One Handed Eating
by Serena Chapman

Eating with two hands is overrated. We all know what we’re supposed to eat and what not to eat but as any parent of a baby or toddler will tell you, it’s really just not that easy. A recent survey revealed that many moms don’t have time to shower every day, well if we don’t have time to shower how are we supposed to find the time to count and prepare the recommended amount of daily foods?
As a mother of a baby who feels the ‘need’ to be held all the time, I came up with a list of what I call one handed foods, as in “my baby’s in my other arm and I haven’t eaten all day”
Chocolate bars and cookies are my first choice but the crash and burn just leads to more cravings and they certainly don’t help in my quest to shed the ‘baby weight’, so I stock the refrigerator and kitchen counter with these one handed munchies:

• High fiber cereal - I may not always get chance to pour milk and eat it with a spoon but It’s also a good finger food and high fiber foods help carry the fatty ones out of your body.

• Low fat cheese sticks and yogurt drinks - Studies show that adding low fat dairy to your diet can help aid weight loss and more importantly cut the symptoms of PMS in half.

• Fruit - Bananas, apples, plums, pears, peaches, grapes, strawberries- basically any fruit that doesn’t need peeling and cutting.

• Veggies - Grape Tomatoes, carrot sticks, broccoli florets and individual ranch containers for dipping.

• Grilled chicken breast strips - also good dipped in ranch.

• Heat and sip, soup cups

• Slim-fast Optima shakes - People frown when I mention these noting the sugar content but these drinks have been a real life saver on days when we’re running out the door and I realize, that I haven’t eaten all day and won’t get another chance for hours. They’re much better for you than any ‘drive thru’ and the creamy milk chocolate flavor is great for chocolate cravings.

These one handed mini meals can also be referred to as ‘grazing’ but since most nursing Moms can already relate to our ‘four legged friends’ with the endless ‘pumping and sucking’, the term ‘grazing’ just adds insult to injury!

~ Serena Chapman is the organizer of Fit Mommies: Mother & child Stroller Workout. Find out more about her workouts, playgroups and classes at www.fitmommiesonline.com.