Packages got there in time. Family arrived safely. Christmas tree is still standing. It’s all good. 

And it’s especially good to experience the joy of my 18 month-old granddaughter this Christmas. Pink boots and all, skipping off the plane with her mommy and daddy in tow, throwing kisses to three little girls she befriended on the plane from Denver. 

Life is pretty simple when you’re 18 months-old. And the holiday with this little one has reinforced for me some simple and yet profound nutrition truths. 

Berries are good for breakfast … and lunch … and dinner. I notice how adept Frances’ little fingers have become at picking up blueberries and raspberries and popping them into her mouth. These baby-size whole fruits nourish her better than juice and are loaded with nutrients and other substances that fortify the rapidly-dividing cells of her busy little body. 

Berries also provide Frances with dietary fiber and allow her to practice her chewing skills. Oh, and they make a fun game of "one for me, one for you" with her Grammy. 

Beans are nutrient powerhouses. "Beenz?" Frances echoes back to me when I offer her my homemade pinto beans for lunch. 

"Frances loves beans," my daughter tells me. Smart kid. While no one food can provide every nutrient a growing child needs, beans come pretty darn close. Rich in protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and folate, this simple food comes well-suited for little hands and fingers. 

I watched Frances stab a soft bean with her pint-size fork in one hand and scoop up a few beans with her baby spoon in the other hand. She even managed to get some in her mouth, much to the delight of her grandmother.

Milk and water are excellent fluids for kiddos. "Melk?" Frances says as I fill her sippy cup for dinner with whole milk (the type she’ll need until she turns two.) "Waatew?" she says as she slugs down plain water after pushing her new wooden toy duck around the room. 

No wonder this kid is so agile and strong. She’s doing very well without added-sugar beverages, thank you very much.  

And now on Christmas morning, we will sip coffee and watch with delight as Frances figures out how to open her few small gifts. And I will once again be reminded of the joy that often comes with the simplest things. Like a baby in a manger. And the hope that is in a new life. 

Pretty simple. And very profound. Merry Christmas!

———