Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Feeding Fletch

While I was pregnant and trying to make a decision about all of the various options of how to take care of baby (diapering, sleeping, vaccinations, etc), I thought I had ruled out homemade baby food. That is until I read about how easy it actually is from a mom who considers herself to be pretty lazy (thank you Amalah). Not only is it easy, it is cheaper than buying all those little jars of food. Another benefit is knowing exactly what is going into Fletch's belly. Have you seen the color of some of those jarred veggies? I can't even find those colors in nature. Once Fletch was born, I had a few months to gear up for the process. I purchased a new food processor and some ice cube trays with lids. I found a wonderful online resource Wholesome Baby Food that has everything you need to know about making your own baby food. Initially Fletch started with rice cereal. Considering it only cost $2 for a box, I splurged on that menu item. We realized quickly that Fletch was not a fan of rice cereal. That is when I switched to oatmeal. I didn't get much more enthusiasm for oatmeal. One night I decided to try something else. I pulled out the frozen peas, steamed and pureed them and was ready to experiment. Fletch was very happy to see something new in his bowl and enthusiastically finished all of his peas. That was my jumping off point into the realm of homemade baby food. Since then we have tried other veggies, fruits and even yogurt. I was reading a blog that mentioned an article about avoiding creating a picky eater. There was a list provided of different food groups. In order to avoid creating a picky eater, it is suggested to have your baby try one thing from each group before they turn one. I found the article very interesting and I believe it will not be very hard to accomplish. I do not want to raise a picky eater addicted to macaroni and chicken nuggets. I may be a little optimistic, but here is the list I will be working on until June 28th. Of course, I will be following the normal guidelines as to when certain foods should be introduced. I'm not going destroy my son's digestive tract for my own selfish reasons. Maybe through this process, even I will try some foods that I have been apprehensive towards. I've tried everything I have fed Fletch so far, but I may have to pass on the mushrooms and beets. Those that have been struck through are those that we have already accomplished. Wish us luck!

Mushrooms
shitake
crimini
oyster
portabella

Bromeliads
pineapple

Woody trees
banana

Cruciferous vegetables
broccoli
cauliflower

Myrtles
guava
clove
allspice

Umbrellifers
carrot
celery
cilantro
dill

Heath plants
blueberry
cranberry

Legumes
black beans
peas
lentils

Gourds
cucumber
pumpkin
squash
watermelon

Composites
artichoke
lettuces
sunflower seeds

Sesame
sesame seeds

Lilies
asparagus
chive
garlic
onion

Rosy plants
apple
apricot
blackberry
cherry
peach
pear
plum
raspberry
strawberry

Grapes

Citrus
orange
lime
lemon

Nightshades
eggplant
peppers
white potatoes

Laurels
avocado
cinnamon
bay

Amaranths
spinach
swiss chard
beet

Loosestrifes
pomegranate

True grasses
barley
oats
brown rice

Bindwinds
sweet potato

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