Oh no! More than a week since I posted, how can that be?
I did something fun today, it was called Integrity Day. Every hour from 10 til 2, I checked in about what I wanted to get done and was getting done. Thanks, Curtis, I got a lot done! And it was free!
Big stacks of boxes
Ever lurking in my room
Got them sorted, yeah!
Stacks of boxes really get to me -- it's a metaphor for all the detritus of my life I have trouble letting go of and moving on from -- so it was good to get 43 piles and boxes moved, categorized, and in the process.
I also got my first extensive facial tonight. I've had them as part of a spa-day package but those were never as intensive as this.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Bus Dream
I had a dream last night about DB's bus. I was undecided about whether to tell him about it -- and then, oddly enough, on our way downstairs this morning he asked me to tell him my dreams. So I told him about it:
Last night I dreamt your bus was like a dune buggy. It was open in the back except for rollbars -- one across the front and back of the passenger section, and then one long one down the center (so it formed like a capital letter "I" from the front to back of the bus).
It was yellow like a school bus and about the same size your bus is now (a minibus). Those details were in response to his questions -- "Was it red?" "Was it a 2-seater?"
The front section had both driver and passenger seats, like a dune buggy, but was open like a jeep.
There was a substitute driver, not the usual guy, who was playing music so loud that the guy was wearing big headphones to muffle the sound (either that, or he was listening to the music through those headphones and it was still so loud if was deafening).
"Did the kids have headphones too?" DB asked me. No, they didn't and there was no way I was going to put DB on that bus with that loud music, and I was baffled as to why anyone else did! His old classmate A. and the kindergartener who actually does sit in front of him on the bus now were in the bus's seats when it pulled up.
I was trying to decide whether to get those kids off the bus and drive them myself as I walked, holding DB's hand, out to the bus to tell the guy I was going to drive DB today.
DB was distracted by a parked car and pulling me to the side of the street, so I had to pull him back toward the bus to finish speaking to the driver.
The driver just nodded when I said I'd be driving DB, then pulled away with the other kids on it. I was left wondering how the police could find the bus if I called them. Or whether it was even the police I should call, or the school? OPT?And then I either woke up or the dream was over.
Ya think I still have some bus anxiety?
Last night I dreamt your bus was like a dune buggy. It was open in the back except for rollbars -- one across the front and back of the passenger section, and then one long one down the center (so it formed like a capital letter "I" from the front to back of the bus).
It was yellow like a school bus and about the same size your bus is now (a minibus). Those details were in response to his questions -- "Was it red?" "Was it a 2-seater?"
The front section had both driver and passenger seats, like a dune buggy, but was open like a jeep.
There was a substitute driver, not the usual guy, who was playing music so loud that the guy was wearing big headphones to muffle the sound (either that, or he was listening to the music through those headphones and it was still so loud if was deafening).
"Did the kids have headphones too?" DB asked me. No, they didn't and there was no way I was going to put DB on that bus with that loud music, and I was baffled as to why anyone else did! His old classmate A. and the kindergartener who actually does sit in front of him on the bus now were in the bus's seats when it pulled up.
I was trying to decide whether to get those kids off the bus and drive them myself as I walked, holding DB's hand, out to the bus to tell the guy I was going to drive DB today.
DB was distracted by a parked car and pulling me to the side of the street, so I had to pull him back toward the bus to finish speaking to the driver.
The driver just nodded when I said I'd be driving DB, then pulled away with the other kids on it. I was left wondering how the police could find the bus if I called them. Or whether it was even the police I should call, or the school? OPT?And then I either woke up or the dream was over.
Ya think I still have some bus anxiety?
Monday, October 13, 2008
How I Save Money on Food
This post is my entry for a BlogHer contest sponsored by Prego Italian Sauce. The winner will be randomly chosen, but as I thought about what I'd say in a quickly posted comment, my ideas sounded so off-the-wall that I decided to pretend it’s an essay contest and try to craft something thoughtful.
I have always been a coupon clipper and rebate/sale circular scanner. However, in the past months we have made the decision to try to start our own business, which means making our current savings last as long as possible. We are also trying to improve our health by eating a low-carb diet, and my son has a casein allergy. These factors mean inexpensive products full of carbs or whey/milk/cheese are off-limits.
If it’s Tuesday, we must be having veggies
We joined a CSA this year – a vegetable coop. It arrives (well, we go and get it) once a week, and since it’s already paid for we’re kinda forced to cook and eat it! It didn’t feel like we were saving money writing the check, but it averages out to $10/week to split a share – with only 2 of us eating these foods, it’s more than enough. We joined because the veggies taste so good – our neighbor gave us some of her extras last year. But it’s been a money-saver too, as I hate to waste food, especially good food, so I make an effort to cook the veggies.
Woo hoo, cheap meat!
There is an episode of The Simpsons where Homer goes into the convenience store and excitedly stuffs himself with on-sale hot dogs and the like that are outdated, have been on the floor, etc. While my choices are nowhere near that, talking about saving money on meat always reminds me of that. I do 2 things here: 1. Sale meat. Really, pork tenderloin isn’t exactly roughing it. And we happen to prefer chicken thighs and wings to breast meat anyway. But how old am I that $2 a pound for the cheap cuts sounds like a lot?
2. Store-brand cold cuts. I love Boar’s Head, but at half the price, it turns out the Stop & Shop brand isn’t so bad. I have 2 supertasters in the house, so that switch wasn’t as much of a no-brainer as it may seem. Mouthfeel is king around here when it comes to meat products. But I took a chance and found an acceptable alternative to $10/lb Virginia ham.
Sufficient unto the week are the groceries thereof
I’ve stopped buying in advance, and am trying to be more mindful of what I already have, and how long it will last, rather than automatically tossing in something I see and know we’ll use (eventually).
This is a big shift for me, born of Depression-era parents who believed in stocking up. There are still a few things I always make sure to have a spare of in the house, but less important things I'm trying to cut back on. This is especially true of snack foods, which are so much fun to get for DB, when I see something new.
Benefits in addition to cost savings include:
#1 – I cook late at night sometimes now. In the past I’d think, “I’m too tired, let’s order in.” But in our neighborhood it actually takes less time to cut up veggies and roast 2 pork tenderloins than it does to order Chinese food.
#2 – I take DB with me to pick out the foods that only he will be eating (such as bread). He eats it faster and better than when I take a guess, or always buy the same thing over and over.
#3 – When I do save enough in a week to have grocery money left over, I save it up for the next trip to the pricey health food store for the convenience foods that are hard to live without right now – like enriched, single-serve almond milk and dairy-free breakfast bars that DB takes to school.
I have always been a coupon clipper and rebate/sale circular scanner. However, in the past months we have made the decision to try to start our own business, which means making our current savings last as long as possible. We are also trying to improve our health by eating a low-carb diet, and my son has a casein allergy. These factors mean inexpensive products full of carbs or whey/milk/cheese are off-limits.
If it’s Tuesday, we must be having veggies
We joined a CSA this year – a vegetable coop. It arrives (well, we go and get it) once a week, and since it’s already paid for we’re kinda forced to cook and eat it! It didn’t feel like we were saving money writing the check, but it averages out to $10/week to split a share – with only 2 of us eating these foods, it’s more than enough. We joined because the veggies taste so good – our neighbor gave us some of her extras last year. But it’s been a money-saver too, as I hate to waste food, especially good food, so I make an effort to cook the veggies.
Woo hoo, cheap meat!
There is an episode of The Simpsons where Homer goes into the convenience store and excitedly stuffs himself with on-sale hot dogs and the like that are outdated, have been on the floor, etc. While my choices are nowhere near that, talking about saving money on meat always reminds me of that. I do 2 things here: 1. Sale meat. Really, pork tenderloin isn’t exactly roughing it. And we happen to prefer chicken thighs and wings to breast meat anyway. But how old am I that $2 a pound for the cheap cuts sounds like a lot?
2. Store-brand cold cuts. I love Boar’s Head, but at half the price, it turns out the Stop & Shop brand isn’t so bad. I have 2 supertasters in the house, so that switch wasn’t as much of a no-brainer as it may seem. Mouthfeel is king around here when it comes to meat products. But I took a chance and found an acceptable alternative to $10/lb Virginia ham.
Sufficient unto the week are the groceries thereof
I’ve stopped buying in advance, and am trying to be more mindful of what I already have, and how long it will last, rather than automatically tossing in something I see and know we’ll use (eventually).
This is a big shift for me, born of Depression-era parents who believed in stocking up. There are still a few things I always make sure to have a spare of in the house, but less important things I'm trying to cut back on. This is especially true of snack foods, which are so much fun to get for DB, when I see something new.
Benefits in addition to cost savings include:
- Making more of an effort to wean DB off prepared foods and onto “real food” (like, a grilled-chicken sandwich instead of nuggets). In the past it would have been stressful for him if I were to run out of one of his staples, but now he’ll deal.
- Having less go stale/ become outdated.
- Fewer desserts in the house – none of us really needs them anyway!
#1 – I cook late at night sometimes now. In the past I’d think, “I’m too tired, let’s order in.” But in our neighborhood it actually takes less time to cut up veggies and roast 2 pork tenderloins than it does to order Chinese food.
#2 – I take DB with me to pick out the foods that only he will be eating (such as bread). He eats it faster and better than when I take a guess, or always buy the same thing over and over.
#3 – When I do save enough in a week to have grocery money left over, I save it up for the next trip to the pricey health food store for the convenience foods that are hard to live without right now – like enriched, single-serve almond milk and dairy-free breakfast bars that DB takes to school.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Busy Saturday
I just wore myself out telling my friend on the phone what DB and I did today, but honestly, it was a lot of fun. (Times are approximate. I only added them to break up the text.)
8 - 9:30 AM
First I got to sleep in until like 7:30 because so did DB, woohoo! And he let me stay in bed for another show, by which I mean, another half an hour. Then I unpacked all the bags from yesterday that I dumped in the front hallway. I checked my email and cleaned up the kitchen and we both had breakfast. He watched TV happily; I think it's good that he watches less during the week, he gives me a break on weekend mornings and I don't feel too badly about it.
9:30 AM - 1 PM
We played and played, then DB was itching to go to the playground with his bike (trike, actually), so he was ready to get dressed. (A big deal. Most days he'd stay in his pajamas all day if I let him.) I had something more to eat and then off we went.
1 PM - 3:30 PM
When we came back from the playground we hung at home for a little bit, then headed off to try taking the bus to Metropolitan Avenue. Partly to see if we could do it, partly to kill time, partly because the car is so loud and clanky I feel like I should avoid driving it if at all possible.
By the time we were on the bus DB was hungry, so I reminded him that the craft store (our destination) was right near Wendy's. A transfer and half an hour or so later, the bus let us off right in front of Wendy's. Perfect!
As we were eating I realized it was 2:30 and the craft event only went until 3:00. When I mentioned it, he was ready to go -- even suggested packing the fries and drink. Surprising for a person who has. dawdled. all. day.
Less than 5 minutes later we were across the street picking out a foam craft pumpkin -- usually terribly overpriced but a bargain today at $5. The idea of the event is that you get all the decorating bits (big google eyes, pipe cleaner hair, etc.) for that price too, and the woman was really nice about making sure he had time to pick stuff out. But he was so happy with his pumpkin pick -- a white one -- he didn't want anything, liking instead my suggestion to carve a face on it at home. "I got the only white one," was his comment. Interesting.
Quick stop in Trader Joe's next door, got some chips and a root beer for later/tomorrow.
3:30 pm - 5 pm
On the way back to the bus stop, I could see his legs were tired, so we hit the library for a bit. He thoroughly enjoyed the silly words in The Lorax and a special 25th-anniversary edition of Arthur's Nose. Then in 7-11 (Family Rule: do not pass by 7-11 without stopping), my suspicion that he had to pee was proved right; the counter woman took pity on us and let us into the employee bathroom. (DB was impressed that she let us use it despite the big "Employees Only" sign on the door. She said it was only because he was so handsome, and I'm not sure she was kidding.)
Of course, we got some chips at 7-11, though he tried dearly to convince me that a toy would be better. The child with more toys that he knows what to do with needs one more. I didn't bite. He took it well. "These are better than the baked," he pronounced about the regular Lay's chips. Often he picks "Baked! Lays" because, I think, he likes the exclamation point in the middle of the name.
5 - 6:30 pm
On the bus he showed me how to do "The DB Dance" -- didn't even phase him that the bus arrived when we said we'd do it at the bus stop, he just showed me on the bus!
He was up for walking home from the bus stop, the option being to transfer to another bus. We watched some pigeons on the sidewalk snag a piece of bread, he was laughing and enjoying it so much! We tried tossing them one potato chip but decided that perhaps they don't like Lay's.
Went into the kids store ("They always have stuff for kids..." he remarked as he veered in, "...of all ages.")
As we went past our local healthy-food store, I thought I'd try one more thing, and told him if he was up for going in, we could get him some "panda pudding," really the only dairy-free kind I've found (and my attempts to make it are feeble).
To my surprise, he agreed heartily! Didn't even balk at the long line! Carried the bag part of the way home!
Waffled back and forth a bit about whether he wanted to go right to the park again or home to eat pudding first. Decided on home, pudding, then park. Which is what we did -- with bike going to the park with us again.
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
When it got dark, I finally convinced him to come home... for a bath, a buttered roll and two batches of chicken nuggets (accompanied by Little House in the Big Woods), and 3 more books -- half an hour past bedtime, but my own fault because I was just having such a good time reading to him and on weekends I don't HAVE to be such a slave to the clock -- before I finally said, No mas! I have to call my friend who's coming over!
Alas, my friend is in bed under the weather. But I told her our story and now have told you!
I was a little mad at myself for caving to DB's desire to NOT take the change to the bank on the way, but it worked out alright, since we just had time to eat and get the craft pumpkin.
And I am proud of setting limits today on telling stories. It really could have gone another way.
8 - 9:30 AM
First I got to sleep in until like 7:30 because so did DB, woohoo! And he let me stay in bed for another show, by which I mean, another half an hour. Then I unpacked all the bags from yesterday that I dumped in the front hallway. I checked my email and cleaned up the kitchen and we both had breakfast. He watched TV happily; I think it's good that he watches less during the week, he gives me a break on weekend mornings and I don't feel too badly about it.
9:30 AM - 1 PM
We played and played, then DB was itching to go to the playground with his bike (trike, actually), so he was ready to get dressed. (A big deal. Most days he'd stay in his pajamas all day if I let him.) I had something more to eat and then off we went.
1 PM - 3:30 PM
When we came back from the playground we hung at home for a little bit, then headed off to try taking the bus to Metropolitan Avenue. Partly to see if we could do it, partly to kill time, partly because the car is so loud and clanky I feel like I should avoid driving it if at all possible.
By the time we were on the bus DB was hungry, so I reminded him that the craft store (our destination) was right near Wendy's. A transfer and half an hour or so later, the bus let us off right in front of Wendy's. Perfect!
As we were eating I realized it was 2:30 and the craft event only went until 3:00. When I mentioned it, he was ready to go -- even suggested packing the fries and drink. Surprising for a person who has. dawdled. all. day.
Less than 5 minutes later we were across the street picking out a foam craft pumpkin -- usually terribly overpriced but a bargain today at $5. The idea of the event is that you get all the decorating bits (big google eyes, pipe cleaner hair, etc.) for that price too, and the woman was really nice about making sure he had time to pick stuff out. But he was so happy with his pumpkin pick -- a white one -- he didn't want anything, liking instead my suggestion to carve a face on it at home. "I got the only white one," was his comment. Interesting.
Quick stop in Trader Joe's next door, got some chips and a root beer for later/tomorrow.
3:30 pm - 5 pm
On the way back to the bus stop, I could see his legs were tired, so we hit the library for a bit. He thoroughly enjoyed the silly words in The Lorax and a special 25th-anniversary edition of Arthur's Nose. Then in 7-11 (Family Rule: do not pass by 7-11 without stopping), my suspicion that he had to pee was proved right; the counter woman took pity on us and let us into the employee bathroom. (DB was impressed that she let us use it despite the big "Employees Only" sign on the door. She said it was only because he was so handsome, and I'm not sure she was kidding.)
Of course, we got some chips at 7-11, though he tried dearly to convince me that a toy would be better. The child with more toys that he knows what to do with needs one more. I didn't bite. He took it well. "These are better than the baked," he pronounced about the regular Lay's chips. Often he picks "Baked! Lays" because, I think, he likes the exclamation point in the middle of the name.
5 - 6:30 pm
On the bus he showed me how to do "The DB Dance" -- didn't even phase him that the bus arrived when we said we'd do it at the bus stop, he just showed me on the bus!
He was up for walking home from the bus stop, the option being to transfer to another bus. We watched some pigeons on the sidewalk snag a piece of bread, he was laughing and enjoying it so much! We tried tossing them one potato chip but decided that perhaps they don't like Lay's.
Went into the kids store ("They always have stuff for kids..." he remarked as he veered in, "...of all ages.")
As we went past our local healthy-food store, I thought I'd try one more thing, and told him if he was up for going in, we could get him some "panda pudding," really the only dairy-free kind I've found (and my attempts to make it are feeble).
To my surprise, he agreed heartily! Didn't even balk at the long line! Carried the bag part of the way home!
Waffled back and forth a bit about whether he wanted to go right to the park again or home to eat pudding first. Decided on home, pudding, then park. Which is what we did -- with bike going to the park with us again.
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
When it got dark, I finally convinced him to come home... for a bath, a buttered roll and two batches of chicken nuggets (accompanied by Little House in the Big Woods), and 3 more books -- half an hour past bedtime, but my own fault because I was just having such a good time reading to him and on weekends I don't HAVE to be such a slave to the clock -- before I finally said, No mas! I have to call my friend who's coming over!
Alas, my friend is in bed under the weather. But I told her our story and now have told you!
I was a little mad at myself for caving to DB's desire to NOT take the change to the bank on the way, but it worked out alright, since we just had time to eat and get the craft pumpkin.
And I am proud of setting limits today on telling stories. It really could have gone another way.
Friday, October 10, 2008
On My Own
Well, sort of. Husband is at a conference until Sunday night. DB is still with me of course. But tomorrow night I've got the sitter coming anyhow so I can have dinner with a girl friend! And Saturday a neighbor friend is coming over after bedtime to watch a movie.
The bed to myself,
Doing whatever I want,
I need this so much!
The bed to myself,
Doing whatever I want,
I need this so much!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Butterfly on My Hand
Yes, it IS October and this is a real, alive, Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on my hand.
It came out of its chrysalis on Sunday, and on Monday I tried to release it. When I first opened the jar, since it was attached to the tissue on the top of the jar it moved itself to my hand, and stayed there for around 20 minutes while I waited for DB's school bus.
Then it continued to stay there while I walked into the street, met DB at the bus, and we walked back to the sidewalk! (I was sheltering it from the wind as best I could.)
Finally I gently moved him onto a flower and we went upstairs. By now I'd personified him and decided he was cold, so I felt a little bad. Especially because I swear he waved a front leg at me in goodbye.
About 15 minutes later I went to check on him. He hadn't moved, and in fact looked like he was clinging to the tiny flower petal for dear life. So I picked the flower and placed flower and insect in the bowl I'd brought with me (just in case he was still there).
It wasn't until Tuesday mid-morning when he began to flutter madly around his big bowl -- during a patch of bright sunshine -- so I released him in the house. He fluttered to the white kitchen curtain, and I opened the window, where he soon flew out. Of course, that was right AFTER I'd spent an hour Googling what to feed him, how long he'd live, and what kind of habitat to keep him in.
Bye, little friend!
He is Number 3 of 4 chrysalises a friend of Grandma's gave us. Butterflies Number 1 and 2 flew right off once they emerged from their jar. (They did wait to be in sunshine to come out, even though they'd been out of the chrysalis for hours and so I presumed their wings were dry.)
It's been cool for DB to look at them up close. "I can see the proboscis" he says -- at least, that's what I think he's saying since he can't quote pronounce "proboscis."
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sporks, Sports and Silence
Miscellaneous thoughts from today...
As I unpacked DuckyBoy's lunchbox I noticed a spork. I held it up to him and commented on it, to which he replied, "Oh, yeah, that's really good for launching things." Is that a boy thing to say or what? I guess it goes with the little balls of tinfoil -- not from anything I packed, mind you -- that also come home in the lunchbox these days (I have my instructions not to take them out).
DB has wanted to go to the playground every day after school this week, and even chose to go this morning, with his scooter, instead of watching TV -- usually his favorite a.m. activity, especially on school days (since he only gets to do it on Fridays when I drive him). So I had the chance to meet the new gym teacher today and tell him he's doing a great job! I know it's something from school since DB comments on how he's liking to stretch his muscles and various things like that. It's so nice to be able to give someone credit where credit is due, especially someone who's having such a positive effect on your child. Nice young man, lots of energy and enthusiasm -- everything a young boy should like!
Last but not least, twice today in the car with DB, there were moments when we did not talk. Like, long enough that I noticed. Now, this is a child who usually want to talk, or listen to me talk, nonstop. Especially in the mornings, or during any transition time in the car, he wants me to tell a story. Silence truly was golden.
Ahhh.
As I unpacked DuckyBoy's lunchbox I noticed a spork. I held it up to him and commented on it, to which he replied, "Oh, yeah, that's really good for launching things." Is that a boy thing to say or what? I guess it goes with the little balls of tinfoil -- not from anything I packed, mind you -- that also come home in the lunchbox these days (I have my instructions not to take them out).
DB has wanted to go to the playground every day after school this week, and even chose to go this morning, with his scooter, instead of watching TV -- usually his favorite a.m. activity, especially on school days (since he only gets to do it on Fridays when I drive him). So I had the chance to meet the new gym teacher today and tell him he's doing a great job! I know it's something from school since DB comments on how he's liking to stretch his muscles and various things like that. It's so nice to be able to give someone credit where credit is due, especially someone who's having such a positive effect on your child. Nice young man, lots of energy and enthusiasm -- everything a young boy should like!
Last but not least, twice today in the car with DB, there were moments when we did not talk. Like, long enough that I noticed. Now, this is a child who usually want to talk, or listen to me talk, nonstop. Especially in the mornings, or during any transition time in the car, he wants me to tell a story. Silence truly was golden.
Ahhh.
Haiku for Speaking Up
I am so tired
of listening with friendly ears
to others who rant ...
... and think I agree
because I sit quietly --
time for something new.
I'll share my thoughts too;
surely someone wants to know.
I can speak up too!
How to tag this one?
"Citizen" is from school days
but it fits here too.
This is what I want,
to teach my son to speak up
in his adult life.
Not that I think he'd have a problem with that if left to his own devices ... but I certainly have struggled with speaking up, and making my voice heard.
of listening with friendly ears
to others who rant ...
... and think I agree
because I sit quietly --
time for something new.
I'll share my thoughts too;
surely someone wants to know.
I can speak up too!
How to tag this one?
"Citizen" is from school days
but it fits here too.
This is what I want,
to teach my son to speak up
in his adult life.
Not that I think he'd have a problem with that if left to his own devices ... but I certainly have struggled with speaking up, and making my voice heard.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bacon: It's What's For Bedtime Snack!
DuckyBoy is still a picky eater but now he eats much MORE of what he does eat.
He's liked bacon for a while, but last weekend he ate almost an entire package of Oscar Mayer Ready to Serve Bacon. Tonight, after wolfing down a frozen oat-bran waffle (toasted and buttered), about 10 mini chicken nuggets (close to a full serving per the package), a Tofutti ice cream cone (with an extra scoop of ice cream added halfway through) and a Peeps ghost for good measure, he STILL wanted an after-bath snack an hour later. But he didn't like the sound of anything else sweet; he went for 1/4 cup of penne with Grandma's spaghetti sauce! He ate the whole (albeit small) bowl of pasta with gusto.
And then, bacon! I wonder how much of it he'd have eaten if it hadn't been bedtime. The guy sure can pack it in at night. No wonder he never wants breakfast!
I'm delighted he wants to eat more. Now I just need to wean him off at least a few of his expensive, prepackaged tastes -- chicken nuggets, Glenny's caramel-peanut-butter marshmallow bars, and single-serve Tetrapaks of chocolate almond milk, to name a few $1-a-pop items. Of course he gets his appetite when we try to start our own business and live off our savings!!
I think I'll keep the Ready to Serve bacon; if I had to cook bacon from scratch in that quantity, I never would. And it's one of the few high-protein foods he really likes.
Another exciting food experience to report today: (and, pork-related): After I opined at the grocery store that he was going to have to learn to like ham so he could taste different brands of cold cuts to tell me which his father would like, he actually ... hold your breath... TRIED SOME! Of his own free will. He liked that I reminded him that I think he's a "Supertaster." I think his father is too. Who else do you know who can tell two national brands of peanut butter apart? I live with two people who can.
Speaking of peanut butter, I've got to go to plan B for DB's protein-rich breakfast and snacks at school; a note came home just a few days ago that the peanut-allergy problem has hit our school. Peanut butter is still allowed in the cafeteria (where there's a peanut-free table), but not in the classrooms. Anyone have an opinion on whether almond milk or cashew butter and the like are acceptable alternatives? The Web sounds a bit scary on the cashews, maybe we'd better keep them at home. I'll know more after I call the school nurse about it tomorrow.
He's liked bacon for a while, but last weekend he ate almost an entire package of Oscar Mayer Ready to Serve Bacon. Tonight, after wolfing down a frozen oat-bran waffle (toasted and buttered), about 10 mini chicken nuggets (close to a full serving per the package), a Tofutti ice cream cone (with an extra scoop of ice cream added halfway through) and a Peeps ghost for good measure, he STILL wanted an after-bath snack an hour later. But he didn't like the sound of anything else sweet; he went for 1/4 cup of penne with Grandma's spaghetti sauce! He ate the whole (albeit small) bowl of pasta with gusto.
And then, bacon! I wonder how much of it he'd have eaten if it hadn't been bedtime. The guy sure can pack it in at night. No wonder he never wants breakfast!
I'm delighted he wants to eat more. Now I just need to wean him off at least a few of his expensive, prepackaged tastes -- chicken nuggets, Glenny's caramel-peanut-butter marshmallow bars, and single-serve Tetrapaks of chocolate almond milk, to name a few $1-a-pop items. Of course he gets his appetite when we try to start our own business and live off our savings!!
I think I'll keep the Ready to Serve bacon; if I had to cook bacon from scratch in that quantity, I never would. And it's one of the few high-protein foods he really likes.
Another exciting food experience to report today: (and, pork-related): After I opined at the grocery store that he was going to have to learn to like ham so he could taste different brands of cold cuts to tell me which his father would like, he actually ... hold your breath... TRIED SOME! Of his own free will. He liked that I reminded him that I think he's a "Supertaster." I think his father is too. Who else do you know who can tell two national brands of peanut butter apart? I live with two people who can.
Speaking of peanut butter, I've got to go to plan B for DB's protein-rich breakfast and snacks at school; a note came home just a few days ago that the peanut-allergy problem has hit our school. Peanut butter is still allowed in the cafeteria (where there's a peanut-free table), but not in the classrooms. Anyone have an opinion on whether almond milk or cashew butter and the like are acceptable alternatives? The Web sounds a bit scary on the cashews, maybe we'd better keep them at home. I'll know more after I call the school nurse about it tomorrow.
