We have been blessed with an adventurous, cheerful eater! I've been meaning to post for a while about the solid food thing because I don't know that I've mentioned it at all yet. I love making Ezra's food, and it's SO easy that I don't understand why commercial baby food was ever even invented. Even the busiest person could do it- if you feed yourself everyday, you can easily feed your baby the same stuff. It just takes a little planning. I've had lots of people ask me with a tone of awe, "Wow, you make your own food? How is that going?" Fine and Great, thanks.
Initially, feeding a baby solids is challenging and can be discouraging because they are just so amazed by the new, weird experience. However, Ezra took to it after about a week and a half. I know that every baby is different, though, so I don't think people whose babies are slow to accept solids have done anything wrong! Here's what works well for Ezra: warmth, flavor, and power. Ezzie does MUCH better if his food isn't cold. As for flavor, I have used garlic, olive oil, spices, and even (gasp! I know...) a few tiny grains of salt in all of Ezzie's little mixes. I was very surprised to discover that he prefers savory or even sour (like the plain, full fat yogurt) tastes over sweet ones sometimes. Power means that Ezra is in charge of the amount that he eats. I've never tricked or wrestled bites into his mouth, and I can really see day to day that he is just eating the amount that he needs. Our pediatrician's intern said that studies are now showing that the skill of portion control, developed as an infant, is carried on into life and heleps prevent obesity! So, yay for that! I also always give Ezra a few bites on his tray that he can smear, pinch, suck, eat (maybe) on his own. At first, when spoon feeding, I always had to give him a spoon of his own too, but now he's totally over that and can handle just me giving him bites.
Here's an example of how we work it.
This week's menu:
Monday: Adults - sloppy joes, sauteed spinach; Ezra - ground beef (taken out of the pan before saucing up the sloppy joe mix) and sauteed spinach (chopped of course)
Tuesday: Adults - Broccoli Cheese Soup and Bread; Ezra - broccoli stew (pureed veggies and broth taken out of pot before milk was added) with shredded cheese and bread bits on his tray
Wednesday: Adults - Mango Chicken with Black Beans and Rice; Ezra - a chunky puree of that whole dinner with avacado
Thursday (Tonight): Adults - Soup and Salad Bar for parish group; Ezra - leftover ground beef with peas and bites of mommy's soup and bread
Friday: Adults - Roasted Sausage and Root Veggies; Ezra - a few veggie chunks presed through the garlic press... I might let him try sausage (it's preservative/nitrate free)
For breakfast, I just give him leftovers from the night before, oatmeal, blueberries or other small bites of fruit, yogurt, or egg yolk if we're having eggs.
Lunches consist of leftovers or various small bites when lunch happens. I'm just now moving him toward three meals a day.
Anyway, there's some info for those who've been interested. I should note, too, that the American Academy of Pediatrics did a study on allergies and their connection to food introduction schedules and determined that there is no evidence to suggest waiting to introduce ANY particular foods until any particular time. Though, most professionals are still wary of peanuts and honey. Personally, I give Ezra something new, wait a day or two, and then give him the next thing. I've become VERY lax about it at this point. I will wait until he's 1 or older to do honey and peanuts.
Here's a video of some of our dinner time silliness :)
5 comments:
Boys are already throwing food at the table! Thanks for the close up of the teeth and the feeding skills. Miss you!!!!!!!
Lucky lady! Poor Liam couldn't tolerate textures until he was almost 10 months old...thank goodness he outgrew that hyperactive gag reflex. I have to say, as someone not very on top of the meal planning for our family, jarred food can be a lifesaver in a pinch! Though it's much more fun when baby eats what mom and dad are eating.
oh, Kathryn... I'm so glad I didn't have a gag reflex to deal with! I know that can be such a big setback. And, I should have said that I do have a couple jars of backup food that were given to me :)
ok, for a while there, i thought the big haired parent making ezra laugh was you! haha, oh brendan.
also, i really love that ezra eats with his mouth open. dan and i were just wondering if that is something kids do later on to make their parents mad or if it's a natural thing. eli eats with his mouth closed, and our friends comment on his politeness, but come on! he doesn't know he's doing it...he's just eating!
i loved hearing ezra laugh...makes me want to hug him even more now!
I honestly think "baby food" and the idea that babies need something special/different to eat is all a commercial ploy. Take what you're eating, mush it up (if necessary), feed to baby. Voila! :) (Okay, off soapbox.) ;)
Here's a site about something called baby-led weaning I found really interesting when Stella was a baby: http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw/engels.html
(Remember weaning in Europe simply means introducing solid foods, not weaning them from breastmilk completely as we think of it).
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