When our ancient fridge (talking the 1980s) recently died, we got a beautiful stainless steel upgrade that features an easy-access drawer in the center. Inside there are three refrigerated compartments were I keep the kids’ breakfast / anytime snacks, lunches and after school snacks (treats).
The kids are free to prepare their own breakfasts whenever they wake up. They are expected to have eaten and cleaned up (place dishes in sink, wipe their area as needed) before we begin school for the day.
We started this when they were quite small (aged 2 or 3) by leaving pre-portioned items on the counter (like a baggy of cheerios and water bottle). I always joked I was being a lazy mom by preparing an accessible shelf for them to do it themselves. Turns out — I was being a Montessori mom all along. 🙂
As they’ve aged over the years, they’ve earned the privilege of using different appliances independently: most recently the toaster (everyone from age 6 and up) and the girls (our two oldest children) can use the Keurig (to prepare hot oatmeal with boiling water) under supervision.
A lot of days the kids help me to prepare hot food too. But as for what they can access independently — especially for breakfast and during school time, here’s a quick look:
Drawer 1 (and basket beside fridge):
Breakfast / anytime snacks
These are usually the most nutritious and dental-friendly items. I try anyway.
- Fruit
- cheese
- yogurt
- hard boiled eggs
- waffles
- oatmeal packets
- hot chocolate
- quick breads
- trail mix
If the kids are still hungry during their morning work period between 9-12 (or even sometimes just in need of a mental break) they can get a snack from the first drawer. Cleaning up everything used to prepare the snack is part of the expected work cycle. I don’t generally need to remind the girls to clean up afterwards, but Mike sometimes still needs prompting to put something away or to wipe his mat etc.
Drawer Two:
Almost always features fixings for sandwiches including cheese slices, deli meats, PB and J, wraps or bread, mayo etc. Sometimes there will be leftovers I’ll heat up in the microwave. Apple sauce, crackers and cheese. The usual lunch box culprits.
Drawer 3:
Anything I know my kids will fight over and / or devour with total disregard of their siblings. If I put apples in drawer one they’ll eventually get eaten over a week or so. If I put grapes in drawer one, Josie will eat them before anyone realizes they were there. Ack. So I put grapes, or yogurts with mix-ins, sometimes cookies or other fun things in drawer 3 — these they take as a treat to eat at their after school program. One per customer.
That’s how we do independent snacks and meal times.
