Dinner time

So we've been struggling the last little while with Lucy eating her dinner. She is usually a really good eater (especially when she likes what we're eating), but then sometimes she will just not eat anything...I know toddlers don't have to eat a whole lot to survive and they will eat more some days and less others. But I want her to get into the habit of eating at mealtimes. We try to have two snacks a day with three main meals - sometimes there are more snacks, it just depends on the day. So this last week Devin and I decided that we wouldn't do snacks after three o'clock, that way Lucy was hungry enough to eat dinner. Some days have been easier than others to say no to snacks after three, especially when she's crying for food (don't worry, I don't starve her! :D ). But when dinner rolls around and we're not having screaming and crying fits, and everyone is eating, I don't feel so bad anymore.

 Jambalaya

 a.k.a. best meal ever! (recipe below)

Cole LOVES it,

 especially the sausage

 If the above face doesn't convince you that this meal is good, then you should go and try it out for yourself. 

(Okay, so she was eating a zuccini in this picture, but she ate everything on her plate - and then asked for more)

Here is the recipe (this is how I make my mother-in-laws version of it)

Jambalaya

1 kielbasa sausage

1 red bell pepper

1 1/2 cups of rice

1/2 onion

2 cloves of garlic

3 cups of chicken broth

optional: 1/2 tsp of red pepper (i'm not a fan of spicy so I just put in a tiny bit)

Mince garlic and onion. Chop up pepper. Throw it all in a pan with some oil, while you slice the sausage. Put the sausage in the pan and brown it. Then add the rice and broth and simmer for 20 mins, til rice is done and water is all absorbed. 

SUPER simple and tastes amazing! You can always add a veggie as a side and there is your meal! A way to make it faster is to cook the rice separately while you are cutting up everything and by the time the meat is brown the rice is usually finished too!