Hi purplecurlz,
I think they just need to be taught sometimes. I taught Danica to take out and keep her shoes on the shoe rack once she reached home. I took me about 1½ weeks before she finally caught on to what I was trying to teach her but it was worth it to see her do it. Plus she was so proud of herself when she accomplished it. (She clapped her hands and grinned at me)
Hi tubao,
Great that there are like minded mummies around so I don't feel like such a monster.
Hi fairfield,
I think she likes to eat rice. Fan Tong

When Danica doesn't want to eat or if the food doesn't agree with her (taste/texture/temperature) she will let us know by puiing out her food. Then I will ask her "Have you finished? Are you bao bao?" Do the finished sign and pat my tummy. If she is, she will sign back otherwise she will point to the bowl. So I will just check to make sure all is well, if temperature then I just add in more hot soup/porridge (cause I normally store in food jar) or taste/texture then I let her eat our rice with just the things in her soup without soup.
RE: uncooked rice amount
For porridge, Danica eats 1/4 cup (60g) of uncooked rice for 2 meals (but may have to increase as she has been finishing this up) and rice is about 1/4 to 1/2 bowl depending on her mood with 6 - 8 tbsps of soup with miscellaneous ingredients. If she has been running around (sometimes we let her roam free in the corridor under supervision), she can eat up to 3/4 bowl of rice.

But she is still about only 9kg. My HB said she "exercise" all the food away.
RE: fish
I find that Danica loves steamed fish. I cook threadfin with a tiny amount of soya sauce, sesame oil and ginger and she can eat finish a slice that is half a bowl size (1cm thick). That day I steamed seabass Teochew style and she finished half of 1 side of the fish (about 30cm long after removing the tailfin).
Sometimes I think they need a little variety in their meals. Everyday eat the same thing will be quite sian also.