CoolCanucks Blog Contest ~ Midwest Monkeys® Review & Giveaway!*CLOSED*
Posted on November 20th, 2009 by roxxyroller in Giveaways Canada.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 4 not be fed any round, firm food unless it is cut into small pieces no larger than one-half inch. Did you know this? I certainly knew that extremely small pieces of food was the ticket, however I did not know that they were supposed to be THIS small!
The Midwest Monkeys® website has a great link to information on choking prevention from the US Food and Drug Administration.
It was information like this that prompted David Zak and his wife Susan to create the Midwest Monkeys® company and in January of this year the Safe Sizer Plate was unveiled. See the little white circle above the cute little Monkey on the plate? Inside the circle measures one-half inch which is the size that any round firm food should be cut to, according to the AAP, to be considered safe. The plate can be used daily just like any other plate but the size-reminder is great to help parents and caretakers keep safety in mind.

We placed our kids usual chicken pieces cut up on the plate and were surprised by how large the pieces were compared to the ACTUAL recommendation! I suppose meat like chicken is somewhat chewy but still, it was still eye opening nonetheless. While I feel confident in my own estimate of what is safe size-wise on my little one’s plate, I’m sure many of us may have other caretakers who could use a little refresher.

What is the Safe Sizer™?
The Safe Sizer™ is a toddler plate with a molded 1/2” inner diameter ring that parents, grandparents, and caregivers can use as a guideline when cutting up food for children under the age of 4 years.
The 1/2″is based on the recommended size limit for firm foods from the American Academy of Pediatrics and is recognized by the USFDA. They are BPA free and exceed the new, tougher US government standards for phthlates and lead.
How does it work?
Simply cut up the food for the child on the plate. Make sure that each piece fits inside of the ring in all directions. Once you have cut it, and sized it, it’s ready to serve. Always supervise your child while they are eating and make sure they are sitting down while chewing their food.
Midwest Monkeys® is a children’s products company originally founded in Buffalo, Minnesota by David and Susan Zak, now based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Midwest Monkeys® develops products that help make children’s and parent’s lives happier and healthier.
Since our first was born in 2001, our first concern has always been the safety of our children and how to prevent accidents. We don’t consider ourselves overprotective parents. When our kids are playing we don’t rush to them every time they fall down.
But we do worry about the big things. Those potentially fatal but very preventable “accidents” that can happen so easily if you’re not careful. Choking on food is one of those things, so the Safe Sizer™ was born.
More about the Safe Sizer™
When our oldest was beginning to eat solid foods, we knew we were supposed to cut it up into really small pieces to reduce his risk of choking. But we were always asking ourselves “How small is small?”.
We did some research and found recommendations from the leading pediatrician organization in North America, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Among them is the recommendation that, to reduce the risk of choking, firm foods should be cut into bite sizes no larger than 1/2 inch in any direction for children under the age of 4, because they lack a full set of teeth. This recommendation is recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
We had no idea about the existence of this guideline and nobody we knew did either. But we thought they should, so we invented the Safe Sizer™ plate. It’s a permanent reminder and food test gauge for parents, grandparents, babysitters, daycare providers, or any caregiver, to cut up firm foods within the 1/2 inch bite size.
CUT IT

SIZE IT

Voila! Serve it!!
What an extremely NEAT and brilliant idea on behalf of Midwest Monkeys®
I got to review the Money Design plate, and it is perfect for my little ones! I will be also packing this for all of their overnight trips to aunties and gramma’s from now on too! Amazing!!
The kind and generous folks over at Midwest Monkeys® have offered to sponsor one lucky CoolCanuck reader the chance to win a 3-Pack of these plates in either the Nature (Jungle, Sea, Space) or Animal (Elephant, Dog, Monkey) series ~ Your Choice!!


To enter:
*Head on over to Midwest Monkeys® and tell me something you have learned!
*You MUST ALSO SUBSCRIBE to CoolCanucks Blog (right hand-side) via email! (You must verify the subscription in your email too, as I will check!) Leave me which email addy you subscribed with in your comment!
*And thirdly for any entries to count, follow CoolCanucks Via Google Friend Connect!!
————->The Above is MANDATORY before any extra entries count. <—————
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Follow @coolcanucks on Twitter! Leave me your twitter name!
Tweet this contest linking to @coolcanucks and Midwest Monkeys®! Leave me the Status Link to your tweet! *Do this ONLY MAXIMUM of ONCE a day, and leave a comment each time with the Tweet Status Link*
Become a Registered CoolCanucks Member in our forum and leave me your username there!
Blog, Stumble, Digg or share this giveaway on any open public forum and leave me the link to it! +5, leave 5 comments
Grab our CoolCanucks button located to the right of the blog. +5, leave 5 comments
Subscribe to CoolCanucks RSS Feed! + 2 leave 2 comments
Refer a friend to CoolCanucks Forum – do not sign yourself up and cheat, I can check IP’s! Tell me who the referral is, and earn 10 extra entries at once!
Purchase anything from Midwest Monkeys® for the duration of the giveaway and get 10 extra entries!! Just tell me what it was in a comment!
**Giveaway open to both Canada & US and expires on December 28th, 2009**
A HUGE Thank you to Midwest Monkeys® for hosting this great Giveaway!!
112
kathy pease
December 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
following on twitter klp1965

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Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I subscribe – josiefiorda@yahoo.ca
I follow on Google Friend Connect
I learned that the Zak’s came up with the idea when they were concerned with how small they should cut up their child’s food
Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I’m a Coolcanuck – lovefreestuff
Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
RSS Subscriber 1
Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
RSS Subscriber 2
Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Stumble 1
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Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Stumble 2
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Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Stumble 3
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Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Stumble 4
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Josie
November 20th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Stumble 5
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Maggin
November 20th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I learned that the recommendation of the proper size is from the FDA, i follow on google friend connect and rss adrenaline 180 at hotmail dot com
Maggin
November 20th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
My username is Adrenaline09 on the forum
Maggin
November 20th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I said in my first that i subscribed on rss but I meant email, i also subscribe on rss (this is rss subscribe comment 1
Maggin
November 20th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Rss subscriber 2
angie
November 20th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I found out it helps prevent the choking hazards of little ones
angi
November 20th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
following on twitter ID is shopannies
shopannies@yahoo.com
susan varney
November 21st, 2009 at 7:46 am
can cut the right size of food for the little ones mverno@roadrunner.com
Kimberly L
November 21st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I learned that Midwest Monkeys® is now based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. I’m subscribed under brn2lisn(at)gmail(dot)com, and I follow via friend connect.
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
1. I learned that Midwest Monkeys were featured in the OC Family magazine.
2. I subscribe to your blog by email
stephy905@hotmail.com
3. I follow you via google friend connect – stephy905
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:05 pm
I follow you on twitter – stephy905
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:16 pm
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I’m a member of CoolCanucks – stephy905
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I blogged your giveaway #1
http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/11/midwest-monkeys-giveaway.html
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I blogged your giveaway #2
http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/11/midwest-monkeys-giveaway.html
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I blogged your giveaway #3
http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/11/midwest-monkeys-giveaway.html
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I blogged your giveaway #4
http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/11/midwest-monkeys-giveaway.html
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I blogged your giveaway #5
http://stephanie-laplante.blogspot.com/2009/11/midwest-monkeys-giveaway.html
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I grabbed your button #1
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I grabbed your button #2
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I grabbed your button #3
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I grabbed your button #4
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I grabbed your button #5
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I subscribe to your RSS Feed #1
Stephanie LaPlante
November 21st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I subscribe to your RSS Feed #2
Amanda Starr
November 21st, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Midwest Monkeys® is a children’s products company originally founded in Buffalo,
Minnesota by David and Susan Zak, subscribe, follow
Amanda Starr
November 21st, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Subscribe to CoolCanucks RSS Feed
Amanda Starr
November 21st, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Subscribe to CoolCanucks RSS Feed 2
Amanda Starr
November 21st, 2009 at 11:10 pm
http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5937379552
Monique Rizzo
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 am
Featured in OC family magazine. Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Peggy Lott
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
I learned that Midwest Monkeys is COOL! My 13 year old son is highly interested in monkeys and the global effects on their enviroment! I love the plates for my 3 year old granddaughter because anyone can easliy assist in cutting her food to the proper size! Wish I had these when my kids were smaller! …And, to more grandchildren!
Lisa
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
I learned the company was founded in Buffalo new york
Amanda Starr
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
http://twitter.com/AStarrAMama/status/5961861921
Stephanie LaPlante
November 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
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Erin
November 25th, 2009 at 3:06 am
–Follow and subscribed–
I learned they were recognized as a iParenting Media Winner!
Erin
November 25th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Fan of coolcanucks on Facebook!::
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 25th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
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Amy
November 25th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I saw that you are supposed to keep your kid sitting while they eat
Amy
November 25th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Following you on twitter as @atrane
Stephanie LaPlante
November 26th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
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Stephanie LaPlante
November 27th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
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angela m
November 27th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
i learned that The 1/2″is based on the recommended
size limit for firm foods from the American Academy of Pediatrics
and is recognized by the USFDA.
email subscriber flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com
google friend
angela m
November 27th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
i Follow @coolcanucks on Twitter
flower_child_23
angela m
November 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
i am a coolcanuck
flowerchild
Stephanie LaPlante
November 28th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
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November 29th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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Vicki Wurgler
November 29th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I read that the plate is a permanent reminder and food test gauge for parents, grandparents, babysitters,
daycare providers, or any caregiver, to cut up firm foods within the 1/2 inch bite size
Elizabeth
November 29th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I love Midwest Monkeys!
Stephanie LaPlante
November 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
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tiffany pettey
November 30th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
zak decided about cutting up the kids food
tiffany pettey
November 30th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
tweeted to both
http://twitter.com/SWAGBUCKSIGNUP/status/6214262026
http://twitter.com/SWAGBUCKSIGNUP/status/6214313388
tiffany pettey
November 30th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
forgot to mention i sub and follow via connect and follow on twitter
swagbucksignup
Stephanie LaPlante
December 1st, 2009 at 12:09 pm
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angela m
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
tweet
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Stephanie LaPlante
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
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angela m
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
tweet
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Stephanie LaPlante
December 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
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December 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
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December 7th, 2009 at 9:28 am
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Whey Protein side Effects
December 7th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Very extraordinary place.
The information here is truly useful.
I will tell my friends.
Cheers
Stephanie LaPlante
December 9th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
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Tanis
December 9th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
This is great – I had no idea there was a 1/2″ recommended size limit such as this, what a great idea for the plate!!!
I subscribe to the CoolCanucks blog through e-mail (same as the required one) and I follow CoolCanucks through GoogleConnect (tanandjosh).
Tanis
December 9th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I follow CoolCanucks on Twitter – @tannieschatter!!
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December 9th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
I am a member of the CoolCanucks forum – Tannie!!
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December 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am
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Tanis
December 15th, 2009 at 1:03 am
I grabbed the CoolCanucks button #1 http://www.tannieschatter.blogspot.com/
Tanis
December 15th, 2009 at 1:03 am
I grabbed the CoolCanucks button #2 http://www.tannieschatter.blogspot.com/
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December 15th, 2009 at 1:04 am
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December 15th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I subscribe to your RSS Feed #1
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December 15th, 2009 at 1:05 am
I subscribe to your RSS Feed #2
Tanis
December 15th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Tweeted!!
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December 15th, 2009 at 9:41 am
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December 20th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
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Jenn
December 21st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I learned the recommended size for kids food to be cut into. Great idea!!
I follow and subscribe
Jenn
December 21st, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I follow you on google. Cushytushyshop
Stephanie LaPlante
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
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December 26th, 2009 at 10:56 am
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Tammy Kennedy
December 26th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
to reduce the risk of choking, firm foods should be
cut into bite sizes no larger than 1/2 inch in any direction for children under the age of
4, because they lack a full set of teeth. This recommendation is recognized by the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
I’m a email subscriber
camper223[at]live[dot]com
I’m a Google Friend Connect follower
camper223
Thank you so much for giving me a chance to be a winner
camper223[at]live[dot]com
Tammy Kennedy
December 26th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I’m a twitter follower
camper223
Thank you so very very much
camper223[at]live[dot]com
Tammy Kennedy
December 26th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I’m a feed subscriber
Thank you so very very much
camper223[at]live[dot]com
Tammy Kennedy
December 26th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I subscribe by rss feed reader
Thank you so very very much
camper223[at]live[dot]com
Karen Gonyea
December 26th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Thanks for the chance
Stephanie LaPlante
December 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
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December 28th, 2009 at 10:45 am
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kathy pease
December 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
email subscriber klp1965@myfairpoint.net
following your blog as klp1965
to reduce the risk of choking, firm foods should be
cut into bite sizes no larger than 1/2 inch in any direction for children under the age of
4, because they lack a full set of teeth
kathy pease
December 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
following on twitter klp1965
Maja Meza
December 28th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
it can prevent the choking hazard
Heather
December 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I learned that this will help kids from getting chocked!!!
Lily Kwan
December 28th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I learned that Midwest Monkeys received the 2009 So Swanky Award. I subscribed with the email address lilyk@mail2world.com. I follow your blog.
Lily Kwan
December 28th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I registered for your forum with the username lilyk.
dawn
December 28th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I subscribe and I learned to reduce the risk of choking, firm foods should be
cut into bite sizes no larger than 1/2 inch in any direction for children under the age of
4, because they lack a full set of teeth