Peas in a pod

Thanks in large part to my wife's research on how to prevent mealtime toddler wars, our son is a fabulous eater for a three-year-old. Don't get me wrong, he still prefers his hands to his silverware, and he'd still eat M&M's and drink Sierra Mist all the time if we'd let him. But he loves to try new things, and he makes surprisingly healthy choices sometimes.

Tonight's dinner was a simple one-dish meal consisting of ramen noodles, carrots, zucchini, chicken, and some herbs. He skipped the meat completely, ate some noodles and carrots, and polished off every last piece of zucchini. He then asked for more zucchini. And more again. Last night his dinner amounted to some black beans and corn, and two helpings of lima beans. At a fast food drive-thru, he'll consistently pick mandarin oranges or applesauce over french fries, and a turkey or ham sandwich over hamburgers or chicken nuggets.

On the flip side, my daughter won't eat her new cereal bars because they're a slightly different shape from the old ones. It took months to get her to eat the old ones. Madcap Mum sent us a link suggesting that a gluten-free and/or dairy free diet might help her out. About the only things she will eat are gluten-ful and dairy-liscious products. Well that, and dirt. She'll pick potting soil over brownies, sand over sandwiches, and mulch over macaroni.

And the doctors told us they were twins...