Invasion of the Messy plates and Feast nights

OK so for a while the kids will eat anything if its on a "messy plate". It is a Toby translation of a Mezze plate so a little selection of things. Originally created as a slap dash not much stuff left in the fridge type of thing but it is great because you get to use up bits and bobs and can cater for individual tastes and can have a healthy balance of goodies. Toby is not happy though if his plate doesn't have olives. Sharlie loved cheese and grapes - either one is not there and its an inferior messy plate. Oh and she is particularly partial to an egg cup full of humous with carrot and cucumber around.

However we are now diverging into breakfast messy plates and horror of horror pudding (yeah yeah i am English) messy plates. I suppose the brekkie messy plate is more like a continental breakfast so is fairly acceptable but the pudding one i find turning into a fruit salad or a smorgasbord of rubbish. I need to find some healthy options which arent solely fruit.

We have been doing feast nights based on a particular country. Each week we spin the globe and choose the next country to have. So far we have done Italy, India, Spain and next we have Moroccan. We go completely overboard but really enjoy trying new foods with the kids and learning about different countries. Toby does some research and does a powerpoint presentation and a talk on the country. Last week for the Indian feast i painted lots of henna/mehndi on the kids hands and feet.

So Simon hasnt worked out i am using this to snag new kitchen equipment all in the name of feast night pmsl. I am loving the new Roti pan and i can't wait to buy a beautiful new tagine ;)