It’s funny eating meals with a toddler.  Sometimes I find myself  eating less than I had anticipated due to a certain little two foot tall person tugging on my pant leg saying “Ma-ee, ma-ee” until I give her what she wants (my food.)   Before my very eyes a 72-calorie banana becomes 63 and then 56 as Belén consumes her part.  If this were always the case, it might be a good diet plan.

But then there is the opposite effect when we order more food for her and then she doesn’t eat it.

Take tonight as an example.  We had a very healthy vegetable curry dish in the crock pot (thanks to my wonderful husband).  We were both thinking about curry all day long only to find raw vegetables in cold curry when we returned home from work.  The power had gone out early in the day and the crock pot was not smart enough to restart itself.  So we piled into the truck and headed to a local restaurant.  I ordered a healthy-ish spicy beef salad for myself and a cheeseburger from the kid’s meal for Belén.  I secretly wanted a taste of the cheeseburger too.

When the meals came, B’s cheeseburger was in my mind, adult-sized with a full side of fries.  She was a trooper eating quite a bit (for her), but it was way too much food.

But you see, this particular restaurant has fantastic fries and a good burger so I quickly found myself “helping” Belén way more than I needed to…until her plate was nearly clear.

So I think I am of the conclusion it is actually a net caloric positive having an extra mouth to feed of which it is very easy to share food with.

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