Graze Goody Box

All in all Moo really enjoyed the food in her Graze box, it was nice to see her have a good go at the raisins as she's very hit and miss with this particular fruit and it was nice for her to try some unique textures that she doesn't get from fresh fruit. Here are my pros and cons...

I was recently offered a code to receive a free Graze box. I've had Graze before, in fact a couple of years ago I had a subscription for a weekly box that I took to my job running a charity shop so that I could have a daily and healthy snack. I still ate lots of biscuits and gained a dress size or two...

I cancelled that subscription because it became too costly for me to maintain on our small income, however when I heard that they were now offering a service aimed a children, I knew we had to give it a go. Moo eats everything (except avocado and cauliflower) and so this could be an interesting way to add further variety to her tastes and diet that she can share with her friends, things that I couldn't necessarily provide myself for whatever reason. It's important to note here that the Graze Goody Boxes are not meant for children below three years old and Moo is a couple months off of three (bad parenting or just lack of patience, not sure which), however the food was suitable and safe so long as supervision was exercised.

It arrived on our mat and Moo was very excited. Unfortunately they had but my name on the box and not hers, which was a bit unfortunate, had she been older and able to read, she probably would've been disheartened. I told her it was for her and she didn't seem to mind as I opened it up for her to have a look at it's contents. Moo was thrilled with what she got!

Golden Flapjack.

Moreish, buttery mini flapjack bites that I enjoyed far more than Moo did, I don't think they were sweet enough for her and ended up in crumbs everywhere.

Jam Dunk.

Dried apple pieces served with raspberry compote. Moo absolutely adored these and once all the apple was gone, she proceeded to use her fingers to ensure no 'jam' was left behind.

Very Berry Blast.

Cranberries, cherry raisins, yogurt-covered strawberries and raspberry laces that were yummed up very similar to the action of a vacuum cleaner.

Fruit Tumble.

Pineapple, strawberry and lime raisins that weren't as popular as Very Berry Blast but still welcomed.

Pros.

- Great and exciting way to encourage children to try new and healthy things.

- Contains 'no nasties'.

- Lovely for your child to receive exciting post.

- Very tasty recipes that you certainly won't mind finishing if left behind.

- Convenient and can be customised to your preferences.

- Fun games included within the box to promote healthy eating.

Cons.

- The temptation was perhaps a little overwhelming and she wanted to eat each snack one after the other with unrelenting pleading.

- At £3.89 a box (whether weekly or fortnightly), it is not the most cost effective way of feeding your child snacks, especially if they're gone as fast as ours were.

- I really hate it when companies refer to children as 'kids' and I find it very off-putting.

Like the main Graze boxes, they are a very neat and unique way of trying new things and for having some fun with your children, on this occasion though I feel that Moo isn't quite ready to have something like this as she has no restraint when it comes to restraint and portioning (and patience) so as soon as it arrives, she wants to eat the lot. She doesn't understand that hounding my every step is frustrating for me which in turns frustrates her. Short of hiding it from her (which if you have a toddler, you'll know is pretty impossible) I don't know how I could get around this step. I also think that hiding it from her ruins the magic of the concept.

I also think that given our current budget, it is a little pricey to be investing in when it's not 100% appreciated.

If you'd like to give Graze or their Goody Box a try, here's a code for a freebie to try 22C7MV5 and be sure to let me know what you think!

Clare

Please note, I received the free code from another blogger and was not compensated for this post.

French Toast Recipe

Mmmm...French toast (or eggy bread if you're not a bit of a plum like me)...

There is nothing better or quicker, whether you have it sweet or savoury, I've never met anyone that doesn't like it in some manner. My personal favourite is unsweetened with salt and pepper, my daughter prefers it sweetened a little but plain.

Here's my super-easy recipe for a quick and easy lunch for little ones one year and over...

You will need;
- Bread. One egg will normally do two slices of bread, more if you're using shapes.
- An egg. Whisked.
- Milk. Just a splash.
- Sugar and/or vanilla. To sweeten. A pinch of sugar/dash of vanilla.
- Oil/butter. Whatever you use in your frying pan.

Start by cutting your bread. If I'm feeling lazy or rushed I will simply cut a slice into fours diagonally (triangles) and do it that way but normally I will use a cookie cutter to make it into fun shapes. More often than not, a heart shape. For really young children try cutting off the crusts and flattening the bread using a rolling pin. This'll make it easier for little fingers to pick up and and pop in little mouths.

Now it's time to make your eggy mixture. Whisk your egg with the splash of milk so that it's less milky than you would make scrambled egg, then add your chosen sweetener, making sure it is well mixed.

Simply dip your bread pieces into the mixture whilst you heat a frying pan with your butter or oil. Fry on a low to medium heat until all of the egg is thoroughly cooked. Leave to cool to a suitable temperature for your child and voila! French toast! I usually serve Moo's with a but of salad and maybe some cold, cooked meat like ham or turkey.

If you have any variations on this, please let me know!

Clare

Choosing a pre-school activity

Pre-school activities are becoming more and more popular and if you live in the 'right' sort of areas, there's just about everything on offer.

The most dominating genre would be sport and why not? There's nothing wrong with encouraging a healthy lifestyle through exercise from a very young age. Just flicking through my latest copy of 'The Family Grapevine' (my local children's directory) I come across dancing, swimming, football, karate and gymnastics to name the most popular. Moo, our daughter, does football with Little Kickers which is a franchise-based pre-school activity which started in the UK and has since expanded all around the world. She's been doing this since she was eighteen months, football is a big deal to my husband who is a football coach and his brother who is the goal-keeper for one of our local teams down here in sunny Sussex.

The are lots of things to consider when selecting a pre-school activity for your child which I will quickly run through.

- Pick something that is suited to them. I know that the idea of them prancing around in a tutu is enough to make your ovaries ache, trust me...I know. But is your climbing-since-eleven-months-old toddler really ready to stand still and follow instructions like ballet? I know mine isn't (sigh). Or is your future-football star really more interested in doing his own thing and not the games laid out for them? Yes, children learn but like adults, some things are not for them and finding something that they enjoy is the point here.

- Don't force it. Please don't be one of those people. The parent that drags their toddler to an activity they hate and don't participate in. Not only is it a waste of your money, it puts a strain on the both of you and potentially disrupts other children who are willing to participate. They may not be ready or they may not be interested. Take a step back, maybe try something else or try again in three months. No responsible business owner/coach/teacher would want you distressing your child for the sake of your money in their pocket. If they do then you'd be best seeking an alternative (see further down).

- Be conscious of your budget. Don't get involved in something that will potentially become costly and put a strain on your finances if you think you will struggle to work it into your budget. Performing arts are wonderful and I did years of it growing up. It's only now as an adult that I look back and realise how much money I cost my poor, long-suffering father. On top of classes there was my uniform and three types of shoes. Then there were my medals and awards, my practising for said awards and also for performances. Costumes, rehearsals and performances for which he had to attend EVERY ONE. Factor in the time he had to take off of work and petrol money driving me to all of these things...yeah...I was expensive. It's only now as I am conscious of money that I realise these things. If I am honest, right now I could not afford for Moo to do this. Look at costings of things; most pre-school activities will have a one-off registration followed by your weekly class fee. Generally with activities for this age, any uniform or kit is included in the registration. Your local children's centre will also run a selection of free or very low priced activities and will have information on others that are going on around you. My local library has a range of children's story and music activities. Local church halls and community centres often run their own play groups and small activities for usually only a couple of pounds a time. Remember, a huge part of this is your child learning to interact with others.

- Things to ask. There are lots of things to consider when choosing an activity. The first and foremost should always be are they CRB registered. You like to think that this is obvious but you'd be surprised how many people don't bother. Find out if you are required to stay with your child, if not, are they offstead registered? Find out if they do a free-trial so that you can try the activity before you invest your money into it. The first session won't always give you an answer either way but it will give you an idea of what it is they get up to in that time. Ask if there are any additional costs; will they need special equipment or clothing? Always find out if the classes are term-time only or all year round. A lot of providers will penalise you for not attending, even if you thought it wasn't running because it's half term.
- Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, don't second guess yourself. If you think that the coach/teacher is too abrupt with your child or you're not getting good value for money, speak up. Remember that typically these activities are people's businesses, that the people working with your child are doing a job. Do not accept anything less than a great experience. A business owner would not want unhappy customers or to pay staff that are not good at their jobs. Feedback should be given where necessary, don't be afraid to speak up and if things don't change, consider changing activity/provider. Would you go back to a restaurant with bad service and/or food? No. AND your child's happiness is longer lasting than a bit of tummy-ache and over-priced tip!

So if you're considering enrolling your child in to a pre-school activity, take your time, try several things and remember that the name of the game is fun!

Image owned by Little Kickers

Some great nation-wide activities are;

littlekickers.co.uk

jabberjacks.co.uk

tumbletots.com

dididance.com

There will be lots and lots of local businesses to, try your local children's directory, Netmums or children's centres!

Clare