[waitingintn]

I have a 3 year old and my husband is out of town for work most weeks. I try to eat dinner but I just don't have 30 minutes most of the time. I was able to eat for about 15 minutes tonight but I ate too fast and didn't get much in because I got that "wow, ate too fast" feeling. I am waiting for her to go to bed to eat some more protein. Any advice on how to eat dinner with a toddler in the house?

[MsVickie]

Can you eat together? Meaning does the toddler eat finger foods now or try to feed them self? I know its messy however that is how they learn. Honey I honeslty dont have any other ideas other than that. My baby is 24 years old. I know there are others here that can help you better than myself.

Good luck with this and take care of you as much as that baby ok?

[DeMarie]

Maybe break the meal in half. Eat several smaller meals. So instead of say 4 to 6 oz meals, 3 times a day - have 2 to 3 oz meals 6 times a day. Less time eating, (and in my opinion throwing logs on the fire slowly all day keeps the metabolism burning better than just filling the furnace full 3 times a day). Don't just graze, know what you are eating in a day and break it up, and then you have a little more room for veggies with each meal. But taking the full half hour seems to not work for you, and you don't want to rush or stuff, (getting back to bad habits) so break it up. Let that be your at home mommy schedule. Save longer fuller meals for when you have the time or are going out to eat. Good luck!

[waitingintn]

The funny thing is..she wanted to eat my dinner. Now, if I had made her a plate and had her eat it, she wouldn't have touched it. So, she sat on my lap and ate half of my dinner. Which was okay since I can only get about 2 oz in at a time right now anyway. She is 3 so I guess I should say preschooler since she isn't really a toddler anymore!!

[amina6ae]

I'll tell you, ALL 4 of my kids STILL love to eat from my PLATE!!!
Must just be something special about it....
I let them do it, cause at that age they hardly ate much anyway, so anything I could get into them was great.. Just don't put more on your plate intending for her to eat it.. take the same amount, if she eats fine if not fine.
I had the surgery 1 year ago, have 4 kids 11, 10, 5 & 3 so as far as the eating I can relate... I eat what I can from what I prepare for them: example: if they are having BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes & broccoli, I'll eat a small piece of chicken & some broccoli... eat at my same speed, & when they are done, I take a rest, clean up, finish with them, when I get another chance, sometimes, an hour later I finish.....
Also, you could drink your liquids during her mealtime, & when she's done, then you eat... up to you

Good luck. You'll find your own way. Just a few ideas. I sure hope I could help.

LOL,

[Bubblyangie]

Hi,
I agree with Denise, I struggle to eat big (for us) meals, I try to eat more smaller meals more often through the day, as my pouch doesn't like the full feeling at all.....

So long as you are getting your required amount of protein etc in, its what works for you..

Hope you get sorted
Big Hugs

[sburtonh]

agree with Denise. I have a 2 and 3 year old and I eat small meals to make it through the meal times

[lvmyboys]

I do the same thing....4 small meals but be careful eating to many small meals. The calories add up fast. I am almost 15 months out and eat 4 meals with 250-350 calories. The further out you get the easier it is to make those meals slightly larger and then the frequent meals will have your calorie count way too high. Just stay concious of what you are eating and limit the number of small meals.

[kitty56]

I do 5 to 6 small meals a day. That seems to work for me the best and that is what the doctor told me to do and I am still sticking with that today. I try to stay with the good foods to eat with my snacks. I do alot of revising and that really helps with my sweet tooth. I am going to order, this wekend another flour that is even lower in carbs. I try to add protein isoloate to my cakes and cookies to really cut down the carbs and that at the same time adds alot of protein to my sweet tooth. I do not feel guilty when I eat them and am putting healthy food in my mouth. Those usually consist of my in between meals, the snacks. The bean hotdish, I am going to try and just add the splenda brown sugar next time. The carbs in the molasses botheres me umless I can come up with something lower in carbs. I am going to try and add stevia to it next time and cut down carbs even more. I always look a way to cut down carbs and make it healthier if possible.
I would say eat more meals a day and that should work.

[4Kate]

Your post reminded of a joke story I heard. I have 4 kids 3,5,7,and 10 so I really enjoyed it and thought you might to.

The story went some thing like this.

How to loose weight....
- get your self a todler and do what he does
- feed him breakfast
after he has a few bites and throws the rest on the floor, run around the house like a crazy person.
Come back later and pick up food that had been thrown down. Take a few bites and run around some more.
Continue, the rest of your day this way.
You get the jist!

Seriously I think you got some great advice and I hope you find one of the ideas helpfull.