Now that Simon is TWO! his diet isn't supposed to consist of as much fat as, say, it did last week and the 103 weeks previous. Welcome to the new lower-fat Simon. Unfortunately, just being TWO! is an appetite suppressant (for Simon as well as his parents). Simon can eat amazing quantities of mac and cheese in a single sitting but most other foods he can take or leave. Leave means going hungry; something Simon is willing to endure rather than eat what we've placed on his plate. Let him endure? You who thought that are now invited to spend those cranky hunger-induced sleepless hours with him in the middle of the night. (This is where we again point out how ridiculous depending on child development books for advice can be.)

Here is a list of items Simon will willingly consume on a regular basis:

fresh cooked carrots
fresh corn on the cob
frozen fruit smoothies
watermelon
whole peeled apples
steamed artichokes
macaroni and cheese
pasta (though not long stringy pasta) with pesto or marinara
polenta
raisins
cereal
crackers
whole grain fruit cereal bars
whole grain waffles with butter
syrup free french toast

Here is a list of things Simon will *usually* eat but occasionally completely reject:

pizza
vegetable risotto
figs
yogurt
fresh asparagus
mozzarella cheese
peanut butter on a spoon
scrambled eggs
shrimp
whole wheat bread
ripe* fruit (except bananas)
rice
fish

*finding ripe fruit has been a challenge

Following are the things Simon will happily eat while oblivious to the fact that he is, indeed, eating them:

beef or chicken
bananas
frozen cherries
frozen blueberries
tofu
protein powder
peas
green beans
zucchini
mushrooms
broccoli
cauliflower

Hava (maintainer of the Official Simonial Diet Plan - OSDP) has determined through scientific taste tests that you can just about add any steamed vegetable to a blender full of pesto or marinara without disturbing the taste. Throw in some meat or tofu and you have an entire blended meal in a jar. Placed over whole wheat rotelle, elbows, or small shells it becomes a well balanced diet. Want mac and cheese? Hide some pureed cauliflower in the sauce. Dessert, you ask? Low fat milk, silken tofu, a banana and frozen berries blended into a frothy delight.

Unfortunately, the OSDP takes a lot of preparation and depends on there being cooked pasta shapes on hand during at least one daily meal. We assume pretty much everyone has a few toddler healthy eating ideas of their own. What toddler feeding secrets do you know?

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