Since my first two homework assignments were a little heavy, I’m going easy on you this time.
What is your game plan for whatever upcoming holiday you’ll be observing?
If it’s Easter, how will you keep those chocolate bunnies from hopping into your mouth? What is your meal plan for Easter dinner? What kind of healthy treats can you tuck into your (and/or your kids’) Easter baskets instead of jelly beans?
If it’s Passover, what is your meal plan for the Seder?
And even though these holidays don’t usually carry the emotional baggage of the “holiday season,” they can still mean stress-provoking family get-togethers. Do you need a plan for dealing with that? If you do, what is it?
Easter is always dinner out for my immediate family. We're going italian this year, which is a change for us, usually it's a fried chicken place. Since I LOVE fried chicken, I'm a little bit bummed.
I don't eat much in the way of sweets, and keep almond m&ms in my house 24/7, so I should not be in any hurry to scarf down loads of sugary things. I'll be pretty content to have a few jelly beans and an m&m or malted egg or two.
Besides, I need to plan for snacks and steady meals with the whole blood sugar thing, so I have to be good or I'll be hurtin' on Monday.
Laura
Life is like a roller coaster, with lots of ups and downs, but the curves, spirals, loops and corkscrews are what make life interesting.
We are going to mil's and I am soooo glad to be on cruches.
A holiday at mil usually means LONG work days in the kitchen. She might make both a leg of lamb AND a ham - lots of side dishes - and she will use special dishes that have to be hand washed.
She always says, "I'm so glad you are here because you are the only one to help me in the kitchen" and there might be 13 family members there. I'll be so glad to go and sit on the couch and not work 10 hours Fri, Sat, Sun!
When I was a kid... my mom bought us sand toys and new bathing suits for our Easter Baskets... I know that we also got candy... but I remember new beach toys and bathing suits more.
Denise
Posts: 8693 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Last year, my DS ended up with five baskets – three from various egg hunts and two he got as gifts. (That's part of the reason I came up with this homework idea!)We had to make a deal – he could open one plastic egg a day. If it was candy, he could have it for dessert after dinner (usually sharing some with Mommy and Daddy). If it was a toy, he could play with it and have fruit for dessert.
This year, we’ll still have the church egg hunt and I know his aunt has sent him a basket, so I think we’ll have the same rules. But his basket from me will be candy-free, for his sake as well as mine. I got him the “Happy Healthy Monsters” DVD and I’ll get a few other fun toys. DS pays very close attention to how many eggs he has, so there will be hell to pay if I try to sneak one of his treats outside these parameters.
Easter dinner is less of a problem. My in-laws usually come over but the meal is pretty low-key.
Two years ago, our neighbors invited us to their Seder. They made bags for all the kids with little dime-store toys representing the plagues. When they read the story of Passover, we were all tossing little frogs around or sticking rubber boils on our faces. It was not only pretty amusing, it kept me from eating too much!
For Easter nothing has been mentioned for a family dinner and I am afraid to ask for fear it will start something. I would like something nice and quiet at home where I can control my dinner. I am hoping to find inspiration for the Easter baskets. I don't want to fill it with Junk, but there is only so much stuff a 2 yr. old and a 4 yr. old will eat. I am going to look around and think. Michelle
WORK. When you go out for your Easter breakfast or for your dinner, please thank profusely the hostess, waitress, busboy, and cooks who are preparing your meal. Their families are sitting at home waiting for them to arrive so that Easter/Passover dinner can continue in their family.
Now that my commerical is over.....
We are all working the Easter buffet. It's fun and we have a great time with the kids and our Easter bunny. As for our dinner, we will be too tired to eat much of anything except maybe some salads and ham sandwiches.
It's never too late to get it right.
Posts: 3473 | Location: Central USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
We usually do easter dinner with dh's family and brunch with mine. Brunch is usually eggs, corned beef hash, waffles or pancakes (we used one of KD's recipie's last year) and fruit salad. There will be some candy in the house, but my mom just makes up one basket of goodies for everyone to pick from.
Dinner with dh's family will depend on if it is at his father or grandparent's house. If at his grandparents we will have pork and ham, mashed potatos and gravy, green bean casserole, glazed carrots, applesauce and avacados. If at his dad's we will have ham and turkey, roasted potatos, green beans (not the casserole), corn and rolls. I'll do mu usual and just be careful.
When I have my Spring Equinox Celebration, my friend and I prepare a wonderful meal. We pick up whatever fresh fruits and veggies look good that day, and decide our meal based on that. Thats an easy one to keep healthy. This is the one i look forward to the most.
Laurie
There is no luckexcept where there is dicipline.
Posts: 1512 | Location: Adams, MA | Registered: March 10, 2004
If it isn't Good Friday, my mother hasn't thought of Easter yet. If we don't go to Toledo, then I'll be in charge and it will probably just be ham and mashed potatoes and veggies.
If mom does end up cooking, I do try to encourage her to have dinner on Saturday since dh doesn't get Easter Monday off work and that's a long drive for the day before he has to back to work.
I would like something nice and quiet at home where I can control my dinner. I am hoping to find inspiration for the Easter baskets. I don't want to fill it with Junk, but there is only so much stuff a 2 yr. old and a 4 yr. old will eat. I am going to look around and think. 
