after school snacks Archives

Meet Ryder, the serial snacker.

He’s the type of kid who can eat, and eat, and eat… and he does. Frequently. In fact, years ago, had we been able to project our monthly food expenditures, we probably wouldn’t have had a second kid. Just kidding. But not really.

The good news? Without even trying, he’s developed a discernible palate, and actually prefers fruits, vegetables and dairy-based foods over other snacks and treats. It’s a mother’s dream! A kid who’d rather have broccoli over brownies. However, he’s seven, and he loves a lot of “once-in-a-while” foods as well, such as pop, candy and chocolate. So, my job is to find him a better-for-you snack that he’ll love. And trust me, he loves Snack Pack pudding.

“Just one, Mommy,” he says. Oh, and I’m supposed to resist him?
Whether he reaches for Chocolate, Butterscotch or another tasty flavour (Vanilla is his favourite!), I can feel good knowing his Snack Pack is made with skim milk, contains no preservatives and no trans fat. Plus, with no refrigeration required, it’s the perfect portable snack for his back pack, or as an after-school treat. Swing by my house; you’ll find Ryder on the porch every afternoon enjoying a Snack Pack pudding. It’s his preferred way to unwind after a hectic day of math and spelling! …

I’ve got two very different little boys. Ying and yang, I like to call them. Because even though they’re both Tauruses, share physical characteristics and have an intense dislike for the bad “b” word – bedtime – they really couldn’t be more dissimilar. Which I suppose is half the joy of raising more than one child; the varying array of quirks, conflicts and complex personalities that keep you on your toes. (And often, reaching for a bottle of wine.)

This year, with Reid being in school for the very first time (translation: freedom!) I’m once again reminded that he is very different from his older brother. Whereas Ryder will ALWAYS finish his entire lunch at school, Reid has an insurmountable decision-making process, known only to him, for what he will eat, and what will go untouched.

“Why didn’t you eat your sandwich?”
“It was too melty.”
“Why didn’t you finish your grapes?”
“They’re too round. I like them less round.”
“Why did you bring back your cookies?”
“They smell funny. Like someone has been breathing on them.”

Now I ask you, what does melty even mean?? And how does it relate to a pristine turkey sandwich?

Two weeks in, I was seriously beginning to wonder if he would ever get the hang of eating a school lunch. And then I remembered a key piece of armour – a strategic tactic, if you will – in the war against determined toddlers: The Bribe.

Please don’t look for The Bribe in parenting manuals. We are stoically told from the moment our children are born that thou shalt not bribe children to elicit a desired behaviour or outcome. To which I say, yeah, and my toddler was toilet trained in 3 days when I bribed him with a KINDER SURPRISE.
So, I did what any responsible parent would do: I told Reid that if he finished his lunch… within reason, of course… he would receive a KINDER SURPRISE as an after school treat. The first day, he attempted to call my bluff; returning with an almost full, untouched lunchbox. However, when I doled out one of those delicious chocolate eggs to his brother, and not him, he quickly revised his stance. …

Snack Pack in his Back Pack!

The Kid, The Lunchbox and The Kinder Surprise Bribe