#mamihood

Getting my three year old to eat healthy has been and still is tricky. It took a lot of patience and trial and error to figure out what worked best for my son while still maintaining the peace and my sanity. It was a tug of war that often time led to me giving in and a cranky toddler protesting firmly.

Luckily I’ve found ways to sneak healthy foods in without depriving him of yummy tasting treats he likes. He recently started daycare at the Brooklyn College Early Childhood Center and is blossoming in school. Yes, I’m a proud mama. And luckily for me they provide him with an amazing menu that balances out healthy meals for breakfast and lunch. Check it out below.

However since he is there for a longer day I have to pack additional snacks and here is how I deliver the healthy goods without sacrificing little guy’s taste buds.

1. Make eating fun!

First I incorporate his personality during mealtimes. If you’re toddler is at home you can do this with child themed plates that showcase their favorite cartoon character. To ease his transition into school and now eating on his own without my encouragement or supervision I decided to buy him a lunch box that had his favorite cartoon which at the moment is PJ Masks. I found a great one on amazon for 12 bucks. Santino loved it.

Amazon has a great selection of lunch boxes for younger kids in an assortment of colors and cartoon characters for boys and girls. Ranging from $9.00 to about $15.00. 

2. Find their favorite fruit.

It took a while but my son eventually warmed up to fruits, I’m still working on veggies. We tried plenty. Grapes were a fail and watery fruits like watermelon and some berries fell flat. 

But he loves bananas, strawberries, apples, and blueberries.  I buy the bananas green so they last throughout the span of a week. Figure out what they love and make it a daily staple. Because once you have them used to eating fruit you want them to continue this positive eating habit. 

3. Dont forget the probiotics.

I always add yogurt with probiotics to keep Santino’s immunity and digestive health on track. La yogurt provides probiotic options that are rich in vitamins, low sugar, low fat, and in a large variety of delicious flavors.

4. It’s okay to cheat a little.

I’m all for letting my kid be a kid. I don't stop my son from enjoying candy, sweets, and the occasional happy meal. I feel that when you're young, healthy and growing is when you should be eating all those fun things. But of course everything in moderation. So I don't skip the sweets I just try to keep them on the healthier side. So if your child doesn't like fruits maybe add apple sauce, raisins or craisins as a snack. Look for those with no high fructose corn syrup if possible. I throw both in. And I buy the minis because I know he won't fully eat the larger containers and therefore I avoid having leftovers going bad. 

Fruits snacks are a great option also. I prefer the Welch’s fruit snacks but there are also some organic options out there with less refined sugars. Also, don't forget to add a juice box, shop the 100% juice brands they pack more vitamins and less sugars.

5. Bring on the crunch.

Finally I add something crunchy like gold fish crackers or the Keebler sandwich crackers. Something to add texture and change up the routine. Choose the one that works best for your child.  Once I am done his packed lunch box looks like this with of course alternating flavors, fruits and snacks throughout the week.

Summer is here. You got your little one at home and you’re trying to figure out what to do and where to go all while keeping it family and budget friendly. My husband and I try to make the best out of our summer weekends by taking our 3-year-old out to experience all that un Verano en Nueva York has to offer. Heres ten things that every parent should look into if they want their little one to have the best summer ever without breaking their pockets.

1. Book a weekend getaway

Last summer our getaway of choice was Sesame Place, this summer we decided to check out the Great Wolf Lodge. It’s always great to take your little one away for the weekend to a new place to stay overnight in a hotel. Santino, is able to recognize the difference between staying at home versus this new place. Great Wolf Lodge is packed full of activities for the kids. They offer everything from an indoor water park, to an outdoor pool, water slides, activities for kids such as their Jammie Jamboree, Family Bingo and Trivia, story book time, and character appearances. It’s a great way to break up the summer and leave the city for a few. 

2. Catch a Movie.

On the most intolerable summer days when the sun is beaming down hard and the humidity makes it impossible to venture outdoors unless you’re submersed in a body of water, catching a movie with your little one is a great idea. I know what you’re thinking, is taking a 2 or 3-year-old to the movies a good idea? Yes, if you plan ahead of time and make smart decisions. First, choose a movie that you know your kid will enjoy and be interested in. My son saw his first movie at 2 years old. I’m not going to lie I was hesitant that he would not behave and lose interest quickly, but as soon as he saw Lego batman on the giant screen, and the other kids watching the movie with their families he loved it! Second, choose a smaller movie theater with cheaper tickets or a matinee viewing, so that if your child does throw a fit it’s not a big loss. Third, dress them warm and bring a little sweater for them, the AC can get too cold for your little ones. Finally snacks, snacks, and more snacks. The snacks keep their belly full and their focus on the movie. Opt to bring in your own healthy snacks like grapes or apple slices. This summer we took Santino to see the Minions movie and he absolutely loved it! 

3. Water sports and water slides.

Besides learning how to swim and chasing seagulls let your little ones enjoy water sports and playtime. One of things my son enjoyed most at Great Wolf Lodge was the water activities. The slides and sports were his favorites. This is a great way for the kids to tune the television sets off and get some much-needed exercise. So whether its water slides, water basketball or running through sprinklers, make sure your kids get enough time in the water and out of the AC. But again I can’t stress this enough, for your children’s safety Parental supervision is a must!

4. Get artsy and crafty

The summer is a great time to get your child into arts and crafts. Whether at home cutting and gluing construction paper or coloring in their coloring books. We took it a step further this year and ventured into the Crayola experience in Easton Pennsylvania. They have tons of activities for the kiddies. From making their own personalized crayons and markers. To different art stations where they get to experience playing with play dough, wax and other materials. They have stations for kids to create live 3D figures, animation and cartoons. Their stations are age appropriate and the kids really engage in these activities. Older kids can also enjoy learning about the history of the Crayola brand, viewing the largest crayon in the world, and manipulating electronics to create their own art masterpieces. Definitely a place to check out! 

5. Soak up the sun at your local beach and pools.

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a nice dip at your local pool or beach. We live close to the beach so my son loves going. He enjoys building sand castles, practicing writing his ABC’s in the sand, exploring the shells and beach creatures, and of course dipping his toes in the water. At his grandmother’s house, he gets to enjoy the pool. Pools are definitely the place to try to teach your kid to swim and help them lose the fear of swimming. Wherever you go whether beach or pool, remember to incorporate learning and safety first! 

6. Let them mingle with animals.

Whether its taking the kids to a zoo, aquarium or petting farm don't skip the animals. Kids love to interact with animals and its a great way for them to learn about nature and the world around them. The city is surrounded with great places to take your kids to see both domestic and exotic animals. We even found a great park loaded with ducks, swans, geese, and blue herons. We often visit and enjoy the bird watching.

7.Quality time with the Grandparents!

If there is one thing my son loves its spending with his mamawela, nana and pop pop. I know our schedules can get hectic and I know time flies when youre busy trying to make things happen, but kids yearn for family time. My fondest memories as a kid happened hanging with my grandfather. He was my everything and there was never a dull moment with him. So now that Im a mom I not only highly encourage that time spent between my son and his grandparents, but I cherish seeing the love and joy they share. Let them really enjoy the summer alongside their favorite people. There is no better feeling.

8. Quality time with friends.

As an only child I know my son craves playing with other kids. So we make it our business to have playdates and bring the cousins together as often as possible. What better time than to have your children catch up with their friends and cousins their age than during the summer months. So go to the park or visit the friends and family that have kids the same age, your children will have a blast.

9. Hit up a museum for some learning. 

Museums are not just for adults so definitely plan to visit a museum this summer with your little one. This summer we visited the Long Island Children's museum and it was wonderful. They had all kinds of activities for the children. Dress up play, building blocks, animal exhibits, puzzles, and science based learning. It was a wonderful experience and the best part is that even as an adult you can also learn and enjoy it right along with them.

 10. Soak up the view and make the memories count.