The table was filled with pudding, Jell-O and other foods that could be eaten easily by gums alone. My mother-in-law had anticipated a prescribed soft diet following my daughter’s dental surgery (thanks, gummy snacks), but the doctor said there were no limitations on what she could eat.

Here they rested, though, a ziggurat-style stack of cardboard-encased, mush-filled, plastic containers, in full view of the children.

“Can I have some Jell-O?” Atlas, my 7-year-old son, asked.

I looked at the empty chocolate pudding pack on the table he had just finished.

I shrugged. “Sure.”

I grabbed his pudding spoon and started washing it in the sink as he broke free one of the strawberry Jell-O cups and ripped it open.

Serenity, my 3-year-old daughter, never one to be left out, also asked for some

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