I adore Bento so much recently......and I wish I have some more creativity skills to make it come true one day.

Then one day in the morning, like usual, I couldn't have any idea to prepare Fritz's breakfast. Suddenly this idea appeared. I wanna make a simple Bento as I don't have many tools for it. So I just made the simply one.

When I showed it to him, he was showing great reaction. He was so in love with it. He even couldn't wait to munch it. He grabbed his chair and sat down nicely.

He chosed the flower's circle cheese and the eyes. I made the eyes from chocolate sprinkles. Then, he ate one by one till his plate cleaned.

It's really quite simple but his reaction was so excited. Maybe next time I have to be more creative to make Bento....hehehehhehehee.......and I can't wait to see his unexpected reaction later......^o^

You should prepare balanced meals and healthy snacks for your toddler. Well balanced offerings, especially during snack time, will help you to overcome the inevitable lack of food intake during a meal.

For example, if your toddler does not drink all of his milk at breakfast, give him cheese for a snack. If your toddler refuses to eat his meat at lunch, give him tofu bites dusted with Cheerio or Granola crumbs for a snack.

In these examples, while you may lament at the lack of calcium and protein intake during breakfast and lunch, you have taken the opportunity to "make up for it" during snack time!

Toss out the idea that your Toddler will suddenly be eating "like the family" does! Remember, your Toddler is still in a stage of slow-then-rapid-then-slow growth and is going through many changes!

How Much Should I Try to Have my Toddler Eat per Day?

When planning and serving meals to your toddler, try to have him/or her consume the following on a daily basis:

• 2 to 3 cups of calcium - milk (or yogurt, cheese or other calcium rich foods)

• 4 servings of fruits and vegetables. (Serving size: one tablespoon per year of age.) One serving should be high in vitamin C and another in vitamin A.

• 4 servings of grains - bread and cereal. One should be an iron-fortified baby cereal. A serving is about 1/4 to 1/3 an adult portion (1/4 slice toast, 1/4 cup pasta)

• 2 servings of proteins - meat, beans, eggs, tofu, or peanut butter. A good serving of protein should be served at every meal. One serving equals 1/2 ounce.

What is Considered a Serving Size for a Toddler?

We find that feeding your Toddler becomes less complicated and frustrating when parents realize what a serving size for a Toddler really is. A good rule for serving sizes for toddlers is the following::

1 tablespoon per year of age or 1/4 of an adult serving per year of age

At the next meal, use these measurements exactly and see for yourself how little food a Toddler should actually be eating. We bet you will be quite surprised!

Taken from wholesometoddlerfood.com/Toddlers.htm

Milk/Dairy: Servings: 16-20 ounces of milk per day. Whole milk, soy or rice milk are recommended. Other equivalents: 1/2-3/4 ounce of cheese = 4 ounces of milk. 1/4 cup of yogurt = 2 ounces of milk.

Fruits and veggies: Servings: 5 or more per day. Serving size: 1-2 tablespoons - Pureed, mashed, or cubed.

Grains: Servings: 3-4 per day. Serving sizes: 1/2 slice of bread, 1/4 cup of cooked cereal, 1/4 cup of dry cereal. 1/4 cup of pasta, 2-3 saltine crackers, or 1/2 tortilla.

Non-dairy Proteins (meat, fish, beans, eggs): Servings: 2 per day. Serving sizes: 1/2 egg, 2-3 tablespoons beans (i.e. black, pinto, edamame, etc...), 1 tablespoon peanut butter, or 1 ounce of fish, lean beef, pork or chicken.

Taken from keepkidshealthy.com/experts/fb/toddler_serving_sizes.html

Note: 1 ounce = 28.3495231 grams, 1 ounce = 29.5735296 ml

Talking about Fritz's appetite, he is always showing up and down. Sometimes in one day he could grab what I gave, then the next day he totally would refused his meal.

Recently, I got quite dizzy with his breakfast. He got bored with oat already. He refused his usual meal in the morning, oat with meat or chicken and a little spoon of salt with spreading cheese on top. He had eaten this food for quite long in last few month and I always have given it everyday..No wonder he got bored, yeah??

Then I had to think another solution for his breakfast and it's totally blank...like this morning...

Another problem comes up, I have to think lunch meal menu...arghhhh.....

I really need spending extra time to think about our daily menu...for breakfast, lunch and dinner and for snack...if not, I will mess up coz I don't know what I should eat and give for Fritz...and the worst thing is he addicts with the food containing of MSG while I always trying to not put that kind of thing on our meal....*gosh*

Whoooaaaaahhh.....I'm so happy...

Finally, Fritz's weight is 10kg now...After almost 4 months he's not gaining his wight and made me sooo frustrated with it, he shows improvement!

I almost brought him to the medical nutrition to know what happen with Fritz's weight. His weight was constant for few months and really made me worried.

Then, I shared with one of my friend in Surabaya. Her child was born with weight almost 4kg. Though he loves to eat and can eat with lots portion, his weight was stagnant. When he was a year, his weight just 7,8kg. Then she made an appointment with one of the best medical nutrition in her area. The result was her baby's nutrition absorption not really good. So he needs some treatment and therapy as her baby showed some delays in some progression.

She also shared about the nutrition seminar that she followed. She said that every single child needs 1,000kkal everyday. Gee...I really didn't understand what it mean. Then she explained it in simple way that every day a child needs to consume carbohydrate, vitamin, mineral and protein. A complete menu!

Besides, I still find some other information about nutrition in internet. I got a lots of info from this site. It explained me lots.

So, I decided to plan Fritz's menu in daily. Here are some plans:
Breakfast:
* consume oat or pancake or omelet or fried rice in a week schedule
* every breakfast must to eat min 20 spoons more or less.
* oat contains meat/chicken/fish plus cheese and a half glass of orange juice

Lunch & Dinner:
* carbo: rice, pasta or potato..the most is rice of course
* protein: meat/chicken/fish and nuts (tofu, tempe, beans)
* veggie: 1-3 kinds of veggies every meal

Snack:
* bread + cheese
* green beans
* fruits
* crackers or biscuits
* small portion of cake or snacks from the seller

Rules:
* breakfast is a must and eat like a king in the morning. Lots portion and complete menu!
* for lunch: eat half portion minimal
* for dinner: half portion from lunch is still okay
* must sit down on high chair
* on time: breakfast on 8 till 9 o'clock, lunch 12 till 1 in the noon, dinner 6 till 7
* snack is anytime
* not more than 1 hour every meal
* need consistency!

So far I could do it though not every time is on the schedule... ;p

Another idea for Fritz's menu:

Ingredient:
50 gr of spaghetti
50 gr of minced meat
an onion, chopped
a tomato, peeled the skin and threw out the seed
2 spoon of tomato sauce
200 cc water
oil
salt
pepper
cheese

How to make:
1. Boil the spaghetti with a little oil and salt until cooked then drain and pour the cold water. Put in a small bowl.
2. Prepare the pan and put the coconut oil.
3. Put the chopped onion.
4. Put the minced meat.
5. Add some water and put the salt, pepper and tomato sauce inside. Stir it.
6. Put the chopped tomato for the last.
7. Pour the sauce on the spaghetti and spread the cheese on it.

This is a simple recipe as an alternative if Fritz has already bored with his breakfast. Though he sometimes refused to eat it, I still made it for him.

Ingredients:
a slice of bread
50 cc of plain milk
an egg (a yolk of egg for under 1 year)
unsalted butter, melted

additional:
cheese and chocolate sprinkles

How to make:
1. Cut the edge of bread then cut it into small pieces. Put it in a small bowl
2. Put the cheese and chocolate sprinkles on the pieces of bread
3. Mix the milk, egg and unsalted butter altogether. Stir then pour it into the bread.
4. Bake or steam it as you want. Wait till 15- 20 minutes.....hmmm...yummy....

For almost two weeks Fritz got flu and lost his appetite, finally, he is getting well and eager to grab his food again.

For his flu, I decided not to see the doctor and searched more information on Google. I got some flu medicine though I knew that flu is a virus and no need any medicine to cure it. Still, I bought ALCO syrup for reducing his flu. I just gave him a day only and that was the last day of his flu-day. (I think that was the last day too of his virus staying in his body)

As his flu finally gone with the wind, his appetite is coming back to normal. His body was thinner than the other kids in my thread's friends while the others is going to 9,9 kg and Fritz just staying in 9 kg only..*huhuhu*

Finally, he wants to eat lots now. In the morning, I give oatmeal with grated chicken or meat or fish for his breakfast and the portion is quite lots. For his lunch and dinner, I try to give more soup and grated veggie. It make him easier to swallow it.

Few days ago, I went to a clinic near my house and ask for weighing Fritz. He is 9, 2kg now and he looks more chubby than usual...hopefully he will gain more again....

For his lost his appetite, I found a new way to reduce it.
Here:
1. Hypnotized before going to bed and fall asleep. So during night time, when he wants to sleep, I give some words to him as he drinking breast milk. Touch and cuddle him!
2. I put positive mind in mine that he will eat the food. And if not, I don't wanna be stressed. Just let it flow. Believe that he will pass this era.
3. Less portion but give more than usual. If I feed for three times in a day, so now I give 4 times with less portion than usual. And try to give another carbo, such as avocado, bread, oat, potato, beehoon, or macaroni.
4. I do massage time again.
5. Observation. Why and what..

Hopefully it will be work next time when I should pass this again...

Almost 2 weeks, Fritz doesn't want to eat his meals again and just eats for mostly 2 - 5 spoons only in every dish.

I didn't get any idea again why it's coming to him. Every night I've got a headache to think what I should cook for him in the next day. So, I'm trying to give more than usual in the small portion.

Here some the food contains lots of carbohydrate I always stand by: avocados, mashed potatoes with butter and cheese and some veggie plus meat or chicken or fish (sometimes I made it like a ball, so it's easy for him to eat), and bread of course (his most favorite food)

My assumptions:
1. There are 3 teeth are coming out and probably it causes him feeling unwell with this condition. Though he is still okay (no fever), I think it's still more or less influenced his appetite.

2. He tasted the sinful food so he doesn't want to eat the bitter one anymore.

3. Recently, I notice that he doesn't wanna eat with spoon and prefer using my fingers to spoon. So I decided to give the food with my fingers and he still couldn't finish his meal.

4 or..because of his meal time isn't on the proper time anymore. I have a new job now and I must ask him together with me. And sometime isn't proper for Fritz. The lunch time and nap time are not in the suitable time and sometime it makes him a little bit tired. What should I do? Should I choose which one I prefer whether my son or money instead?

So...what's wrong with him??
It's still on my investigation....hopefully this will be ended soon!!
*sigh*

Almost a month, Fritz is having difficulty in eating his meal. Everyday I got heavy stress facing his appetite. I tried many kinds of meal to him and tried to make it easy for him, still he refused to finish his meal. He only ate for 2 or 3 spoons then I should push the spoon to him to eat it. He started lost his appetite when he was going 8th months and it was getting worse everyday. Before, he could eat for 3/4 of usual meal then two days ago he just ate for 2 spoons. Then I should fight with him to finish it and it made him lots of cries....

Today....in Christmas's eve....he can finish his 3 times meals without any cries...Yay!!

I think it's all my fault. I have plans for him, in this month, I was going to make him can eat his cereal rice without being strained. The fact, he couldn't accept it and I got so many refusal from him. Then, I realized it, so I changed my mind. I gave him the strained cereal rice again to him.

Maybe next month, I will be more careful in giving his meal. I will not do it in a rush anymore. I will start softly and smoothly.

I'm sorry, Fritz.....Momma loves you....and always wanna give you the best....;)

This morning, I wanted to try a new menu for Fritz, Chicken Creme Soup. I got this recipe from Mom on March mail. Then, I had bought the ingredients yesterday. So this morning, I prepared the things and tried to make it. And....voila!!

Fritz was sitting on his own and the only one blue chair, then, Oma gave the soup to him....unbelievable, he liked it though he wasn't able to finish it.


This is the recipe

Ingredient:
40 gr chopped potatoes
40 gr chopped carrots
40 gr skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut up
25 gr fresh broccoli florets
1 tablespoon corn powder
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (not use it)
250 ml water

Directions:
1 Boil the water in the pot
2 Put the potatoes, carrots and chickens all together in the boiled water
3 Put the broccoli after the ingredients are getting tender
4 Stir in the flour mixture a little bit at a time until soup thickens
5 Add the unsalted butter and stir until melted.
6 Strain with wire strainer

Thank lots to Mom on March

Menu Fritz di awal MPASI-nya

1st week (18th - 24th September)
1. Tepung beras coklat (Gasol) + Asip
2. Tepung beras merah (Gasol) + Asip
3. Kabocha + Asip
Note:
- ketiga makanan itu di ulang lagi dan hasilnya Fritz suka dan lahap

2nd & 3rd week (25th September- 4th October )
Morning : puree buah (jeruk, apel, pepaya, pisang)
Afternoon : Tepung beras coklat & merah (Gasol) + puree sayur (kabocha, zuchini, tomat) + Asip
Note:
- paling suka minum jeruk
- juga suka dengan Gasol
- kurang suka Gasol dicampur2 dengan puree sayur
- GTM...gak gitu suka...
- I'm still finding and searching his fav

4th & 5th week (5th -18th October)
Morning : combine 2 fruits with separate bowl
Puree buah (jeruk, pepaya, pir, apel)

Afternoon :
Tepung beras coklat & merah (Gasol) + Asip & puree sayur (kabocha, zuchini) (2 separate bowl)
Tepung kacang hijau (Gasol) + Asip
Tepung Pisang (Gasol) + Asip
Puree Kentang + Asip

Note:
- masih encer penyajiannya, sudah coba dikentalin tapi Fritz gak doyan
- favorite tetep yang pertama, tiga ke bawah Fritz hanya coba sekali karena udah nunjukkin muka gak suka....hix...
- lebih suka disajikan dengan mangkuk terpisah.
- makannya sudah mulai lahap
- a little bit know what he likes

6th week (19th - 24th October)
Morning: bubur susu
Tepung kacang ijo + Asip
Tepung pisang + Asip

Noon: buah
1. Jeruk + Pepaya + Pir
2. Jeruk + Alpukat
3. Jeruk + Pepaya
4. Pir + Pepaya

Afternoon: Bubur kaldu
Tepung beras coklat/merah + kaldu ceker ayam + keju

Note:
- in the morning, he just likes the green bean.
- tepung pisang setelah beberapa minggu absen, dicoba lagi malah mau
- perkenalan Alpukat dan untungnya suka
- harus makan pepaya supaya pupnya lancar tiap hari
- makan buah paling lahap dibandingkan yang lainnya
- bubur kaldu gak seberapa suka
- minggu ini GTM....sediihhh....uda dibuatin tapi malah gak dimakan abis.....dan makin hari makin jelas GTMnya....semoga minggu depan semangat lagi!!!!

these are the grains
brown rice grains, red rice grains, green bean grains, banana grains








banana porridge + Asip










kaldu ceker ayam, keju Kraft, tepung beras merah, kabocha









Plain red rice porridge







added with cheese







added with breast milk








tadaaaa.....