An apple a day keeps the doctor away

We all know that quote.

But in my house it's more like "an apple a day ends up chewed up and spit out on my carpet."

SUPER annoying, let me tell you.

I have tried so many different things to get HRJ to actually swallow an apple. But all he wants to do is suck the juice out and then out it goes.

Maybe I could cut the apple into chunks? Nope out they came. Cut off the peel? Made no difference. Smaller slivers? I'll let you answer that. Ugh. Stop giving him apples? Heck no! He asks for one everyday and who am I to discourage him from making healthy choices.

So, I've been brainstorming lately.
I know he eates/swallows applesauce so it's not all apples. I've made him applesauce a few times but lately I've been too lazy to make some time has just gotten away from me. "What else can I do?" I've cried as I pick up chewed up red delicious. This morning it occured to me that maybe he would eat them if they were steamed. So, I threw some apple chunks in a bowl, covered them with water and put them in the microwave for 10 minutes. After they were steamed and de-skinned, I gave HRJ a chunk. He looked at it for a little bit and then took it from my hand. After carrying it around in his hand for a couple minutes he finally put it in his mouth. HRJ immediatly turned around and looked at the hubs and I, pointed to his mouth and said "Mmmmmm!" And then I jumped up and down and did a flip...on the inside of course.

He proceeded to finish that bowl and signed "more." Ten minutes later, he started in on his second bowl, finished it and signed "more." Ten minutes later and two burned thumbs (mine) later he started on another bowl. In the end he ate and swallowed 1 1/2 apples. I count that as a success!

I am mother, hear me roar.