Monday, March 19, 2012

What Makes A Rainbow? + Rainbow Kit Giveaway!

My sproutlets are getting over a couple of days of mild illness. Birdie, the youngest, was the first to start feeling better, so I encouraged her to eat some fruit, cheese & crackers by arranging them like a rainbow. To go with her rainbow snack, we read one of her favourite books - one we've had since Beanstalk was her age - What Makes a Rainbow? by Betty Ann Schwartz. 

 

It's such a cute book. With every turn of the page, another ribbon colour is added to the rainbow. Now, it's not accurate - there are only 6 colours in this rainbow, which ends with purple rather than indigo, then violet - but that doesn't bother me, she'll learn what really makes a rainbow eventually, and I only had 6 colours of muffin cups and fruit anyways :)


Birdie's favourite page is the blue one, because it has a bird on it (she got her nickname from the way she likes to chirp like a bird - she loves "birdies"). As we read each page, I encouraged her to eat the colour of fruit that matched the colour in the book. After we read through the book in the order it was meant to be read, she played with it, opening pages randomly then eating that colour.


Bella & Sprout wanted in on the fun too and between the 3 of them they ate the rainbow of fruit & cheese, leaving only a few bunny shaped pretzels :)

       

My sproutlets love to eat rainbows. Any time I want to get them to eat a variety, or try something new, I use rainbows in some way - arranging them in rainbow order, in rainbow coloured containers, or just encouraging them to add that colour to their Today I Ate A Rainbow chart. Hooray for eating rainbows!
  
Today I Ate A Rainbow!

I love our Today I Ate A Rainbow! Kit - it's really helped me get even the pickier sproutlets to eat enough fruits & veggies every day, and try new ones. It's even encouraged Pickle, our little man with autism and a very short list of likes, to try things - and that is amazing :)

The Rainbow Kit comes with all you see here:

  • The Today I Ate A Rainbow chart
  • The Rainbow Bunch book & bookmark
  • Grocery shopping list
  • Rainbow Magnet set
You might have noticed the Today I Ate A Rainbow! chart looks a little different from the one I reviewed in February... it's a new one!  There are now more fruit & vegetable suggestions for each colour, and lovely growing garden graphics. My boys really like this new version - although the girls are loyal to our original chart featuring Hannah, the original Rainbow Kid ♥ We've got both charts on our fridge now - one for the boys and one for the girls - which sometimes spurs a little healthy competition :)


The Today I Ate A Rainbow website is a super fun resource too, for caregivers and children alike! The site has a new look that matches the new chart, and there's lots of new free stuff, like fruit and veggie coloring pages,  and on the resource page, a Rainbow Eaters Certificate and a new chart called Today I Tried. Did you know it can take at least 10 exposures to a new food before it's accepted? I know in the past I've given up after only 3 or 4 tries... The Today I Tried chart can be a helpful visual tool, both as a reminder to caregivers not to give up too soon, and as a record for children to see their progress :)

One of my favourite parts of the Today I Ate A Rainbow! website is the video section,  Hannah & Kia cook up healthy fun in the Rainbow Kitchen. My little girls and I made kale chips following along with them!


I know my kidlets are more likely to try foods they had a hand in preparing, and cooking along with the videos is fun and easy for even beginners to follow :)

And my sproutlets love The Rainbow Song.

Sprout & Birdie sang The Rainbow Song on Green Day
so this time big sister Mia Bella wanted a turn:


Want your own RainboKit?

You're in luck! March is Nutrition Month, so the wonderful Kia, creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow! chart & kit, author of The Rainbow Bunch,  and advocate of rainbow eating for good nutrition, is offering my readers another chance to win a new Rainbow Kit of their own!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post!

Visit Today I Ate A Rainbow! then come back here and leave a comment telling me & Kia something you liked  ♥

I'd also love it if you would visit the Today I Ate A Rainbow on Facebook and Like them - you can make a bonus entry if you do, or already did - just make another comment saying so :) And if you also Like Bent On Better Lunches on Facebook, or you already did, you can make another comment saying so! That's 3 chances to win :)


The winner will be chosen (by comment # using Random.org) and announced on Friday, March 23rd.  Good luck! And remember, I need a way to contact you if you win, so make sure your comment includes one! Thank you :)

Bonus! I will now be drawing 2 winners!
Thank you Today I Ate A Rainbow!

Disclosure: I received a Rainbow Kit from Today I Ate A Rainbow! to review.  No other compensation or payment was given. All opinions & descriptions are my own.


The Rainbow Kit Giveaway is Closed. Thanks for for entering!

111 comments:

  1. I love this Rainbow Lunch, I will definitely let my boy try this..

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  2. I "liked" both Today I ate a Rainbow & Bent on Better lunches on facebook! :)

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  3. I like the "Today I Tried" new food printable chart!

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  4. I guess I like you on Facebook. In a hater kind of way...

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  5. Love this idea! Thank you.

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  6. Michelle Schneider3/19/2012

    I love the Picky Eater section! I've definitely got one of those!

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  7. Michelle Schneider3/19/2012

    Liked "Today I Ate a Rainbow" on FB!

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  8. Michelle Schneider3/19/2012

    And I already like you guys, courtesy of Super Healthy Kids Blog.

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  9. I liked the kids section, where there is a produce challenge. My son loves things like that!

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  10. I "liked" Ate a Rainbow on Facebook.

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  11. I already liked Bent on better lunches!

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  12. I love this! The bright colours encourage children to eat healthy! I already loved bent on better lunches, they turn boring old lunches into an adventure everyday!

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  13. This is a really vivid and bright lunch! I love the colors.

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  14. Anonymous3/19/2012

    This would be an awesome kit to give away to my preschoolers

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  15. love this idea! would love one. liked both on facebook

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  16. I love BOBL on Facebook!
    erinblunt25 at yahoo

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  17. Anonymous3/19/2012

    I like Rainbow on Facebook!
    erinblunt25 at yahoo

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  18. Thanks for sharing the website. What wonderful inspiration. I'm having a difficult time getting my kids (ages 3&5) to eat all their fruits and veggies so I'm trying to make eating more fun for them. I would love to win this.

    cjnormore at hotmail dot com

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  19. I was already a fan on facebook

    cjnormore at hotmail dot com

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  20. I liked both " today I ate a rainbow" and " bent on better lunches". My daughter and I love your page..we are trying to be just as creative with our food...at 2 she is very excited by how pretty her food looks. For our last playdate we brought a rainbow for everyone to eat....my favorite thing on the rainbow page was that they donate ti a school program...my daughter's was the coloring pages....

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  21. I became a fan of Today I ate a rainbow on FB

    cjnormore at hotmail dot com

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  22. I liked Today I Ate a Rainbow on FB!

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  23. Christina3/19/2012

    I like that the kit is a way of accountability for the parents as well as the kids.

    cjhopman at hotmail dot com

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  24. Christina3/19/2012

    I like Today I Ate a Rainbow on FB

    cjhopman at hotmail dot com

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  25. I love the section with tips for picky eaters and especially the advice to keep food seperate and from touching since that has prooven to help with my picky eater :)

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  26. I like Today I ate a Rainbow on Facebook!

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  27. I already like you on FB :)

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  28. Lisa T.3/19/2012

    This is such a cute idea. I love it! I am already a fan on FB! Thanks.

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  29. I like the Today I tried new food printable chart. I like all the suggestions of different foods.

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  30. I liked it on fb

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  31. I liked you on fb too

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  32. This would be great in our house!

    jwheelerk at yahoo

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  33. I like the Today I Tried printable. So fun! lori at lawrencemonsters dot com

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  34. I like the Parent's Place. Great resource for tips and ideas for charting, getting picky eaters to eat, meals, etc.

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  35. I already like your FB page :D

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  36. I liked Today I ate A Rainbow.

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  37. This would be such a great way to get my picky eaters to munch on some fruits and veggies! How creative :)

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  38. oh - and we "like" today I ate a rainbow on facebook too! ;-)

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  39. I like Today I Ate A Rainbow

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  40. I love the cute visualization for eating a variety of foods

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  41. I am soooooo excited to find both the "Today I Ate A Rainbow" Annnnd "Bent on Better Lunches" websites and resources. I was trying to search online for some thing to help my two autistic boys eat healthier as well as my toddler. We have significant health issues related to their diets and they just won't try anything new at all! I think this could be successful though because the best thing about the rainbow chart is that is is visually stimulating with color and the objects are tangible and interactive. It's like the picture schedules our aides use in school with them only TONS better! I can't wait to try it! Thanks for the resource!

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  42. I just liked both of your websites on Facebook and posted them to my wall for friends with kids!

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  43. It's a fantastic book. My kids love it. I like the parents resources they have on their page.

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  44. Love your blog, your FB page & your momsense :) Would love to win a kit for my kiddos!

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  45. What a great rainbow! It's simple, but so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  46. I have liked "Today I Ate A Rainbow" on Facebook (Ana Mitro).

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  47. I already like "BentOnBetterLunches" on Facebook (Ana Mitro).

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  48. I visited the site and loved it! So colorful and full of tips! I loved the "Tips for getting kids to eat Fruits and Veggies". Thanks for sharing and for this giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. Love it. Fun way to get kids in love too.

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  49. Ruth Laker3/19/2012

    My daughter is a healthy eater but limits her foods.. this would help expand her good eating and she does most of the shopping i just write the list and follow her around he he .. I am a fb fan

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  50. Great lunch and book tie-in!!!

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  51. I don't like you on FB, I LOVE you hee hee

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  52. I like today I ate a RB on FB!

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  53. Anonymous3/19/2012

    Today I liked I ate a rainbow on Facebook.
    howdoyoudo2010@hotmail.com

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  54. Anonymous3/19/2012

    Looks like a beautiful book! I also liked on FB Today I ate a rainbow and Bent on Better Lunches! Maimounasy2001@yahoo.fr

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  55. Anonymous3/19/2012

    what a wonderful kit! making food fun.
    livetosing78@hotmail.com

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  56. What a great idea! I like the 6-week preschool program ... and the fact that there is a section to help parents do it and be good models.

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  57. I like Today I Ate A Rainbow on Facebook

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  58. And I like Bent On Better Lunches on Facebook :)

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  59. I love the tips for Picky Eaters, DD is the pickiest eater I know!

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  60. I also liked Today I ate a Rainbow on face book page

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  61. I also have already liked Bent on better lunches a few weeks ago. =)

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  62. I liked Today I ate a rainbow on facebook

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  63. Anonymous3/19/2012

    Wow! I have a problem feeder and I liked Today I ate a rainbow and Bent on Better Lunches. I'm really looking forward to using these ideas.

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  64. Catie Fielder3/19/2012

    I have liked and I also like the sections that shows parents how to be god role models and the 'today I tried' chart

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  65. Anonymous3/19/2012

    I love the eggplant video on Today I Ate a Rainbow - kat katsbk@gmail.com

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  66. Anonymous3/19/2012

    I liked you on facebook!-Kat katsbk@gmail.com

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  67. Anonymous3/19/2012

    I liked Today I ate a Rainbow on facebook!-Kat katsbk@gmail.com

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  68. Anonymous3/19/2012

    first time on your site. LOVE the ideas - and this new "Today I Ate a Rainbow" kit. I also liked you on facebook and the "Today I Ate a Rainbow" facebook page. please enter me in the drawing. thanks! :-) chimeziritribe@gmail.com

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  69. I like the pictorial aid in the kit- the kids can actually measure what parts of the rainbow they've eaten!

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  70. Liked Today I ate a rainbow on Fb!

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  71. Liked Bent on Better Lunches on Fb!

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  72. Anonymous3/20/2012

    This looks like an awesome resource. We have started looking at this with the kindy kids and they are really engaging in the program. The coloured cupcake patty p[ans as soooo simple but sooo effective.
    tandafrench@internode.on.net

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  73. I went to the Today I Ate A Rainbow site and loved the whole thing, especially the "guess what" facts on each page. I learned how to pick a good eggplant! Please enter me in your drawing. I'm thinking these kits would be great gifts for my grandblessings! marmeeof5@gmail.com

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  74. I also liked your BentOnBetterLunches page on facebook. marmeeof5@gmail.com

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  75. I also liked the Today I Ate A Rainbow page on facebook! I hope I win! marmeeof5@gmail.com

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  76. I like anything that gets kids excited about eating healthy things!

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  77. I also liked the Today I Ate A Rainbow page on facebook. I hope I win! marmeeof5@gmail.com

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  78. Love your rainbow snack and the activities you did! Such fun!

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  79. I've been wanting this kit for a while! I <3 rainbows!

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  80. I "like" your page on facebook!

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  81. I "like" Today I ate a Rainbow on facebook as well!

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  82. I visited the Today I ate a Rainbow website and loved the blog post about the fruit kebobs. My daughter just asked me to make her one the other day.

    Dawna
    dawnastreet at yahoo dot com

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  83. I liked the Today I Ate a Rainbow Facebook page.

    Dawna
    dawnastreet at yahoo dot com

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  84. I liked your Facebook page.

    Dawna
    dawnastreet at yahoo dot com

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  85. I have been wanting this kit for so long! I love that the kit works for a large age group.

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  86. Already like Today I ate a Rainbow on Facebook

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  87. Liked you on Facebook.

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  88. This sounds like fun! Thank you!
    hltinkey@Hotmail.com

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  89. Anonymous3/21/2012

    I really enjoyed the tips for Picky Eaters. My son is such a picky eater and won't touch a vegetable. Even though I already follow the suggestions, it makes me feel better knowing that I am trying everything!

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  90. Awesome idea! I think my daughter would love the challenge of eating her way thru a rainbow :)

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  91. And I already LIKE you on Facebook :)

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  92. And now I *like* TODAY I ATE A RAINBOW on Facebook :)

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  93. I love the parents place!anything to help me make better eaters

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  94. I liked Ate a Rainbow on Facebook! :)

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  95. I liked Bent On Better Lunches on Facebook. :)

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  96. I like the Kids Zone!

    Brandielam3 at gmail dot com

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  97. Heather3/22/2012

    I love this kit! Hopefully I'll win it for my son!

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  98. Lisa Lauri Carmody3/22/2012

    Would love to get my hands on the rainbow kit for my 3 little sprouts!
    I am a fan on Fb of both sites! Thank you for the contest!

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  99. This is such a great idea. I always have trouble getting my kids to eat all of their veggies and fruits, but this may just do the trick! I'm so glad I came across your site! I checked out the todayiatearainbow site, and love the rainbow chart for the fridge!!

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  100. I also just liked the Today I Ate A Rainbow Facebook page and Bent on Better Lunches too!!

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  101. I really liked the "picky eater" section. I have one of those in my home and the tips will hopefully help.

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  102. I visited "I Ate a Rainbow" on FB

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