During one such search I came across Learn With Play @ Home. After reading her post "Snackboxes" Healthy Food For Kids I came away completely inspired to try it out with Chook. I love how easy a snack box looked to prepare, how easily adaptable it looked to suit my family and the notion of independence for Chook. I can also see the benefits of using a snack box for the future when Chook starts attending school. Good habit forming for me and Chook!
Debs provides 3 simple steps of using snack boxes with preschoolers. Here are mine for using a snack box with toddlers!
1. Same as Debs. Prepare morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for the snack box first thing in the morning. I prep mine while I am getting breakfast organised.
2. Similar to Debs. As I am doing the prep my toddler is at the bench and I talk about what I am putting into the snack box. Sometimes I'll give Chook a choice as to what he would like, "Would you like pear or apple today?"
3. Different to Debs. I put the snack box in the fridge but I don't allow anytime access to it. Two reasons: Strawberry and Ooffa! They raid the fridge if it is left unlocked! Sometimes Chook will ask for his snack box but if he hasn't by 9:30am / 10am I will call morning tea time and place it on his table or bench.
Chook has complete control over what he eats. This often means that he will eat his sandwich at Morning Tea! Once he is done eating and returns to play I put the snack box back in the fridge. I bring it out again at lunch time, at which time he tends to graze. I bring it out again at afternoon tea where he will finish what he wants. You'll notice on my Menu Plan that I plan for an afternoon tea. This is to ensure I am meeting the children's calcium requirements. It is seperate to what is in the snack box.
When I first started I used a divided plastic plate. It was short lived! It was far to bulky to store in the fridge and Chook found it hard to manage. I bought the "Smash" Rubbish Free Lunchbox. I love this product! I can see my fridge will contain 3 of these within the year!
Here are photos of the Snack boxes I mention in my Menu Plans.
Snack Box 1
Two in season fruits. (Pictured: apple & grapes).
Corn relish dip & rice crackers.
Peanut butter sandwich.
Snack Box 2
"Coming Soon!"Snack Box 3
"Coming Soon!"Snack Box 4
Two in season fruits. (Pictured: Strawberries & grapes).
Sundried tomato dip & rice crackers.
Roast chicken sandwiches.
Check out the menu planner label for Weekly Menu Plans. A complete weekly menu is provided for every meal of the day. Posted on Triple T Mum every Wednesday!Want more! For extra content keep up with the mayhem by liking Triple T Mum's Facebook Page!
Fabulous! So glad I could inspire you :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs! The idea for preparing the whole days meals in the morning has been a huge time saver! And I just love packaging it all up into these lunch boxes.
DeleteI must take this tip on board! Love it.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea! I have a fussy eater, who really could go without food all day if I didn't suggest it. Hopefully trying this will encourage more self help skills and more food making it into her tummy!
ReplyDeleteHope you've had a chance to try Snack Boxes! Is she enjoying the idea?
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