How to Feed a Henry

One of Henry's current favorite sayings is "I don't like it." He started using it a few weeks ago for all sort of situations, everything from naptime to visiting the walruses at the zoo. Mealtimes are no exception. Henry uses "I don't like it" when he does not want to eat the food on his plate, often before he has even given it a try. Frequently, he will want to eat one dish exclusively at a meal without tasting the others. Since Henry can now understand simple when/then statements , Daddy and I decided it was time to implement the taste test rule for Henry.  Good morning! What will Henry want to eat today? Here is our take on how to encourage Henry to continue to try a variety of foods using the taste test rule. Some families call this strategy " no thank you bites ," " green eggs & ham bites " or " the one bite rule ." We start by putting a small portion of each dish on Henry's plate. If he wants extr...

This recipe for pork schnitzel makes a frequent appearance on our family's dinner table. It's an easy weeknight meal to satisfy any hungry kiddo, especially Henry. This recipe is Henry-approved. Ingredients Pork Schnitzel 4-6 1/2-inch thick boneless pork chops (about 1-1.5 pounds) 1 egg 1 T milk 1 cup dry breadcrumbs 1 t paprika 1 t dried parsley 1 t salt 1 t pepper ¼ cup olive oil for pan frying 1 lemon Mushroom sauce 1 cup sliced mushrooms (5-6 small/med) 1 cup chopped onion (1/2 yellow onion) 1 cup vegetable broth ½ cup sour cream Salt and pepper to taste Pork schnitzel frying in the pan. Directions Prepare your breading station for the pork with two shallow dishes. I like to use pie plates, one for the egg dip and one for the dry ingredients. For the egg dip, use a fork to lightly whisk the egg and milk. For the dry ingredients, stir together breadcrumbs, paprika, parsley, salt and pepper. Preparing to bread the pork ...

I love having Henry help me in the garden. We are working together, getting dirty and discovering nature. Gardening also teaches patience -- Henry has already been asking when the strawberries, raspberries and blueberries will be ready to eat. We'll have to wait for the flowers, bees and sunshine to do their work first. There are lots of weeds to pull. Some weeds even have pretty purple flowers. Using a rake to turn the soil. Hoeing the dirt. Pulling more weeds. Finding wiggly worms. Planting peas and potatoes. Cooling off in the shade with a hard-earned snack -- strawberry yogurt popsicle.