WFMW: Feed Your Kids, Party-Style

Three tricks that have been working for me lately:

1) There’s something magical about toothpicks, especially the ones with the frilly colored cellophane on the ends. Take two cranky toddlers at lunchtime, add a fancy toothpick to the dish, and suddenly it’s exactly what they wanted. My girls will eat anything with a fancy toothpick. Yes, it takes longer to finish the meal, but it’s worth it.

2) My kids are always clamoring around me while I’m making dinner, sometimes passing through the kitchen just to grab food because they’re starrrrrrving (have you heard that one before?). Lately, I’ve taken to putting out a bowl of fresh veggies with a little dip, party-style, which not only gives me the space to get dinner finished but also gives them a few extra servings of vegetables for their day.

3) Some weeks, we end up with a lot of leftovers of all those meals I planned. Every once in a while, there’s enough in the fridge to make what I call “Buffet Night.” I reheat everything, add a few new things, and we finish up our leftovers buffet-style. The kids love choosing what they want for their own plates, and it cleans out the fridge. It’s frugal, and it saves me from cooking that night.

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, head over to We Are That Family.