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.