This post was sponsored by DOLE® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
With Valentine’s Day barely in my back pocket, I’m still thinking about creative ways to show a little extra love to my family this month.
Some of you know I have four boys and my littlest is Hudson. He’s six and has Down syndrome. I include him a lot in my writings because he’s an important part of our lives. He truly helps the rest of our family slow down and see life through a different lens. We’ve discovered on this journey that special people with special needs like Hudson are far more like the rest of us than they are different.
Hudson doesn’t have many words. In fact, just a handful. But last week he finally received a speech device. We’d been waiting nearly a year. We’ve been very busy helping him learn to use it, and even trying to motivate him to WANT to learn to use it. We’re all hopeful it will ease the frustration both he and we naturally feel when he’s unable to communicate and express his wants or needs, which is often.
Ever since Hudson was little little, we’ve been sharing the love, short and sweet. And we’re still at it. First we point to our eyes, and together say “I”. Then we cross our hearts and say “love.” (His comes out ‘wuv’!) And then we point and say “YOU!!!” with mucho joy and gusto.
Just tonight, Hudson went around the dinner table and initiated that with each member of our family. Thankfully he didn’t leave anyone out and we all felt like a million bucks.
There’s something beautiful about the love expressed in a family. One way I express love is from my kitchen. I love spoiling my family with good things to eat. That’s why I was so excited to learn about DOLE Mixations®. They are a new one-of-a-kind product that fuses smooth fruit sauces with chunks of juicy fruit.
We’ve been trying these great DOLE Mixations in lunch boxes and for after school snacks at our house all month and they’ve been a big hit. Seriously, I can’t keep them stocked! And they’re so convenient. They’re available at the grocery stores right now in these four delicious flavors:
- Apple-Strawberry Sauce with Dices of Apple
- Pineapple-Mango Sauce with Pineapple Pieces
- Peach-Apple Sauce with Pineapple Pieces
- Apple-Raspberry Sauce with Dices of Apple
My favorite combination is the Pineapple-Mango Sauce with Pineapple Pieces and my Charlie (10) loves the Peach-Apple Sauce with Pineapple Pieces. He and I are birds of a feather, both tropical fruit lovers. I’m so glad my family loves these healthy snacks, and that DOLE Mixations are non-GMO*, contain no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors and are rich in Vitamin C!
So Hudson is a super picky eater and the only fruit he’ll typically eat is bananas. If he had to pick one, I guess that’s a good one to choose, right? He’ll also eat apples but only in apple sauce form, so we’ve been camouflaging his thyroid medicine in it every day for years. Sneaky, aren’t we. So I’m thrilled to finally be able to incorporate some new fruits into his diet with these new DOLE Mixations!
Here’s a fun and clever idea for lunches and snacks. The DOLE Mixations lids are specially designed to decorate with short messages and pictures. Just another way to creatively send a little love with your family to work or school. Here’s what I drew on Hudson’s:
I hope you’ll try these delicious and healthy snacks at your house too, and spread the love while you’re at it. Go here to get a $1.00 coupon off any one (1) package of DOLE Mixations.
* No genetically modified (or engineered) ingredients
Sheryl says
Love finding those sneaky ways to get healthier snacks into kids! Those tropical flavors sound great too! I like knowing about treats that are non GMO and no high fructose too. ? We ❤️Hudson too!
Aunt Pinkie7 says
Wha t a great u dea!
Judy says
Loved to hear about this new snack — especially that it is both non-GMO and has no high fructose syrup. Also, what a cute idea to write cute messages on the “lids for kids” — school can be a lonely place, and a little love-touch from home can go a long way. Can’t wait to try these — so thanks for the heads up about DOLE Mixations!
Allie says
Thanks so much Judy, I thought it was a pretty cute idea too! XO
Susie Mandel says
I’ll have to check these out–and what a great idea with the lids for special messages. I love that! I TOTALLY agree with your statement that special needs people are far more like the rest of us than we think. They make us think, they make us laugh, and I think they are necessary. God made them that way so we could function better. I think we’re the ones with “special needs”! They answer what we’re lacking in our hurried lives. Big hugs to your Hudson. xoxo
Allie says
I couldn’t agree more Susie. I know you have befriended many special people with special needs — and I know your life (and theirs!) is richer because of it. XO
Tracy says
Well you are a wealth of knowledge Allie! I learn so much on your blog! I have never heard of these Dole Mixations. Nutritious and fun! Cam is in high school and he buys his lunch. I’m sure he doesn’t buy any fruit at school so
this would be great as an afternoon snack or with dinner. I will definitely try it. I love hearing all about sweet Hudson. I am thrilled that he finally got his talking device! Hooray! You can now find out what that little guy has to say. Probably lots more “Eye ❤️ U’s” or maybe even “More Mixations please” ?
Allie says
Thanks so much Tracy, I have no doubt Hudson will have lots to say. He has been enjoying pressing the EAT button quite a bit. Ha! Not sure if you missed this post or not, but I told a little more about getting his speech device in this post last Monday, “Newsflash from My Little Snow Globe”: http://throughherlookingglass.com/snow-globe/ Have a wonderful day!
Liz says
My daughter has CP and used a similar device in preschool! She’s verbal now, but thank goodness for those speech therapists who helped her get to where she is today. She’s still my picky eater but she did say she might try some canned peaches. I love these yummy Dole products! P. S. Good luck with your move. You have a lovely home which should sell quickly 🙂
Allie says
Thanks so much Liz, and so glad to hear the talker was a success w/your daughter. We’re still muddling through with it, so it’s very encouraging to hear a success story! XO
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
I would have been al over this where my kids were little. I was always looking for healthy options for their lunch boxes!
Maria says
Fruit is the best clean eating snack! 🙂
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Fruits are the best. Loved to hear about this new snack. Adoria is a picky eater but I guess she would like Apple-Strawberry Sauce with Dices of Apple.
Tammy says
Aww how sweet! What a wonderful way to show your love for others <3 Fruit cups are so convenient! I esp love them as a post work out snack! Send much love to you and your family, Allie!
Toodles,
Tammy<3
Carina says
Awesome post, and beautiful pictures, as always. I am always looking for school lunch ideas for my son, who is not a big eater at lunchtime. Will try these out! Thanks, Allie. Hope you are having a great weekend. Xo
Allie says
Thank you Carina, I hope you’re all doing well there. We are getting a little reprieve with the winter weather (SNOW!), but I have no doubt it will be back soon enough. Have a wonderful week my friend. XO
Karen (Back Road Journal_ says
Mothers have to be sneaky when it comes to the health of our children. You are doing a terrific job.
Allie says
Yup, a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do! Thanks for dropping by Karen!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Aww Allie – my eyes started leaking when I read “Just tonight, Hudson went around the dinner table and initiated that with each member of our family. Thankfully he didn’t leave anyone out and we all felt like a million bucks.” Special needs kids are amazing – I’ve had the opportunity to work with some in our county and through my church and even though they can sometimes say so much with a look or hug, I’m thinking a speech device would be so wonderful in helping them and those around them – I sure hope Hudson enjoys his as I know y’all will for sure – I remember you mentioning that he was using it to ask for more cookies at school in an earlier post and for that I say Go Hudson – though now he might learn to ask for more Mixations too! 🙂 These sound wonderful – I think I’d love these in plain yogurt too! Thanks for the heads up about DOLE Mixations – I hope your week is off to a wonderful start! xoxo