Aw, The Resiliency of a Child
I thought I would do something to distract Cici when I got home yesterday and found that she was still in pain from the braces. Why don't we go to Wal-Mart? I asked her. Can we get some pizza? she asked with delight written all over her face. Sure, I told her. You choose what you want. Do you think you can eat pizza now? I asked as we drove along. No, she said, but I really, really want it. Will my teeth and mouth hurt like this for a whole year until the braces are removed? She wanted to know.
Inside the store, Cici selected three frozen pizzas. I know I have said this somewhere before, but Cici and Ping are like me. We all prefer to eat frozen pizzas over fresh pizzas. I can't eat these yet, Papa, but I need to eat something that is salty. Something that is soft and salty. I haven't had anything salty in days and my body needs it. Soft and salty, I was thinking. Could you eat a hot dog? I asked. So we bought one of the worst kinds of foods and took a package of beef weiners and buns home for her. She wouldn't let me buy the whole grain or wheat buns. They aren't as delicious, she said.
When we got home I fixed one of these wholly unhealthy hotdogs for her and she ate it slowly, very slowly, using a knife to cut very small bites with a little catsup for flavor. That must have given her confidence, because about an hour later she heated some frozen chicken nuggets (that are coated with whole grains) and she was happily chewing away.
I was about to go down your road with yogurts and so forth, Craig, but she bounced right back into eating regular foods. I bet there will be no problem at all eating some steamed pork and vegetable dumplings today.
Inside the store, Cici selected three frozen pizzas. I know I have said this somewhere before, but Cici and Ping are like me. We all prefer to eat frozen pizzas over fresh pizzas. I can't eat these yet, Papa, but I need to eat something that is salty. Something that is soft and salty. I haven't had anything salty in days and my body needs it. Soft and salty, I was thinking. Could you eat a hot dog? I asked. So we bought one of the worst kinds of foods and took a package of beef weiners and buns home for her. She wouldn't let me buy the whole grain or wheat buns. They aren't as delicious, she said.
When we got home I fixed one of these wholly unhealthy hotdogs for her and she ate it slowly, very slowly, using a knife to cut very small bites with a little catsup for flavor. That must have given her confidence, because about an hour later she heated some frozen chicken nuggets (that are coated with whole grains) and she was happily chewing away.
I was about to go down your road with yogurts and so forth, Craig, but she bounced right back into eating regular foods. I bet there will be no problem at all eating some steamed pork and vegetable dumplings today.
Sorry, I forgot to mention the pain either subsides or you get used to it after a few days, so the soft stuff is only for the beginning. My orthodontist told me no pizza with the braces, but that is what I have for lunch the morning they put them on (I couldn't resist, one of the best places in the area was just a few blocks away, and I don't get up that way often). Apparently, the worry is that a hard crust might break loose one of the brackets. I am sure happy to be able to eat corn on the cob again...
Speaking of hot dogs, they seem to throw chopped up bits into some dishes in Hunan, and so Mingjun jumped on a sale for 78 cents for 1 pound BAR S package. I have never been a big hot dog fan, but it adds a little variety. Chengji seems to eat all the time, so we had to get a few cases of ramen noodles
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I better make sure we don't cook the pizza too long. She has learned that the pizza's with the rising crust taste quite good, and that crust doesn't usually get too hard.
Right now Cici gave me the 5 minute wait signal and then she wants to go eat dim sum. Dum sum? You never ask to eat dim sum, I said. I miss their fried rice, she responded. So it looks like fried rice is on the menu for today.
I love those noodles but I try not to eat too many, both because of the high sodium and the preservatives they use in them.
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You can always use less of the seasoning packet.
Get the good dogs/sausages at Costco!
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Half a packet on the seasoning usually works for me.
The girls watch me close on the cups of noodles. Don't heat them and eat them in the cup, they tell me. Use a different container. Cici told me the story of a woman who ate many cups of noodles. She ended up with a wax coating in her stomach and died, or so the story goes.
I guess if there is such a thing as a good hot dog it can be found at Costco. Their buck fifty special with a dog and a 20 ounce drink has to be one of the better values in fast food these days.
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