Photo: Flickr, threelayercake

It all started so well: after months of solid breastfeeding, our now 14-month-old took to solid foods like a duck to water, easily and greedily downing anything she could get her tiny fists on. Beets, carrots, hummus, beans, even the dreaded brussel sprouts, nothing was safe when she was hungry. And then tragedy struck. We introduced her to fruit. After that, it was all downhill. Bananas replaced beets, and then blueberries replaced bananas, until the only foods our now-picky eater would eat were those you could smash and pour into a box with a straw.

Something had to be done. My wife and I searched and plotted until we eventually came up with a few healthy reliable stand-bys. Now, when our fussy eater turns downright obstinate at lunch time, we know we can always turn to one of the following healthy meals for our toddler. The following is just a sampling of what works for us; you’ll probably have to make a few changes for your own toddler’s taste, but this is a good place to start. Godspeed to you, and your fussy eater. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Brian Samuels

Blooms are blossoming and birds are tweeting. But busy moms and dads still need to put dinner on the table even while the world is ripe for frolicking. Fresh spring pasta salads are a great way to highlight seasonal produce easily and affordably.

These pasta dishes are easy enough to make on a weeknight but elegant enough to serve for a weekend dinner party with friends. Both adults and children will ask for second helpings, but if you have a particularly picky little one, you can always omit some of the ingredient add-ins. Serve with a simple fruit salad and a pitcher of lemonade. These dishes will have you celebrating the warmer weather and longer days. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Easter is just around the corner, and grocery store shelves are swelling with packages of candy and plastic eggs. As fun as it can be to hunt in the backyard for candy and treats, all that refined sugar and preservatives aren’t good for your little one or you (f you happen to be one of those parents that eats the leftover candy). Easter brunch with those heavy potato casseroles and sugary hams is also not the most nutritional-friendly Easter event either. But there are ways to make your Easter healthier and happier this year. This naturally sweetened carrot cake is a wonderful alternative to the traditional variety that is loaded with granulated sugars, oil, and cream cheese.

Replace the usual 1-2 cups of sugar with mashed bananas, and you and your kids won’t notice the absence of the granulated sweetener. The  natural sweetness of bananas paired with a dash of maple syrup will not only make your carrot cake healthier, but moister too.

{ read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: ruurmo, Flickr

Spring is a season that’s hard not to enjoy. Whether you live in Chicago or New Orleans, Los Angeles or New York, spring is a winner. It’s a time to shake the cold off your bones and breathe in the fresh scents of blooming flowers. And if you’re fortunate enough to have an outdoor area at home, it’s also the best time to enjoy your very own spring garden. Here are just a few of the many reasons to love a great spring garden.

A spring garden is visual evidence that winter is over

Even for those of us who live in moderate climates, the end of winter is a thing to celebrate. But for you poor unfortunate souls who live in cooler climes, the end of winter doesn’t necessarily mean the end of cold weather. Early spring still brings cool to cold weather in a lot of places, especially after dark, and when cool fronts come in it can often be hard to tell when winter ends and spring begins. That’s where your garden comes in. Even when it’s too chilly for comfort outside, the sight of those summer squash, watermelon, and tomato buds sprouting to life is visual proof that spring is well on its way in, and the cold weather is well on its way out. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo Credit: Anecdotes and Apple Cores

Waffles. Who doesn’t want to start the day with a pile of golden waffles? A drizzle of maple syrup, a pile of fresh fruit, and the slight crunch when you take your first bite can transform an ordinary breakfast meal into something otherworldly.

Adults and kids alike enjoy eating waffles for breakfast…or even for dinner. But most waffles in the frozen food section aren’t the best items to serve you or your family for one of the day’s most important meals. Full of preservatives and artificial flavors, frozen waffles can cause more harm than good for your body. Instead of turning to those ubiquitous boxes in the freezer aisle, take a Sunday afternoon to make a batch of whole-grain flaxseed waffles that will last you and your family the rest of the week. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: gamene, Flickr

As parents, we always want the best for our kids, and that includes making sure they get a healthy, balanced diet. But kids don’t always make the best choices when it comes to food, and dealing with a fussy eater can be a source of great frustration. If you are dealing with a picky eater in your house, try a few of these tips to get your young one back on the right track.

Set a good example

Babies learn a lot simply by observing and copying. If your baby never sees you enjoying some asparagus with your pasta, she’s not going to learn that asparagus is meant to be eaten. This is an over simplification, of course, but the point remains: making healthy choices for yourself is the easiest way to send a message to your child that eating healthy is a good choice. { read more }

About Jeff Jacobson

Socrates understood himself to be the smartest man in Athens because he knew at least enough to know he knew nothing. That's me. I'm an inconsistently successful father, stepfather, husband, and writer. But at least I know it.

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Photo: Anecdotes and Apple Cores

What better way to start the morning than with a cup of herbal tea and a warm slice of vegan pistachio bread? This simple quick bread recipe is full of heart-healthy fatty acids from coconut milk and raw pistachios.

Coconut milk is full of many different vitamins and minerals that keep your body and mind strong. The benefits of coconut milk are many, as it helps build strong bones and keep skin flexible and elastic (which is important when you’re pregnant!)

Pistachios are also nutritional winners. They are excellent sources of copper and manganese, with one serving offering 20% of the daily value of vitamin B6. With just enough sugar, this bread isn’t too sweet to make you feel guilty for passing up a bowl of oatmeal.  The pistachios turn the bread a stunning green, making it pretty enough to serve for company too. Check out the recipe after the jump.  { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Tavo P.

We all know that Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch aren’t the best ways to start our morning. With too much sugar and too little nutrition, many breakfast cereals will keep you fueled for far less time than busy or pregnant moms need. No one wants a bowl of sugar first thing in the morning!

In recent years, cereal companies have been creating and marketing more healthy and organic cereal options. The increased focus on healthy and convenient breakfasts has brought many great products to our morning tables, but amongst all the winners, there are also several losers that hide behind a mask of health and nutrition. Read on to find out what cereals you should and shouldn’t choose for breakfast. You might be surprised what makes our list! { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Anecdotes and Apple Cores

For many people, January brings an onset of fad-diets and exercise routines. Gym parking lots are packed with cars and diet books fly off bookshelves. But these fad-diets usually last no longer than a month or two. We fall into routine and find ourselves back where we began. But for many families, a diet change isn’t just a temporary New Years resolution. With more children and adults being diagnosed with gluten-intolerance, many families are making drastic changes to what they bring into their kitchens and pack in their lunchboxes.

But because gluten is found in many kid-friendly carbohydrates, it can be difficult for gluten-intolerant children to understand and accept their dietary restrictions. While friends order pizza for lunch or toast a bagel for breakfast, gluten-intolerant children have to be hyper-vigilant about what food products they consume. Special diets can be hard for adults, but food restriction at an early age can be even more difficult for a child. Turning down cupcakes at school or cookies at a friend’s house isn’t fun for anyone, but for young children, these health decisions can also be emotionally painful. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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Photo: Amarand Agasi

Both kids and adults enjoy a good slice of pizza, especially on a cold winter day. The ease of ordering an already-made pizza can be extremely appealing to busy moms. But unfortunately, most take-out pizzas are laden with extra fat and sodium, turning what could be a healthy meal into an unhealthy one.

Making homemade pizza is a great way to enjoy this beloved food item. Not only is a homemade pizza healthier, but it can be great activity to do with both younger and older children. By making the below recipe for whole wheat pizza dough a day in advance, you can have dinner on the table with almost as much ease as if you ordered one. But this homemade pizza will taste better and make you and your family feel better too. { read more }

About Monet Moutrie

Monet Moutrie is a writer and baker, who lives in Austin, Texas with her three cats and husband. Between government work, graduate school and her own blog, Anecdotes and Apple Cores, nothing sounds better to Monet than an evening of yoga, a cup of Earl Grey tea and a novel. Knock on her front door and you'll find her pulling out a loaf of bread from the oven while brainstorming ideas for her own work of fiction.

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