Sip and Soak

My kids LOVE soup, from split pea to black bean and everything in between. I couldn’t be further removed from this passion, having always maintained that I rather drink my calories than slurp. But, as a toddler mother will attest, if you find a food your kids will happily eat – serve it to them, a lot! Plus, I was able to fill their bowls with vegetables, meat and beans and wholesome nutrients that they weren’t getting from those mini snack bags of cookies and crackers.

The problem is, my kids also do not have the best table manners, as is probably the case for most two-year olds. Mine just happen to be exceptionally dirty.  They are clumsily learning how to use a spoon and fork, and often see a lot of the food on their laps and not in their mouths. They were literally soaking themselves in soup, yet I had no choice but to persevere with the spoon practice. I had been getting really tired of changing their outfits after each meal, and I thought the clothing carousel would have halted after they stopped spitting up all the time.

After a lot of complaining on my part, my sister-in-law casually mentioned what I found to be a magical solution to my soup and cereal problems. A bowl with an attached straw. Given that I am constantly scouring the internet for kid gear, I was shocked I had not thought to look for something similar on my own. It was so simple and here I was just suffering in soup and silence. While I still want them to practice with their cutlery, this has saved me a lot of napkins and outfit changes. We have used these bowls foremost for soup, but for everything from yogurt to ice cream. You would be amazed at what they can slurp up through that straw. Plus, it is a novelty and my kids like anything unusual and exciting, especially at the dinner table.