Saturday, April 5, 2008

Get your own bowl


During these past few months of making Thursday Night Raws for my boys, I've realized the most successful meals are the ones where they are able to pick and chose the ingredients for the evening (did I mention that they are very picky eaters?) and make up their own "recipes" (Jacob loves tossing his favorite things in a bowl and calling it his new recipe).

For instance, they've really enjoyed our salad bar spread, build-your-own sundaes and fondue night. There is something for everyone, and we all leave the table happy.

This week, we had a make-your-own cereal night, where I displayed a variety of fresh fruits (apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes, melon and oranges), dried fruits (blueberries, bananas, cherries, golden raisins and goji berries), nuts (almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts; Jacob loves hazelnuts), seeds (pumpkin, sesame, hemp and chia), raw grains (oats and buckwheat groats), coconut flakes and some leftover date/nut topping from my blueberry muffins.

The boys liked being able to select their favorite ingredients to put in their cereal bowls and top with either chocolate or vanilla nutmilk. We'll definitely be doing this one again.

So, I'll have to warn you that the next raw Thursdays will be fairly similar; I'll probably be serving simple ingredients in this "make your own fashion" (rather than complex recipes that mimic traditional family meals). It brings everyone to the table, gets them involved in the whole process and is fun.

The best part is how my son has been more open to trying fresh fruits and veggies when I present them this way. This week, he finally tried oranges. He can't wait to show the kids at school (usually he complains when they have them at snack time and refuses to taste one). Just look at the smile on his face :-)

9 comments:

Jenny said...

jacob has the greatest orange smile i've ever seen! be sure to tell him. . .

i'm in complete agreement- definitely for kids and often for us too- the best meals are the ones when we choose what our bodies want and actually help in putting it together. . . intuitive eating and connecting over food all tied together!!

oh i sent you an email about the pop tarts- it would be too much praise to write here. . .and the muffins were incredible too. i have really happy parents who are happy to let me crash for a bit right now!! ;)
xx Jenny

VEGAN TICKLES said...

Wow!
What a creative idea.

RawBin said...

We were just talking of poptarts this morning, and then Jenny posts about them... reminding me that I can make them for breakfast! mmmmm.
I was talking to some friends this morning about how yummy your granola/fruit bowl was the other day!
I've cleared off the kitchen table and we're going to be having more meals available like your buffet style ones!

shannonmarie said...

Jenny, I'll be sure to tell him. He's quite proud of it. He's also really beginning to enjoy our Thursday dinners, especially the ones where he gets to pick what goes on his plate (or in this case, in his bowl).

Glad you liked the muffins. Your Pop-Tarts look marvelous.

Thanks, vegan tickles. I like the Star Wars droids on your blog.

Rawbin, maybe you should try Jenny's version of Pop-Tarts to make them more authentic. Let me know how it goes. You could make a buffet out of those. Make the tops and bottoms in advance. Then, let them select the fillings and ice the tops with their choice of icing.

Kristen's Raw said...

Girl!!! You sure put out such an amazing spread all the time!

Hugs!!!

Michelle said...

Hi Shannonmarie! Just want to let you know i really love your blog and all your great recipes! Your son is quite adorable! Keep on blogging my friend!
Michelle

shannonmarie said...

Thanks Kristen and Michelle.

It does take a lot of work to keep this blog going. Don't worry; I don't plan on quitting the whole thing, but I do need to slow down a relax a bit.

crowdancer said...

I need to stop looking at your sight, it makes me too hungry!

Thanks for the beautiful pics and creative ideas.

shannonmarie said...

You're welcome :-)