Over the last four years as a parent I’ve learned quite fast what works AND what doesn’t work for us in the meals department. One thing I do know for certain is that each child is different. Hopefully with my tips you can find something that works for you and your family.
Baby Food & Baby-Led Weaning
Home-Made vs. Store Bought
Home Made
For Raymond I made 90% of all of his pureed baby meals at home. The cost comparison is a no-brainer. I am beyond thankful that four years ago I made all of my own baby food as we soon found out Raymond has multiple life-threatening food allergies. Most of the baby food on the market contained some sort of percentage of apple with is a big trigger for him and why I am once again thankful that I made our own.
I would steam fruit and veggies-then drain them and mix them in a blender(using the water from steaming as the mixer + added health benefit) and then would put them all in freezable containers and labeled them with contents and date. Date is definitely essential as some freezers are where food goes to die… I have been definitely working on that over the last few years!
Store Bought
With Emma Marie in the picture before Raymond was even two, life got BUSY fast. The time I used to spend at night making batches of baby food were now times that I was working as their naps just never-EVER- seemed to match up. I called it Whack-a-Mole. One was always up for the first year of two babies. So I proudly made the best decision for our family and bought Beech-Nut Originals. Healthy baby-food without the added apple.
We stocked up on her favorites of Sweet Potato, Apple & Blueberry Mix, and Pears. She never turned down one that we gave her, but those were her running favorites. Peace of mind in a jar and a little bit of extra sleep…
Puree vs. Baby-Led Weaning
Puree
Raymond would not for the life of him eat anything remotely chunky. Gag Reflex like woah. So he was THRILLED to eat purees all day-every day-like it was his job. It was easy to whip up a couple batches 1-2 times every two weeks. He had puree’s every day from four months through turning a year old. The first few times learning the system of cooking and getting the consistency I wanted-smoother at the beginning and thicker as he got older- took an hour longer than any other time I went to make baby food. The color is strikingly different than that of the same “baby food” you see in the baby food aisle. Save for one that was “new to us” with Emma Marie.
Baby-Led Weaning
Perhaps as the second child she was a bit more adventurous. But most likely they are just different kids. Emma Marie tried to grab food off of our plates at four months. At six months she could dominate a Chipotle Burrito Bowl like she was in an eating competition. Or starving. Yes, it looked like my six month old was never fed with how fast she would down a burrito bowl. Her bowl: Brown Rice, Black & Pinto Beans, Chicken, Cheese, and Lettuce. The adult size.
At six months old I started with chunks of bite sized soft food(brush up on your baby CPR and Heimlich-I did) and she would do her darnedest to pick up the pieces and eat them. She loved a cup of black beans, grilled chicken, steamed veggies that were diced up(very small), quartered grapes, strips of waffles and the tiniest slivers of banana. She actually asked for a whole banana at eight months old and from then on out ate the banana in it’s entirety. Raymond in his wildest dreams wouldn’t have thought that was a good idea. He LOVED being spoon-fed and didn’t even hold his own bottle until he was eleven months old. (bows) Your majesty.
Remember each kid will thrive their own way. Just make sure you have an open mind.
Below you will find exactly what Baby & Toddler Meals look like at our house over the past few years.
Beech-Nut is the brand we trusted with Emma Marie and I am just so happy that they are continuously working on making healthier and more organic baby food options. All of which contain what they say they do on the front! No bait and switch marketing and added apple.
Recently I attended Mom 2.0 Summit and was able to hug some of the people that have made such an impact in the way that baby food is processed and mass produced. Seriously, the food our children eats is incredibly important to us and I hugged everyone from Beech-Nut. As an allergy-mom knowing EXACTLY what is in each of the batches is pivotal to the safety and well-being of my children.
From Beech-Nut’s Site:
Beech-Nut
Hip Hip Hooray!
Winners will receive ten jars of their new Organic Line of Just Carrots, Just Peas & Spinach, Just Apple, Raspberry & Avocado, Just Butternut Squash & Corn.
GIVEAWAY
FOUR TOTAL WINNERS
