Thanks for the great feedback about the Food Face Plate series. Have you been missing it? So have we. But there's a rhyme and a reason. Please continue reading.

A friend came to visit one day saddened that her already picky toddler had suddenly refused to eat even all the stand-by foods that the family used to rely on to feed her. I offered to loan her the plate. Because part of Eating Well is Sharing Well. It's important to help people who recognize that you do something different and ask you for advice.

Our gym has had this sign up outside their kid care area all summer, and I finally remembered to take a picture of it. It's such a powerful statement for teaching kids (and even adults) to make healthy choices. The road may be curved like the tire tracks, which means it takes focus, but it can start any time. Now even! It will be a better road to a better lifestyle. And if you happen to like driving, especially on twisty roads, then it should be quite fun!

We had Nora's 18 month well-baby check-up today. We also had a new pediatrician. There was nothing wrong with the old one. But she had a family emergency, and we met the fill-in pediatrician. She said there's a new principle for children that they are trying to drum into parents' heads. I liked the idea. And it occurred to me the more I thought about it that it isn't just for children.

I've created a monster! No, I'm not talking about the food face. I thought it was pretty cute. But I have pushed myself into a corner where Nora seems to only like peanut butter when it's made into a sandwich with Cherrios. Do you know how small Cherrios are? Do you know how messy creamy peanut butter can get if you goof and it oozes through the hole of the Cherrio? And she eats them as fast as I can make them. There must be an easier way! But I can't complain because she really is a good eater.

We've enjoyed our mangoes quite a lot this summer. I must say, after the first case of mangoes, I was getting very speedy at my mango cutting. And I hope this video makes it easy for others to learn how to cut mangoes and enjoy their special tastes.

Please excuse the blurry photo. I didn't realize it until it was too late. Sometimes, you just can't convince your child to be patient long enough to get a good shot! Aw, but she is a very good sport.

What a powerful quote from a New York Times article on food in school cafeterias! ! And that's exactly the goal I have for EatLikeaRabbit.net. I want to help people of all ages learn how to eat. Eat well. Eat healthy.

Today via Kiwi Magazine, I stumbled upon Today I ate a Rainbow. It was the most fun site to explore. I immediately sent the link for the picky eaters section to my friend who recently came asking for help to feed her 2 1/2 year old.

Orlando Family Magazine sent out a coupon for Freshfields Farm in their July issue. It's a well known fact that coupons for produce are rare. So, when you find this, grab it. The value is $5 off $25. It doesn't expire until August 31. (The magazine is well worth getting for its family-related stories, too.

There's a group of mommy-bloggers who have coined the term "Eating from the Pantry Challenge". It means that they skip the grocery stores for the week and just focus on eating what they've stored up in their pantries, freezers, and refrigerators.

We are eating from the pantry this week, mostly. We have cheated, though. I have purchased one cantaloupe and one small block of cheese. We also picked up two big boxes of mangoes that we ordered last week as part of a church fund-raiser. Many will be shared.

I'm no authority on this. I'm just sharing my journey.

While many moms do a great job of cooking ahead and freezing their food, I can't do it. Cooking is my outlet. When Nora naps, it's my time to play in the kitchen. I am the type of person who thinks all day about what we're having for dinner. After dinner, I start thinking about tomorrow's dinner. And with all that thinkin' ahead, you'd think I'd actually do some prep work ahead. Cause cleaning up the kitchen isn't so fun. And it's greener to just use that knife and cutting board once.

Last week, we returned from a wonderful family vacation with not just one set, but both sets of Nora's grandparents, plus some friends and a second cousin. While I won't bore you with the details of a diary like I did in Paris, I would like to blog a good deal on the foods. Because Italy can be very inspirational! In fact, I'm even thinking of tweaking my garden in the very near future thanks to my observations of the Italian ways.