munchkin meals: must-haves

I don't have a lot to write about in regard to this month's munchkin meals.  Packing lunches for MacKenna still proves difficult, but she seems to be eating them and is starting to eat healthier.  Like, for example, that golden delicious apple she had this weekend - pretty much the only thing green she has ever eaten.  And is now begging us to cut the skin off before she eats the apple.  Child hates anything green.  *sigh*Miles certainly wins as best eater in the house though.  He eats everything on his plate plus seconds, thirds, and fourths.  When we go out to dinner, we order something for MacKenna (usually mac + cheese) and give some to Miles, which he gobbles up.  And he usually eats more of it than Kenna does.  That's about as exciting as his meals get though.  He eats a lot of cheese, peas, avocado, bananas, blueberries, yogurt, applesauce, and Cheerios - and by the handful, I should add.  He doesn't eat, he shovels it into his mouth.  I'm still in shock that he only gained 2 pounds in three months with as much as this child eats.  He is a bottomless pit, definitely my Moose!So, since that's about all I can update you on as far as what my kiddos are eating, I figured I'd share some of the things I've found essential to making munchkin meals from infant to toddler easier and/or helpful.Summer Infant Bibbity.  When Kenna was little, we very rarely put a bib on her when she ate, mostly because that child just didn't eat.  Anything.  Ever.  But, like I said, Miles shovels the food in.  And it goes EVERYWHERE.  I had been putting those cloth bibs with the plastic wipeable covers on him, but when I would rinse them off, it would take a day for them to dry.  So, I caved and bought the Bibbity for $5 at Target - best investment ever!  It actually catches the food so it's not all over the floor (OK, there's still quite a bit on the floor, but not as bad), and it takes 5 seconds to clean.  You just rinse it off, lay it out to dry, and it's good to go for the next meal.  Miles especially like it because he can eat the food out of the bib.  Ha!Dr. Sears Zak Nibble Tray.  We got one of these back when Kenna was just starting to eat, thinking it would help her eat better since she tends to be a grazer.  Now, it's my go-to tupperware for breakfast and lunch at the babysitter for Miles.  Plus, we will most likely use it as he gets older and starts to graze a little bit more.  I also have a $1 Target bin bento tupperware for MacKenna I send to school with her.  It definitely makes packing lunches so much easier.Playtex Any Time Straw Sippy Cup.  My goal is to get Miles drinking out of a straw soon.  Kenna had it mastered by the time she was Miles' age, but Miles just hasn't quite gotten it yet.  I'm avoiding other sippy cups because straws are good for speech development, so I'd rather him learn to drink out of a cup with a straw.  I love these - they very rarely leak (sometimes they get too much pressure and the liquid comes up out of the straw) and they are easy to clean (AKA the straw don't get smoothie gunk stuck in them after you run them through the dishwasher).  Another thing we've been using with Kenna that we love!Full Circle Organic Toasted Oats.  OK, these are the organic "generic" brand of Cheerios, but they are awesome.  They are small and easy to swallow, so when my Moose shoves 8 into his mouth, he barely even gags.  We have a different (non-organic) brand right now and not only does he not like them as much, they are bigger and harder to chew for him.  I guess they don't dissolve as quickly as the other ones.  Plus, the Full Circle ones have only 1 gram of sugar per cup!A good broom.  OK, I know that sounds really silly, but on laminate wood floors that show every little thing, finding an easy way to clean up after a messy baby is mandatory.  I used a hand vacuum for a little while, but it just doesn't get the job done like a simple broom does.  It doesn't even really have to be a good one - just one that will sweep and a dust pan to put it all in.

What are your must-haves for infant and toddler meals?  Anyone have any other finger-food suggestions for Miles?