What to feed your little one
January 23rd, 2012
Baby food is a whole industry. I think it should be called Baby fast food. Because, yeah, every once in awhile you need to just grab food that’s already prepared. I get it.
But surely you don’t eat fast food every day? (Fingers crossed over here.) Why should your baby?
Ok, ok, it’s not like a jar of Earth’s Best prunes is akin to a McNugget. The ingredient lists I’ve read on those jars are pretty darn clean, in fact!
Still. I’d rather not teach Danny that food comes in small jars with colored labels. I want him to see and taste some raw ingredients, see me in the kitchen, listen to the pots bang (and bang on some himself.)
It’s one of my core values, this home cooking thing. In case you hadn’t noticed.
Anyway, this whole idea of giving baby real food seems to confuse a lot of moms. I’ll outright admit that I am not an expert. Danny’s only been eating solids for 5 months. And there is no “right” way to introduce food to your baby.
But here’s a glimpse at some of what he’s been eating and why – and how to prepare it.
I promise it’s not hard. Please share this post with the moms you know – together we’ll change this culture of prepared, processed food!
First foods
I knew Danny was ready for solids when he could sit up by himself and started getting teeth. That was right at 6 months. At this point, I gave him food as an exploration, not for nutritional value. Still nursing as often as always, this was a time for him to see, touch, smell and taste solid food. And maybe get some in his belly. Therefore, I let Danny learn and eat with his hands. He made a huge mess, but that’s ok. It’s part of learning.
Cucumber slices
Before too many teeth appear, babies can suck on cucumbers without the hazard of breaking off pieces. Still, gotta watch ‘em closely. Cut a cucumber round, remove seeds, and take a bite out of it. Your cucumber will look like the letter “C.” Let baby hold and suck! (Leave the skin on, it helps them grip. And for this reason – choose organic!) Also try pear or apple slices.
Mashed Avocado
Avocado is a perfect first food – it’s actually recommended by La Leche League. Use a fork to mash avocado well. I liked to add a little olive oil and salt to the mixture. Plop on a tray in front of your baby and see what happens. In the beginning I offered him a taste off my fingertip.
Pureed fruit
Apples, pears, peaches and plums all work for this. Peel and chop fruit. Heat in a covered pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the fruit is very soft, transfer to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. I often found this to be too runny for Danny to handle himself, so sometimes I’d feed him off a spoon.
Scrambled egg yolk
To avoid allergies, it’s recommended to only serve yolks to your little one. Start by separating an egg. Beat yolk with a fork, adding a few drops of water. Heat butter in a pan over low heat. Add egg and scramble with a spatula until cooked but still moist. Let cool before serving to baby.
Mashed butternut squash
Peel and cube butternut squash. Steam or saute until very soft. Puree and serve at room temperature or cold.
Next step – protein and grains
Once Danny was about 7 months old, I started giving him meat, fish and grains. Even pureed, they can be a bit chunky. Usually I put aside a portion of whatever I was cooking for dinner and prepared it plain for him. Sometimes I’ll buy a specific food just for him because it is easy to cook in bulk and freeze. That way, when we get pizza on a Friday I have something easy to reheat for Danny!
Chicken
I like using boneless chicken thighs because they are easy and cheaper than breast meat. They are also more moist/tender. Add enough water to just cover chicken in a pot. Cover with a lid and heat over medium until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a food processor and add enough cooking water to blend to desired consistency. (Now that Danny is a bit older and has more teeth, I cut the chicken into tiny pieces for him instead of pureeing. He can pick them up and feed himself.)
Fish
As long as it is boneless and skinless, I cook it just like the chicken.
Beef
Grass-fed beef is not cheap. And since I want to feed my son the best quality meat possible, I often choose ground beef for him. Brown in a pan over medium heat, adding some water to keep it from drying out. Transfer to food processor and blend. (For older babies, break into very small pieces instead) Also try making pot roast or other slow-cooked meats for the family and feeding some to baby – very tender and delicious!
Beans
On occasion I’ve cooked dried beans for Danny. But generally I use Eden brand canned beans because they come in BPA-free packaging. Just rinse well before serving. He can pick them up and feed himself, but I noticed them coming out whole in his diaper. Mmmm. Thanks Danny, that’s appetizing. So instead, I smush them between my fingers before he eats them. Or, I puree with olive oil, salt and a bit of water.
Brown rice
No need for boxed baby cereal. (Babies actually do not have the enzymes to properly digest grains when they are small, which is why I get annoyed when pediatricians tell parents to start their 4 month old on processed rice cereal.) Like with adults, whole grains are the way to go. You just have to make them soft until Junior has more teeth. For brown rice: Boil 6 cups of water. Add 1 cup of rice, and return to a boil. Then turn off the heat and cover. Leave overnight. Danny loves his with butter and cinnamon, or tamari and nori flakes.
Also try millet or quinoa. Just cook ‘em with 3x as much water as they normally call for. These (and rice) are gluten-free, which I’ve decided to stick to for now.
Yogurt and Cheese
I waited to give Danny any milk products until he was 7 or 8 months old. Cow’s milk can be difficult to digest so when you start, start slow. Plain, organic, whole milk yogurt is a good choice. (Raw milk products from a trusted, local farm are even better!) Forget “baby” yogurt or anything that contains sugar. Mix some pureed fruit in if sweetness is desired. And please, don’t give your baby anything with artificial sweeteners.
Once Danny was able to handle small pieces of cheese, I gave him organic cheddar and mozzarella – he loves it! He also likes cottage cheese.
What about vegetables?
As Danny gets older, I haven’t had mash his veggies as long as they are soft and in small pieces. Butternut squash, pumpkin and other winter squashes are fantastic. Sweet potatoes, too. Even rutabaga! All the root veggies work really well. As for greens, Danny loves green smoothies. I also buy frozen broccoli and spinach for him because when reheated they are super soft. Frozen peas make an awesome snack-on-the-go if you throw them in a small container in your purse.
In the sippy cup
Um. I give Danny water. I have not given him milk yet. And I definitely avoid juice because of the sugar. He loves water! Why would I introduce the sweet stuff? I’ve also given him caffeine-free herbal teas (cooled) and coconut water. When he’s sick I give him homemade chicken stock (cooled).
So what does a typical day look like?
(Remember, Danny is 11 months old, with 8 teeth)
Breakfast:
Brown rice porridge with tamari, nori and a scrambled or hardboiled egg yolk.
Lunch:
Grass fed ground beef, pureed chickpeas and steamed broccoli
Snack:
Plain yogurt or cheese
Dinner:
Tilapia, steamed butternut squash cubes, millet porridge
And yes, I try to remember
…that one day he’s going to want soda and chips. And I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
