Snack Draws and Baskets | independent tots

I always snack, probably not the best habit to teach a child... But if you can encourage some healthiness into the snacks it's not that bad right?

When Charlie began daycare two weeks ago I was a little nervy when they said they leave the lunch boxes on display to encourage the children's independence. Being able to eat as they decide they are hungry. 
“What if he eats everyone's lunch?”
“He will probably eat all his lunch and snacks in the first 20 minutes”
We're just two of the things I was thinking. But apparently it works! They still sit down all together for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

I've decided to put together a snack basket in the cupboard and use one of the draws in my fridge as a snack draw. 
The cupboard basket has little containers of dried fruit, yoghurt drops, sultanas, energy bites ect which I buy in packets then make up in mini snack servings in advance. There are also packets of popcorn and cheese and biscuit dip things in there. I find these snacks to be pretty harmless, I do however hide the yummier snacks such as tiny teddies and sweeter things, because if they were there he wouldn't want a healthier option.
The fridge which I'm still in the process of doing, will have cut up fruit in zip lock bags, squeezy yoghurt sand cheese sticks. 

I'm so excited to teach him some independence and help him learn about snacking on the right sorts of foods!
Keep an eye out on my Instagram for images of the basket and draw once it's all cracking! 

December Favourites - my must have items and more

So glad that this silly season has come to an end, there is such a big build up, so much money spent plans made and organisation thrown out the window. Then its over, just like that...
Im excited to settle down into routine again, appreciate the little things and focus on my expanding family in the upcoming months ( 66 days to be exact ) .
December was busy, chaotic and stressful, but fun.

For myself I would not have gotten through December ( or any month for that matter ) without a calendar! Everything gets jotted down on each calendar in the house... Yes I have more than one. Another thing which I should have done months ago but it happened in December was getting re-fitted for a bra. I was having the worst back pain and since being re-fitted and purchasing some new bras as well as a bra extender for some of my beloved bras at home, the back pain has subsided dramatically! Lastly hubbys t-shirts come in handy. Keep this between you and me but whenever he gets given a t-shirt whether it be for Christmas or a birthday, I get to claim it. These over sized t-shirts are perfect for lazing around the house, being pregnant and sleeping in! That's if your dating a real man... Girls these days not being able to wear their boyfriends baggy t-shirts is so shitty, they are all skinner than them to bastards!

The most beneficial product for Charlie this month at currently 21 months of age, was snack size containers (I will add image below) . I always had an empty one in his nappy bag for whilst we were in the car, it made those easy sneaky and super unhealthy take away stops whilst travelling super simple. I would put a few things at a time in their and it saves handing him one chip or nugget, ect, at a time. If your into buying in bulk like me its also handy to make your own snacks in, I buy nuts, energy balls and dried fruits and mix them up in the container for trips or even at home. Since Christmas I have also found that the large silicon style bucket tubs are perfect for all those toys being left around! I now have one in our lounge and one in his room. Now this last favourite for Charlie might be just a personal preference but what the hey. I couldn't get Charlie to enjoy wearing thongs, they were tight and uncomfortable UNTILL I got him actual havianas, well a'fucking'men.

Mummy Blogger Makes || Nutella Muffins

It was a Sunday afternoon at home with my little babe. He was restless and I wanted to do some sort of activitie with him. We attempted painting..... Let's just say we won't do that again. So we decided to bake, that way if he did put substances in his mouth I wouldn't have a heart attack. 

These 3 ingredient Nutella muffins are so easy to make! A perfect afternoon treat for your little mr or miss and scrumptious with a coffee or tea for yourself. 

Ingredients
• 3 EGGS
• 1 CUP plain flour
• 1 1/2 CUPS Nutella 

Method
• stir eggs into Nutella, this might take a little but of work but it will turn into a smooth shiny mixture.
• gently fold through flour, the less you mix the fluffier and moist the muffins will be! 
• add mixture to muffin tins and cook for 15 mins on 180*c

NOTE || once the muffins begin to crack on top and spring back when touched, they are ready! 

Mummy Blogger Makes

Hello everyone! Thanks for coming back to read today's post or if your stumbling across us for the first time WELOCME ♥️

We had a little name game on Instagram the other night to decide what to call this weekly post. The chosen name came from a sweet little IG account @thesweetmamalife. 

The first installment of mummy blogger makes will be..... 

Wild Organic Blackberry Pancakes


Let me tell you a little background info! We live on an organic dairy farm. So a downfall to being organic is that we can't use any sprays to remove the fast spreading and growing blackberry bushes! But I've turned this into a positive ;) 
A few days ago my little babe and I went for an afternoon walk all around the farm, picking blackberries! 
For dessert that night we made pancakes and this was the first recipie I included them in. 
It was AMAZING! 


INGREDIENTS 
1 cup of Blackberries
1 3/4 cup of Milk
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Essence 
2 cups of Self Raising Flour
1/3 cup of Caster Sugar


METHOD
Whisk milk, eggs and vanilla together in a jug. 
• Sift flour into a bowl and stir in sugar. Make a well in the centre. 
• Add wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Then fold in blackberries. 



• Cook pancakes to your preferred liking! I always use butter to cook pancakes because we like that crisp golden crunch on the outside! 
• Top with some more fresh blackberries and a little vanilla Icecream and wallah! 


You can swap and change blackberries around to other berries and change up the toppings as you like! I would love I see what you come up with so feel free to comment below or contact me on Instagram or Facebook (: 

#mummybloggermakes if you ever try out my recipies! 


Top Ten first foods!

I thought to finish off the week of BLW before starting a new range of topics next week (I'm thinking bedrooms, nursery and decor!?) I would wrap things up with Charlie's favourite first foods. 
I make everything myself, I just love knowing exactly what goes into my little munchkins belly! 
I got a Baby Bullet given to me as a baby shower gift when I was pregnant, it's the best thing since sliced bread honestly! It comes with all these cute little storage containers and silicon molds for easy pop out freezing! So my life was made easy in the purée department (: 
His favourite 6 purées would have to be: 
|pumpkin
|avacado
|banana
|sweetpotato
|carrot&pea
|apple

Then since we have only just started BLW his variety isn't very big but his favourite 4 of what he has tried would be:
|broccoli trees
|savoy crackers
|cucumber disks (cold on his gums too) 
|sliced beef

I'm happy to answer any other questions you guys have about starting solids or BLW. Just ask! DM me on Instagram or email me at tiarne.straatman@gmail.com

 

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