.
And just for fun: here is one of my all-time favorite clips from the old 1970's Electric Company. It soooo reminds me of my kids (and me, for that matter, when I was a child).
I can totally relate to my children wanting to sneak snacks...who doesn't?
Maybe I need to make myself a snack tray too!
This is genius. Pure genius. I wish I had done this when my girls were home full-time....because snacking is ALWAYS such a dilemma. Right now my problem is getting them to STOP snacking when they get home from school. They want to eat 4-5 snacks over 2 hours, right up to dinner and it makes me crazy! You are one smart woman!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marla...but I'm only smart because I decided to do this after hearing about someone else who did it first. Can't remember who that was, or I would have given them a mention!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at Electric Company! The best show ever! It was an great day at school if the teacher let us watch it. I love the snack idea! I think I should do that for myself as well!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I need to make snack trays!
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome idea! I am going to have to try this with my girls. They are constantly asking for snacks.
ReplyDeletewell we all as adults want a snack now. Just discovered carrots chips at walmart-thin slices of carrots instead of carrot sticks are delicious. All my snacks have to be sugar free.
ReplyDeleteI think this method could work for adults too! It is a really fun idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat a smart idea! My little girl is almost 18 months, so I don't know how well it would work for her now, but I'm going to have to try it in the near future!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea.
ReplyDeleteVery good idea! I am going to do that this week!
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This idea is genius! My kids drive me crazy with requests for food. I love that it's all there--the healthy with the fun. It seems like it would be great for teaching them about self-control too.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this idea.
ReplyDeleteLOVE.