Eat At Joe's*

* This makes me think of the Mighty Wind song, Old Joe's place: "Just look for the busted neon sign that flashes E A Oh's"





I love Trader Joes. Several months ago, a Trader Joe's opened up nearby and I really saw this as receiving an extra special dose of God's favor.

Trader Joe's really has a magical quality to it.

For example, there always seems to be a parking spot open right in the front whenever I go. Like someone saves it for me, welcoming me to the even more magical realm of delicious foods, exotic flavors and reasonable prices inside.

Everything in Trader Joe's seems to be good, even if I don't normally like it.

I think I'm not the only one who feels this way.

You see, Michael quickly learned that just around the corner from the bread section is the all-important SAMPLE section of Trader Joe's, and he makes it clear that we should always go and check it out.

And no matter what is being served at the sample station, Michael will love it. LOVE IT.

I don't know if it's eating food somewhere other than home, if it's the little paper plates, or if it's because of the Trader Joe's magic food dust that they sprinkle on it, Michael cannot get enough of whatever is being served. Sometimes they serve things I have given him before and he didn't like it at home, but likes it there.

Other times, I buy whatever product he loved so much and make it for him at home, thinking it is tried and true, only to hear his very determined (though, I do have to say, polite-sounding) "Noooo".

Going with the theory that he likes it when the food is served differently, I do know that if I am snacking on something during the day, outside of his mealtime, he will incessantly bother me to try some and love whatever it is, but as soon as I dish some up for him and serve it to him like a "real" meal, he is no longer interested.

I do think, though, no matter what is the cause, the next time Michael goes through a "picky streak" with his eating (he's been actually doing really well lately), I am going to go strike a deal with the Trader Joe's people and just get them to serve him a meal I prepared beforehand at home from behind the sample window...one little paper plate at a time!