He Ate it ALL!!! #Operation IFO

I decided to try a different plating technique. It is one often used for portion control. Like a lot of things it is all about perception. Of course in Riley World things usually work the opposite way. For example I wanted more to look less therefore I reversed the theory. I used a larger plate instead of his usual plate. Check this out:

R's usual size plate.

Dinner size plate.

OK…so maybe it does not really look all that different or else you are thinking it looks like there is more food on the larger plate. Well you would be right. The larger dinner plate actually had almost double the amount as the smaller plate. I took about 1/3 and gave Riley about 2/3 of the package. But…compared to this…

…considerably ‘less-looking’ as in more plate space. 

Wouldn’t you agree???

  

As usual here are a few highlights and comments for those not wanting to watch the entire video (just under 5 minutes this time).

My voice is much more expressive. We have moved to the next stage where positive reinforcement and enthusiasm ‘can’ work (not always) as motivation. There was even some eye contact.  :) 

:50 -     R tries to gather and separate the pasta.

I just can’t help myself sometimes. The ‘mother’ in me has a need to say I told you so reinforce the choices/options that were given and the final outcome. And so a “discussion” of choices begins. Here you will see some of the challenges we have when it comes to Riley’s receptive-expressive language.      

3:10 -   Discussion of choices.

3:55 -   Tomato vs. “White” sauce.

4:35 -   Gag reflex improving.

Click here to watch the video.

For the first time in a long time, I actually felt like we were moving forward and one day we may be able to order a plate of pasta off the menu!  Whoo-hoooo!!!!! 

Michelina's Meets Riley World in#Operation IFO

I usually make pasta sauces from scratch. It is part of my on-going campaign for Mother of the Year. However, when I only require 1-2 tablespoons of sauce I am not as inspired. Will this hurt my chances for MOTY? Will it appear that I do not love my children as much as those who make cookies from scratch or prepare Pinterest-worthy lunches?? Oh well.

As I was wandering around the grocery store on the weekend looking for some easy alternatives I happened upon these…

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a new discovery. It is just that Riley has never had them. I scanned the varieties and spotted two that could possibly work in Operation IFO. The Penne Pollo – pasta in a cream sauce with cooked chicken pieces (we could dispose of these) and the Rigatoni Pomodoro – pasta in a spicy (this could be iffy but…) Italian style tomato sauce. They were on sale for only $1.00 each so I thought to myself WTH! 

One of the things I have noticed about videoing Operation IFO are things that I should have done differently. For example I put waaaaay too much pasta on his plate. When he was little I used to actually count out the specific number of pieces that he would have to eat. Why did I not think to do that now? Well honestly…I do not want to count anymore. More importantly what if he actually liked it!?!  Baaahaaahaaa!    

This video is on the long side (~6 min) so here are the CliffsQuickReview:

1:55 -   R starts negotiations. This time he starts with 20. It used to be 10. The last time I said  20. Memory like a steel trap.

2:28 –   Gag reflex still works.

2:40 –   R admiring himself in the glass cabinet.

2:50 –   Begins counting down in hopes of getting me to agree.

3:15 –   Starts separating 20 from the pack.

3:50 –   Confirms there are indeed 20 pieces.

5:20 –   R is great at remembering to tuck in his chair when he is finished. Once I confirm he is indeed finished, he sits back down to finish his juice.

5:30 –   R is a pleaser (after the fact of course) as evidenced here .  

Mmmmm...doesn't this look tasty? 

Click here to see Riley's reaction.

Will this ever end?!? I (and no doubt you) am getting bored with all of this.  :(