Thursday, September 25, 2008

My First Giveaway!

We are still deep in "picky preschooler" territory around our house. This can range from what to wear each day (the season changes are killers - how late can one wear "summer" crocs around outside?) to the inevitable food battles. We're eating a lot of peanut butter and mac-n-cheese. Daniel does OK with the standard fruits like bananas and apples and grapes, but tends to turn up his nose at anything too exotic. And a vegetable would cry for some recognition around here. I make sure he gets a multivitamin, and try not to stress too much about it.

So when Yoplait offered a chance to try their kids yogurt, I was definitely on board. Yoplait Kids Yogurt provides:

- 16 mg. of naturally sourced Omega-3 DHA per serving
- Excellent souce of calcium
- No artificial sweeteners or flavors
- Good source of vitamins A and D
- With protein
- 25 percent less sugar than the leading kid's yogurt

My guy who is a picky eater will drink lots of things, and he dove into the Mixed Berry yogurt drink with gusto. He also found a picture of the yogurt I had lying around on our computer desk and came running saying: "I want this."

I need to get back to the grocery store!

I am also excited to present my very first giveaway! Win a prize pack from Yoplait: A cooler, a coupon for Yoplait Kids Yogurt and a Brain Quest game.

The rules:
1) Leave a comment on this post to enter. (Make sure I have an email, or some way to get in touch!) Just say hi, or just for fun leave me a tip that helped your picky eater get on with eating.
2) Visit my blog Dirt Makes Fat and subscribe to get an extra entry. Tabs at the top will keep you in touch with us here at Relishing the Dirt as well.

Contest ends October 16th.

88 comments:

Lori said...

Our pediatrician calls this "the brown phase", where kids only want to eat brown foods (chicken nuggets, pasta, etc.). My daughter eats everything but my son is only 7 months and I can tell he'll have issues, since he'll only eat starchy baby food and cereal, I'll just try, try again.

lkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com

becky said...

we have a motto at our house: "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" it works in other areas too!

becky said...

oops! my email is bentzmom3@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Ketchup, lol...My wonderful husband who must soak EVERYthing in Ketchup has now taught our 17 month old how great ketchup is...nothing can be enjoyed without a big blob of ketchup on the tray...

btw - I don't suggest this method, lol ;-)

terraLjones (@) gmail (dot) com

Shantel said...

I too have a picky eater and these yoplait drinks are a hit for my son (17 mo). I add a little whole milk to thin it and he'll drink it in a sippy with a straw.

Shantel said...

Okay Becky, I forgot my email too

shantela@hotmail.com

Rasmussen Family said...

picky kids, my daughter is more or a picky sleeper but that's a whole nother story! gostigger2@hotmail.com

Role Model Mommies said...

Meat...what child won't eat meat? It took months to get my toddler to eat meat she only wanted veggies and rice.But I figured it out she only likes chicken and it has to be made by her uncle.I take her to his house 3 times a week just so she'll eat meat.(crazy yes)
barbara_powella@yahoo.com

Gracious Gifts said...

My 2 year old is also going through a picky phase and has just learned her shapes so to get her to eat, we cut her food into shapes and make a BIG deal out of the circles, triangles and squares!!
kristenmellis@yahoo.com

Frugal Finds said...

I ahve one child that has been lactose intolerant for 7 years so this yogurt ahs played a large part in his life!

Coach Jamie said...

Yoplait's idea to put Dora & Diego on their kids' yogurt was a tremendous help at our house! My picky 2 yr old now goes to the fridge and says, "Doorrrra Pleeease!"
ajmmbuice@gmail.com

Our Creative Day said...

We make some of our meals or snacks into food art together - like a rainbow, fish, car, flowers, etc.. I have my DD help with it and then I challenge her in a 'reverse physcology' kind of way... I bet you can't eat the 'fish tail', I bet you can't eat the 'tires on the car', etc. A game & art rolled into one.

maizeydaizey(at)hotmail(dot)com

Michelle said...

My two year old is uber picky so we let him sit on our laps and eat off of our plate. He tends to eat more on our plates because apparently our food is better.

luann said...

We have the try at least one bite rule. It sometimes will lead to the discovery that we like it.

luann said...

sorry, forgot my email before-------alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com

Heather said...

My first is a picky eater but amazing that he loves yogurt! My second will eat anything in front of him, so who knows! I just found your blog but will continue to visit!
live4him24@gmail.com

LeeAnn said...

Dipping sauces...thanks for the giveaway!

Julie said...

We let my son eat what he wants, within reason, so that he is getting something inside his body. The other day he insisted on a hot dog for breakfast. He hardly ate a thing the rest of the day so we were glad we let him have that hot dog. This phase will pass so I'm trying not to stress myself out. Thanks for the giveaway!

Painter Mommy said...

My 4 yr old son and 3 yr old daughter are exact opposites. My son is sooooo picky. He will not eat the same thing twice in one week besides peanut butter / jelly and snack foods. Dinner is always a nightmare. My 2 yr old winds up eating her plate of food and her brothers.

I have to be very creative when it comes to lunch & dinner. I often cut different shapes in the food or make faces on the plate with the veggies & meat. It works sometimes. I don't ever force my son to eat though, because I don't want him to get a complex about food. Apparently, he is getting enough in him, because his weight is good. I do try to give healthy snacks, so maybe that is helping.

I would love to be chosen to get the yogart. We have yet to try their kid's yogart and I would love to see if my son would like it.

Thanks for the opportunity to share, DAWN aka "PainterMommy"

MaverickMama said...

Congrats on your first giveaway.

Sweet Mommy Dreams said...

My daughter liked banana's so I put them in everything she ate.

The Lauria's said...

I have TWO very picky eaters. I look at other children, and wonder why me?? I just try giving all the "right" foods in hopes that one day they will forget about all the "wrong" foods. Good luck!!

klauria@bellsouth.net

Lisa said...

I love Yoplait!! My email is candleluvr2@yahoo.com. Have a great day!! :)

Summer said...

we're in a chicken nugget and PB&J phase with our 22 month old. It's brutal but I just keep giving them to him along with the item that I hope he'll eat. If he won't eat it, fine, but at least I know that I offered it to him!

I hope I win!

Corissa said...

Both my sons (4 and 2) are extremely picky eaters -- and they have food allergies. Between what they WON'T eat and what they CAN'T eat, there isn't a lot left. My 4 year old won't eat meat, so these yogurt drinks are one of his main sources of protein.

One thing we do occasionally that gets my kids to eat is "count" their food. I'll take, say, 8 of their green beans and count them out in front of their plate. Then, I turn away and when I turn back I am shocked to see several of the green beans missing. I count them again, to see how many disappeared then "wonder" what happed to them. They LOVE this game and will finish an entire plate of food this way.

crissygail [at] yahoo

Becky said...

My youngest is a picky eater - we try to create a healthy diet around his likes and throw in extras that we maybe can add to his "I will eat" list!! He's not much of a meat eater - and not crazy about ketchup - but honey is a great dipper for fish and chicken. The other day he made a butter, cheese, and jelly sandwich?!! Then he told me I didn't know if I liked it because I've never tried it - I guess he's heard that a time or two!!!
decker_becky@yahoo.com

Michele said...

My son is very picky but my daughter is completly different. She loves everything to eat. Not afraid to try new things as long as it has something to do with fruit or veggies. Thanks

Michele darkkrystal_nh@hotmail.com

Gladice said...

So far so good with my son. He's okay with eating solids, but we had a rough start his first few months with reflux.

srhoades said...

In our house we always fell that a child will not starve themselves. They will eat when they're ready. So, at dinnertime, if one of my 4 sons does not want to eat, I put some saran wrap on it and put in the fridge til later.

srhoades_26062@yahoo.com

Frugal in Virginia said...

So far our daughter isn't too picky... Hopefully it will continue like that. Thanks for the giveaway!

CandyScraps said...

My kids would eat anything with dip. :) Ranch dip, ketchup, steak sauce, bbq sauce - didn't matter.

Thanks for the chance to win the giveaway! :)

papercandy at gmail dot com

The Royal Family said...

I have't hit that phase yet, but these are great ideas. :)
the_royalfamily(AT)msn(DOT)com

rwgallow said...

My two best ideas are cutting food into fun shapes with cookie cutters and adding "dipping sauce" to anything. It can be ranch, ketchup, bbq sauce, etc.

Happywife84 said...

Congrats on your 1st giveaway! You are doing great!!

The Saunders Family said...

oh, we love yogurt here! Yep, my daughter likes condiments on her food...we put relish on her tuna and she ate it right up, ranch dressing on just about anything works too!
mom2maria at hotmail dot com

Trisha.R.Jackson said...

I never liked yogurt until I was older. Now it's a staple at my house!

Tfipps said...

I wish I had some tips...I'll be reading everyone else's to get some tips of my own!! Thanks for the giveaway!

kronca said...

I like to cut my kids sandwiches in shapes. Dinosaurs are a huge favorite!! For the holidays, we have holiday themed sandwiches. They love peanut butter, so I sprinkle wheat germ on it. They don't know!! It gives them an extra iron boost. I also serve carrots and ranch dip and fruit on the table BEFORE our dinner. Usually, they are starving by dinner time and will pick at whatever is out, just to eat. It works out for both of us: the kids get a snack before dinner to stave off the hungries and I know they got a serving of fruit and a serving of vegetables!

Hope I win!
email is steveroncas@embarqmail.com

g said...

wow i have been pretty lucky after exposing my kids to a variety of foods they are good eaters sometimes shapes, dips, dressings, lettting them help etc will help

Katie said...

Hi! My kids LOVE this yogurt -- the characters on the packaging especially!
katiekarr at gmail dot com

morgan said...

Hi. I dont really have this problem. My kids eat everything they get their hands on.

Mom of 3 Boys said...

My 4yo has become a picky eater but last night he asked for ketchup and he was dunking his green beans.
Whatever it takes!
I have a baby on the way so this prizepack looks great!
Thanks!
lepf AT comcast DOT net

AXK_mom said...

Our 1 eating rule: Cannot get up until you finish everything on your plate. Works for us.

AXK_mom said...

I just subscribe through yahoo.
my email is khong0707 at yahoo dot com

Erika said...

The most useful things we have done with our picky eater are to require her to eat at least one bite of everything, not make a separate meal for her just so she'll eat (like mac n cheese), and if she doesn't want to eat then we put her in her room until she is ready to eat. Within a week (full of tantrums) she was trying new things and has discovered a new love of eating.

Kristan said...

i've given up making them sit at the table for all meals, and let them walk around and eat some things that aren't messy - it stops fights and gets them to eat the healthy things they wouldn't eat sitting down for some reason.
andrewandkristan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Twintech said...

Since my twins have Autism and food sensory issues introducing new foods even a new brand of foods they eat has always been a major challenge. We simply keep trying. Today one of my sons ate pizza for the first time. They are 6 years old and we were extremely excited even though it took about an hour for him to finish a very mini pizza.

Stacy said...

My daughter is a great veggie eater, thankfully. She loves these Yoplait yogurts. Something about the bright colors, I think!

airbeck@aol.com

Anu said...

My son loves yogurt too.Ocaasionally try to give him different varieties of beans

kerri69 said...

I have tried by making it fun like making it silly or making face s out of the food or adding food coloring here and there it works sometimes and i also figure they will grow out of it

kerri69 said...

im bad forgot email
kerri69@gmail.com

Julia said...

this stuf is great. thanks
Harden11408@aol.com

Beachcomber said...

I love Yoplait!

beachcomber_d(at)yahoo(dot)com

janetfaye said...

We love Yoplait in my home!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

janetfaye said...

I subscribed.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Tina B said...

I remember those days! As you probably know, children exhibit these behaviors in attempt to control the things they can. So, the trick is making them feel in control. What I did as far as clothing goes is I had my children make clothes hanger tags with the days of the week on them. We picked a day (Sunday) to spend time together picking out outfits for the week. My children really responded well to this and rarely deterred from the system. I got the idea from Family Fun. (I checked and it is on the website; search "A Week's Wardrobe at a Time". I made a pocket out of jeans for ours so socks and underwear could be tucked in if needed. Good luck!

mmi284 said...

My daughter helps me cook dinner every night. She loves to eat what she cooked.

Shiloh said...

We love yoplait!

Sara said...

oh this would be a life saver!

mami{at}mamiandpapi.net

Rebecca said...

When my daughter would deny foods we just kept trying, I know it sounds mean but we refuse to make different food for everybody unless it is really terrible for them. I read that it takes 3 different times of trying things for children to like something. Our kids aren't picky in the slightest and actually enjoy (and request) foods like spinach!

legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

Rebecca said...

I am a subscriber to Dirt Makes Fat! Well when I get the confirmation email I will be :D

legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My kids are not very picky so I'm very lucky for that.

samsakara@twcny.rr.com

Anonymous said...

Giving my kids multi-vitamins helped their appetite so much. You are a good mom.

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

my kids love food so usually do not have a hard time getting them to eat healthy- they help cook so they eat what they make

Michelle at usr-bin-mom.com said...

We have the same expression as Becky, only we say, "You get what you get and you don't get upset." I think the kids picked it up from some TV show when the oldest ones were preschoolers. Only my kids aren't picky about food -- they are picky about WHAT COLOR THEIR PLATE/CUP IS! Is that crazy, or what? And it's not like this one always wants red, and that one always wants blue. No, no, we get to re-negotiate the colors at every meal. Unless Mommy passes them out, and then YOU GET WHAT YOU GET!!

michelle[at]usr-bin-mom[dot]com

Sweetpeas said...

Doesn't always work, but in general my kids are more likely to try new things if I let them help me cook it. Tonight they gobbled up bean soup full of stuff they claim not to like LOL.

CanCan said...

My son is super picky, but he loves drinking out of a juice box. So I buy milk in a juice box and just make sure our juice box drinks are healthy!

onlycancan at hotmail dot com

mommyjen99 said...

Thanks for the contest my sweet niece is a huge yogurt eater. I have to stock up everytime she stays with me.
jen62728@aol.com

torinem said...

Thanks for the great giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I put a little of everything on their plate and if they don't eat it, c'est la vie. They generally get accustomed to seeing the "icky" food after repeated visits on their plates and eventually taste it, and finally end up eating and enjoying it. But, yogurt is easy because most kids love that from the start!
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

I subscribed to Dirt Makes Fat for an extra entry.

doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Nadi said...

We love Yoplait in our house!

treflea4 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Yoplait is one of our kids favorite yogurts!

Wehaf said...

I love Yoplait! I think my favorite favor is strawberry/vanilla. Unfortunately I don't have any good tips to help with picky eaters.

urchiken at gmail dot com

Tamara B. said...

Excellent product for my children's lunch boxes. They just love it.

Tamara B. said...

I subscribed to Dirt Makes Fat.

RUN FOREST RUN said...

way cool blog.. glad i found you.. hugs laura

Kristie said...

My picky eater is still picky, but she does really like yogurt!

khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Ren said...

At our son's 18 month check up, we told the dr that he never wants to eat dinner. The dr said it's fine that he's picky, he's too young to try and bargain with, so just let him sit there and see that dinner time is a fun family gathering.

Bebemiqui said...

I have a picky eater issue that I have yet to find a solution to.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

DJ said...

My secret, the blender. Luckily you can hide alot of things in a smoothie.

Carrie said...

I am pretty lucy to have kids who generally eat well. If they don't eat what is on their plates, then too bad! I do make sure to have a couple things a day that I know they will eat so they don't get too hungry and grumpy.

How fun that I could be in your first giveaway, I hope you have lots more!

Carrie - purplepreps.blogspot.com

Renee Simmons said...

Congrats on having your first giveaway, and TY for giving your readers the opportunity to win a nice prize!!

Unknown said...

Hi! My son LOVE this yogurt.

Thanks,

utvolsangel@hotmail.com

Shasta said...

It's just a phase that my oldest has finally outgrown, my middle is currently in and my youngest hasn't yet entered. I hate the picky stage!!

thewondermomma @ gmail. com

Sarah said...

We have the one bite rule here. It doesn't always work but I also have a kid who asks for blueberries & green beans on a daily basis!

Kimmiekins said...

Great giveaway! Count me in. :)

kimmiekins[at]gmail[dot]com

Brooke said...

We always serve the vegetables first - like in European restaurants. I don't care how much of the protein entree they eat as long as they finish the vegetables. I find that if you put everything on the same plate, the kids will simply not eat the vegetables. This way they have one thing to eat at a time.