The answer to the poop problem? Fletcher's Laxative for Kids. My son had a serious problem with pooping when he was around five and wound up having petechia on his eyes because he was straining so much. My grandmother worked at our local pharmacy for years and we spoke with the pharmacist and she told us about Fletcher's - it's really all natural and it is very gentle - we had to use it twice with our son (once and then about six months later) and it works brilliantly.

Beth Fish - I feel like I could say this every day: YOU ARE GENIUS!!!!

I've only ever made tabouli from a mix -- I think Fantastic Foods has one. I made baked falafel once that was only okay... mostly because I left out a key ingredient. Probably would have been better had I actually followed directions. People still said it tasted great though, but I was disappointed.

Hi! Just been catching up on the blog,been way too busy reading Marshall Karp. Love the topic have no clue what u r makin.

I have to say I didn't even notice the poop/food co-habitation in the post until you mentioned it.

I can't help you in the tabouli/falafel department as the best falafel restaurant in the City just pulled up its original roots and moved within walking distance of me. I couldn't possibly make it like that so I buy.

fantastic foods makes awesome mixes for both tabbouleh and falafel that even my 21 month old digs into. if you can't find fantastic foods, there's a kosher brand that starts with a "T" (glad i can be SOOOO helpful) that's just as good. the only real tip i have if you use the pre-mixed stuff is that by the time you get 5 balls in the oil it's time to take them out.

Tabbouli - Use salt and enough lemon juice. I always find that people don't make it tasty enough. Just because it's healthy doesn't mean it has to taste like nothing.

And poop. You today was me last night. 'Just try Amy. Just TRY and poo for me'

I watched Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) make this the other day and it looked pretty easy. You can just leave out the part where you stuff it into pita bread to make sandwiches.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pita-stuffed-with-tabbouleh-and-shards-of-feta-recipe/index.html

ha! we had that problem. Tummy massages, pretending to bicycle with their little legs, that always helped my kids. And your dish sounds delish!

There are certain moments when you realize just how much your identity has shifted into "Parent." Poop-related moments are definitely among them. Like the time when my husband and I suddenly realized we had carried on a good 5-10 minute conversation in the car solely on DramaBoy's poop and its frequency, consistency, color, and aroma. And we weren't making jokes.

Kinda scary, but then you get over it.

I find that it doesn't matter how badly you screw up your falafels if you smother them in this delicious tahini sauce: http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=95

That said, the best recipe I've found is from the same book, and printed (probably illegally) here: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~awklein/recipes/perl/gen_rcp.pl?/u/awklein/public_html/recipes/falafel.rcp

They never fall apart, they are scrumptious, and they hold up well to both baking and frying. Topped with the sauce, a little chopped tomato ... it's pretty much the perfect dish.

I find that it doesn't matter how badly you screw up your falafels if you smother them in this delicious tahini sauce: http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=95

That said, the best recipe I've found is from the same book, and printed (probably illegally) here: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~awklein/recipes/perl/gen_rcp.pl?/u/awklein/public_html/recipes/falafel.rcp

They never fall apart, they are scrumptious, and they hold up well to both baking and frying. Topped with the sauce, a little chopped tomato ... it's pretty much the perfect dish.

If you changed it to Ongoing Poop Problems you'd have OPP!!

Hope the falafel and tabbouli are great!

I just made tabbouleh from scratch recently- EASY EASY!

Two good, though "inauthentic," additions are avocado and feta cheese. Mmmmm... I also had tomatoes, cucumber (english seedless), green onion, a tiny bit of red onion, parsley, and LOTS of lemon juice. Delicious!

ROFL! So very very true!

My little one is having poop issues as well and they say that breastfeed babies can't get constipated! "They" didn't get up every hour last night with a fussy baby to change a diaper in hopes that we had had a "movement"! My poor baby but I know she'll have the big one when I take her to the grocery store and have a half-full cart and we will have to abandon ship for a bath...it works every time for her!

I too usually go for the tabouli out of the box but I have made it from scratch from a Moosewood recipe (just Google "moosewood tabouli). I only make falafel from the box and my only advice is to not have the oil too high or the the outsides burn before the insides cook.

About the poop ... I got nothin'.

I have a wonderful tabouli recipe that has walnuts and craisins in it instead. from cooking light. e-mail me if you want it. My (now 10) 9 year old used to make it frequently (meaning it's easy enough for a child to make).

Never had poop issues, but my heart goes out to you. On the other hand I had 4 children in 5 years, so there was a lot of potty training at the same time.

Dito the commenter about the Tahin sauce from http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=95!!! They have an EXCELLENT falafal recipe too.

My tip? Don't use too much oil to bake them; it will make them fall apart.

Tip #2? Make a double batch, left over falafal makes EXCELLENT lunch (both our children love it)

And maybe the chickpea falafal helps with Mia's problem as it is a little laxative!

Oh and I have to add... I too recommend the Vegan with a vengeance falafal from http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~awklein/recipes/perl/gen_rcp.pl?/u/awklein/public_html/recipes/falafel.rcp!

make sure the oil is hot before you start frying the falafel... otherwise they become oil-soggy.
That was the result of my first attempt.

I also use the fantastic foods box for tabouli!

Lilli didn't have poop issues but I have stood in a stall in a public restroom and sung Going to the Zoo so that people couldn't hear her poop. Women, including my sister-in-law, were giggling at me when we came out of the stall.

A friend of mine has a similar issue with her daughter and just posted about it so I'm sharing the link just in case it might be helpful to you:
http://mothermirth.com/archives/not-taking-this-crap-anymore/

i have said pretty much the same thing in the bathroom with my daughter, almost word-for-word!