Eating Colors

Elena,

You should try writing on your feet, swinging your hips to the beat of a new pop song (Thank you, Selena & Gracie!) Let’s see if I can get this slice down before it ends.

This morning, you “slept in,” and I had time to start a fun breakfast for us to share. Typically, I’m getting things ready for us while you eat by yourself. I start by doing your hair as you take the first bite and then get busy with lunchbox preparations (I actually enjoy this little meal-packing routine). 

Oops, the song ended. Why did I think I could write a proper slice in 3 minutes? Let’s play it again. It really is a lot of fun.

Back to breakfast. I scramble some eggs, trying to ignore Gordon Ramsey’s voice in my head, *insert a loud British accent* “Come on, they’re scrambled eggs, not a science experiment! Gentle heat, keep them moving, and for the love of flavor, take them off the heat before they turn to rubber!”

You wake up as I’m still whisking, so Dada goes into your room to greet you—he doesn’t know, but I leave the baby monitor on so as not to miss the interaction. Btw, if you’re wondering, Selena’s song is on repeat by now. You embrace me but direct your attention to the stove, “Huevitos!” You stare at them but realize they’re not ready yet, “Hot!” I tell you it’ll be a few minutes and remind you of the Play-Doh you worked on the day before. Go, Mamashanta, get busy while I finish here.

I love to over butter my toast to eat with eggs, but I go easy thinking of you. Avocados are [finally] ripe, so that’ll be the “good fat” on our plate. Hmmm, I think we have raspberries left. Tasty-reddish fiber, get over here!

There, our meal is ready. You toddle back to me and grab the placemat and bib from me. “Go set the table, bebé!” Dada gives you a hand. Up, up, we place you in your chair, and dive in.

I take a moment to admire the colors in our matching plates—the golden eggs, the creamy green avocado, the vibrant red raspberries. You hum as you take another [too big!] bite, ignoring the fork on the left side.

It’s taken effort, patience, and trust to help you enjoy food. As I watch you now, I hope that by the time you read this letter, you still feel that same joy—one bite at a time, a healthy relationship with food that we built together.