These are great kid food!! They are bite size and look really cool! You can make them with anything. The kiddos at my house love them when I use: ranch dip, shredded cheese, and ham. You can also do them with Peanut butter and Jelly, or anything you can dream up. I wrap mine tight with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer, it makes them stay together when you cut them.

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Kids eat better when food is their size. I use mini pickles instead of spears, and pineapple tidbits and even chips in moderation.

Bring the kids into the kitchen with you, even the little ones. Help them develop a knowledge and love for food. Kids eat better when they can take ownership for the food they are eating.

She had such a good time...

My niece makin cookies...

Its so funny what you can get kids to believe. I had my niece convinced these were really octopuses lol!! She said "But, Aunt Stephi they taste like a hot dog" LOL! It was great!

I made Toast using a trick I saw on the Rachel Ray show, they used milk and food coloring to "paint" their toast before they toasted it. I used blue and then cut them into circles and melted some cheese on top of it and put the Octodog on top of "his water". You just cut the hot dog in fourths and then the fourths in half set up on a cookie sheet and broil till their tentacles curl. I used mustard for eyes. I served this with "cheesies" (white hominy with cheese sauce) they love them and green beans.

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Things seemed less complicated? When everyone set down for breakfast and started the day as one? Its easy to get back to that. Sure it may take a lil more time to set the table or clean up but I promise it will be worth it. Some of the things the kids say to me is "Wow a FEAST", "I love this, its so incredibly fun!". We laugh and talk and be silly but at the same time they are learning manners and how to eat in public. Its a wonderful thing all around.

Here is some pictures from one of our brunches...

I know I know it sounds crazy, right?!

You make a long skinny meatloaf basically, form it into "hot dog" shapes and cook them in a skillet letting each side cook completely before rolling to the next (that keeps them together). Its a great way to sneak veggies in a picky kiddos diet, I put grated carrot in mine along with shredded cheese so they cant tell whats what!! The kids loved the idea of such a silly food. "Aunt Stephi Burgers don't go on hot dog buns!!" LOL! They ate every bit of them. I also like to sneak onion powder and very adult seasonings into food like this to help develop their pallets. i served my "Burger Dogs" with baked french fries and fresh chopped tomatoes from the garden. They loved it!

Sometimes just changing things up will make kids eat their food...

I made plan pancakes but poured them into "Micky" shapes. They were a huge hit!!!



I have also noticed I can get them to eat the thick custard yogurt, they think its pudding!!

Playin with food is one of the best ways to get kids to try new things and be open to food. Pudding paint is a great way to get the littlest kids involved.

I always let the big kids paint and do projects but I cant let the babies because, well, they eat the paint lol!

So I made some "puddin paint" using 2 packages of white chocolate instant pudding and 3 cups of skim milk (adding the extra keeps it thinner). And then divided it up into individual cups and added 4 drops of food coloring to each cup, put the babies in the empty bath tub in diapers and let them go wild!!!! You want to talk about time of their lifes!!!

Here are some pictures for yall...

Yummy...

They had soo much fun...

My messy girl!!