Tony and I have begun to collect snacks for the girls during our time with them in E. Africa, as well as the trip home. Oh, that very, very long trip home....*sigh*. The children's home we're working with provides a guest house for adopting families during their in country stay. The guest house has been described as clean and rustic (not luxurious). We've been told that we may experience sporadic or no hot water for showers, limited electricity and possible plumbing problems (as does the whole town). We've been reminded that there are insects and other critters that will find their way into our lives; and maybe our hearts? {shudder} Mosquito nets are provided! Despite all the nervousness that information can evoke, we are thrilled that we have a safe place to stay within walking distance from the children's home. And even better, once the girls are emotionally ready, they will transition to staying with us at the guest house!
So back to my first sentence. We've been asked to bring healthy snacks for our girls. We are paying for meals and lodging during our stay, but snacks are great for supplementing, bonding, entertaining, and necessary for those long, hot day trips to the capital. We're expecting our time abroad to be approximately 4 -5 weeks. So far we've bought (or been gifted) applesauce in squeeze packets, goldfish crackers, fruit and veggie (non-dairy) smoothies, raisins, bunny shaped fruit snacks (these are very soft, practically dissolve in your mouth). We plan to bring cheerios and animal crackers. Also, the week or so before we leave I intend to dehydrate a bunch of fruit and have it vacuum packed.
Our girls are 8 and 2, and while there may be some snacks which our oldest would enjoy and our 2 year old should avoid, Tony and I have decided that we will only pack snacks we want both girls to eat. We're intentionally starting our girls off with equal access to the food that we'll bring. We are aware that food is one of the areas of parenting where certain choices might make someone seem strange, controlling or paranoid, (or on the other end of the spectrum: lax, inconsiderate, lazy), but we've already settled on the fact that despite our apparent oddness we'll parent to our girls' needs and to our circumstances. In the earliest days of our family we want to clearly communicate the message that both girls are our daughters; therefore, they have equal access to love, provision, time, security, and us! Some may assume that in any family this would be clearly understood as a given, but I'm not taking any chances! Applesauce and goldfish for all! And we're trying to be mindful of common food allergies. Oh, the effort put into our kids snacking....this starting a family thing is work! So, what are we missing? 4-5 weeks is a long time when you count it out in servings. Have you traveled with kids? What are your favorite, healthy snacks? Recommendations welcome!
Emily
When I flew over there each time I brought instant oatmeal. Then, I would ask for hot water. This seemed to fill my stomach the best!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea. Thank you! -Emily
DeleteHave you asked the home what their normal diet is?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have information on their specific diet, just common foods via online research. There's so much we don't know and when we ask we don't always get an answer. Still waiting to be given their shoe sizes, which we asked for before Christmas. Communication between countries can be slow and we've found that details are in short supply. -Emily
DeleteTarget has these great fruit snacks under their Archer Farms brand. My daughter loves the various (strawberry, apricot, blueberry, etc.) fruit strips they have (and they even come in organic). There's the kind that looks like fruit leather but is soft like a fruit roll-up, and then there's also the kind that about the same size as fruit leather but are actually peel apart little strings of the snack. Both taste the same, but the pull apart are a little more fun (and sticky!). :-)
ReplyDeleteI heart Target! Thank you for the suggestion and yes, pull apart food is way more fun! -Emily
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