Chicken Leg

So as Jack's little palate matures, he has taken to a new dinner item.  Chicken legs! He loves them roasted or on the grill. He will gnaw away on a chicken leg until there is nothing but bone.  Makes for an easy and relatively healthy meal. If grilling outside, I throw corn on the cob on the grill. Same reaction - he just gnaws away at it. His eyes light up each time a corn kernel explodes in his mouth. Super easy! And in a pinch, the kid's meal at Boston Market also offers a roasted chicken leg with a vegetable and cornbread.  Or ask them to give you a second veggie in place of the cornbread - they do it for Jack and I all the time.  Another last minute idea for chicken legs - the kid's meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I know you are thinking "no way" but you can get the grilled chicken leg as your meat.  The meal comes with a veggie (we did green beans), a string cheese & a drink.  I keep asking them to offer milk, so if you stop by do the same!  The meal comes in a cute little "laptop" box, which kept Jack's attention all through dinner.  And the grilled chicken leg at KFC has just 4 grams total fat, 1 gram saturated and zero transfats!

Go Mediterranean

One of the first dining out experiences I had with Jack was at Fadi's on the corner of Knox & Central Expressway.  The dining room is open, there are plenty of highchairs, and more than enough vibrant colors in the room to keep my little maven's curiosity while Mom & Dad eat.  But the best thing about Fadi's for Jack is the food!  Lowfat, plenty of soft items, great textures as his eating capabilities mature, bold spices and everything is cooked in heart healthy olive oil.  By eight months Jack was eating hummus, eggplant, soft potatoes and baba ganoush.  I know it help to develop his palate and definitely encourage him to dig into his plate. Jack is not afraid of any food,and I think introducing him to all types of food before he was a year old really helped develop his love and appreciation of his meals.  So venture out Mamas - go for the wild, go for the fresh and just let your maven use his hands. It is messy, but I smile everytime I think about him shoveling uber soft eggplant to his mouth at 8 months. Heads up everyone, I have started writing for the Examiner.com - check out my 1st article -which is of course about Fadi's! I am the Dallas Healthy Restaurant Examiner!  Hope you suscribe and enjoy!

Quiche & Carrots

After reading yesterday's post from Raising Foodies, I had to share my favorite go-to healthy meal for Jack.  I prepare a simple spinach quiche using frozen chopped spinach & a prepared frozen pie crust (a must for the working mama at times).  Add to it a side of glazed carrots cooked in orange juice & brown sugar and my little guy swells with delight at dinner. And I usually add fruit to round out the plate.  Fresh berries have been fabulous lately at my new haven down the street Newflower Farmers Market and I can easily dash in and out pretty quickly since it is on the small and comfy side.  Blueberries were huge & yummy just yesterday.  Jack ate blueberries at dinner, at breakfast, and I'm sure at snack today...

Drooling over it - Blunch at Tillman's

Love Tillman's Roadhouse. Love it that Blunch is back - Brunch meets Lunch. Absolutely swooning over the Bennie and the Jets entree.  I mean seriously, I can actually almost taste it right off the page. But let's be real, we know we all want the Hangover Platter for the Table - they might have to ask me to control myself upon placing the meal on the table.  I am shaking just thinking about it.  And I cannot forget the "Gitcha Bag O Doughnuts" or "Kim's Cinnamon Monkey Bread".  Delicious Symphony.  AND, I just got an update from Sara Tillman - she said they have highchairs and to come on over!  Gotta love the joints where you can get an EXCELLENT cocktail, yummy nourishment & your Mini Maven is welcome.