Page 68 - Winter2009

my special baby food preparation involved two a tailspin of worry—deciding on the best first foods, choosing the best
tasks. One was liver mousse, which I made in diapers or the ideal music to boost brain power. Many questions I receive
large batches and froze in small glass Pyrex center on finding that “perfect meal plan” for one’s baby. I wish there were
containers with plastic lids. The other was small a way to telepathically transfer some of the sense of calm that comes with
dollops of grated liver frozen on a cookie sheet just good ol’ experience. However, it is these challenging experiences that
and then transferred to a glass container so they make us who we are, and nothing compares to the learning acquired during
were easy to pull out and stir into warm egg the day-in-and-day-out raising of our own little angels.
yolks. The rest of the food I offered Chase was What I can say is that babies have been eating traditional foods for
either generally available in my pantry or fridge millennia, so do your best to relax. Make sure you are setting aside the
or a mashed up portion of the family’s meal. time needed to procure and prepare the highest quality, most nourishing
More solid finger foods were introduced foods for the whole family and then include baby when the time is right.
about five or six weeks later and his eagerness Enjoy your baby, smile a lot and use your mommy-sense. The vibes you
was a hoot to watch. It helps that he has a big send—intentional or not—will speak volumes, and staying relaxed will
brother he wants to emulate. Not long after make it much more pleasurable for you and baby.
that, Chase’s meals turned into much like what One side note: do not allow this self-selection method of feeding ba-
they entail now at twenty months, I am just less bies to become an excuse for pickiness (see the article Taking the “Icky”
involved. I will toss a new selection of foods— out of Picky for more on this subject in the Children’s Health section on
three or four choices—on the highchair tray to www.westonaprice.org). I do not believe we should be a personal short
see what is desired. His raw milk is in a sippy order cook for each member of the family. Fortunately, this early baby-led
cup (sometimes spiked with raw cream, baby pro- weaning method reduces the chances of a picky attitude as a child grows
biotics, acerola powder or an oil or two), which and his palate matures.
he drinks as desired. Most foods are from the Just like the nurses in Dr. Clara Davis’s experiment, stay emotionally
family table, such as bits and pieces from a pot of neutral. Give off the sense “eat it, don’t eat it, it makes no difference to
stew made with bone broth, veggies and chunks me…” For example, if you, the parent, don’t enjoy the taste of fish roe,
of grass-fed meats, broken bites of a cornbread avoid the “yuck” facial expressions. Or if baby just won’t pick up and try
muffin, a clump of chicken and chard casserole something, don’t force it into her mouth because “it’s good for her!” Smile,
or broken up pieces of bacon and tomato frittata. glance like you do at other family members during the meal, refrain from
If we are eating a salad, I will offer selections of commenting much at all or even doing the “food rumba” when she willingly
what’s in our bowls, such as hunks of chicken, eats that first flake of seaweed. And most definitely avoid being cross in
halved cherry tomatoes and sticks of salted any manner. Do your best to let her figure it out on her own. Being overly
avocado. If the food can be eaten with a spoon, interested in any direction may turn her off to experimenting and being
I toss it in a bowl and let him at it. I will also adventurous with food. Just like walking and talking, it will happen in
often include a selection or two from the handy your baby’s own unique time.
foods listed above. Don’t be shy about herbs and Put first things first: lovingly prepare each meal for your whole family
seasonings: your child’s likes and dislikes may and then modify ingredients to make them work for baby. Start moving
surprise you. away from the idea that baby needs to eat baby food after those first few
Some of the foods I place on the highchair months; simply include him in the family table. It is easier, more time-ef-
tray are eaten, some aren’t. There is a lot of ficient and better for baby in the long run. And even though the messes
smiling, sorting through his options and look- may need a little extra attention, get the camera out because they sure do
ing around at the rest of the family. If a food is make for some sweet memories!
devoured, I give more. The foods that are left
on the tray are either eaten by another family Jen Allbritton is a certified nutritionist and author. She lives with her fam-
member, go back to where they came from until ily in Colorado and spends lots of time in her kitchen cooking up WAPF-
another meal or become chicken feed. Sometimes friendly creations. Contact her if you’d like to learn more about subjects
my sensor goes off when he doesn’t eat much, but related to diet and children: jen@nourishingconnections.org.
I step back and remember that he will eat what
he needs. REFERENCES
1. Davis, Adelle. Let’s Have Healthy Children. New American Library, A Signet Book. 1972, p 217
2. Ibid, pp 218-219
RELAX AND STAY COOL
Being a first-time parent can send one into
66 Wise Traditions WINTER 2009