Catering to the younger crowd

The other day I made taco salads. I’m trying to get the kids to eat more protein and veggies, but it’s slow going and I don’t want to push too hard, so I struggle with what are appropriate mealtime changes without being a short order cook. This is what I came up with for this one meal, which didn’t involve a ton of extra prep but I always struggle – what is too much? What is not enough? Am I being too unrealistic? Am I pushing too hard? Will they grow up to have an unhealthy relationship with food like all of us adults have?

So this is what the grown-ups ate:

Shredded taco chicken on lettuce, avocado, tomato, a little cheese and sour cream. I used cereal bowls so it all looks like meat, but there’s a lot of lettuce in there.

This is what the 8yo ate:

Chicken quesadilla, chips and salsa, blueberries.

This is what the 6yo ate (was served):

Shredded chicken, cheese quesadilla, chips and blueberries.

The 6yo proclaimed the chicken “too spicy” even though it was low sodium mild taco seasoning in chicken broth, so further watered down. He ate three bites (shreds) at my insistence. 8yo ate it all, and extra chips.

6yo is hungry CONSTANTLY but doesn’t eat anything particularly healthy or filling. But fruit is healthy! He exclaims. Yes, but as part of a balanced meal.

Sigh.

Reading Goals, past and future

In 2016, I read 110 books. Goodreads thinks I read 100, and whatever, I didn’t meet my “goal” anyhow (which started at 140 and I changed to 120 later in the year). I didn’t know to change my read date on GR to get my rereads to count so maybe this year it will be accurate but even if it isn’t, I keep a personal list as well. The final tally was 110, which feels incredibly low for me but like I said, it was a rough year. I had a difficult time keeping my head in the game. I did read a lot of lovely books, none of which I can think of particularly to recommend, but really. Go read anything by Leigh Barduga. You’re welcome.

In 2015 I read 145 books. In 2014 I read 155 books. In 2013, 97 (I was holding myself to new books only and refused to let myself re-read, which definitely hampered my overall interest in books).

This year I’m going to try to keep a tally like Stephany does – of where I got books and how many pages and what kind of books they are. This all seems like a lot of information but we’ll see if I can keep it up. My goal for this year is 100 books. Which, as I said, is light for me. However, I want to include one non-fiction book a month (and the books my therapist recommended) and I always move slowly through those. Also, I’m trying to keep myself at a reasonable bedtime so I’m discouraging myself from staying up all night reading.

Right now I’m reading:

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns

Recommended by my therapist. I didn’t want to start it, but this line in the introduction made me laugh:

"...right now you are probably having some thoughts and feelings about this book. If you picked this book up because you have been feeling depressed and discouraged, you may be thinking about things in a negative, self-critical way: 'I'm such a loser. What's wrong with me? I'll never get better. A stupid elf-help book like this couldn't possibly help me. I don't have any problem with my thoughts. My problems are real.'"

Which, um, yeah. I probably do need to read this.

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne

Also recommended by my therapist. Honestly I haven’t cracked it yet. I’m hopeful. It will probably stay on my GR shelf all year though.

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas

re-read, and fun. Needed something light and enjoyable.

Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

audiobook. I think I'd prefer it in print but I already have the audio from the library.

Also on my virtual shelf:

Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I read about a third of this before it went back to Overdrive, and my head wasn’t where I could process it, so I’ve left it on my shelf until I get it back from the library. I really think it’s amazing and I will finish it.

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel

I really enjoyed the first one; it was good escapism. I got bored halfway through this one, but I’ll finish it. I don’t know if I’ll bother with the rest of the series though.