Every Wednesday, a rotating group of moms will write about what they're eating and what their kids are eating.

Today, we hear from Adrienne Johnson Martin, editor of the What's Up section for The News & Observer and the mom of a 5-year-old son.

When I first heard about the rationing of rice at Sam's Club, I have to admit my heart fluttered. I've always had this saying: "Rice is life."

I'm from a family with roots in the islands near Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up we ate rice nearly every day.

Of course, my rice devotion is not a matter of survival like it is in the Third World, where the rice shortages have meant food riots and starvation. I certainly don't mean to compare the Sam's restrictions to that tragedy.

What made me get antsy was that nowadays, rice is where my son and I meet. Now 5, the boy who was raised on organic baby food would much rather eat what he acknowledges is "junk food" and "sometime food." Chicken nuggets and french fries especially. We tussle over nearly everything else. If I can get it into his mouth, he'll eat it, but often getting in there requires bribery, threats — more effort than it should.

Not so with rice. He eats it happily. Brown rice, basmati rice, jasmine rice, my aunt Barbara Jean's red rice. Even Uncle Ben's converted rice, which my mother still makes. I can mix in lima beans, peas, carrots, and they go down with the rice. New saying: rice is nice.

Fried rice is easy to make and so quick. And it has vegetables!

Here's a recipe:

Heat about a tablespoon in a wok or large skillet over high heat.

Add scallions (you can also use regular onions). Depending on you and your child's tastes, you can also add garlic and ginger at this point. Saute for about a minute.

Turn the heat down a little. Add some chopped carrots, peas, cooked rice (I like to use brown; and make sure it's cool, not hot) and some diced meat. (Boneless chicken is great). Stir for about 5 minutes.

Make a well in the center of the rice mixture and pour an egg (or two, depending how many cups of rice you've added) into the well. Let the eggs cook for about a minute. Then start to incorporate it into the rice.

Add soy sauce and cook for a minute or two longer, mixing and stirring the rice.

Put and bowls and eat!

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!