spananas

i could not WAIT to make my own baby food!! having the power to put the best, nutritious, healthy, whole foods into my growing little man is such an awesome honor i take pride in.

around the 1 yr mark last month, Chiso started hating all things vegetables. i was in denial and thought he would remain the garbage disposal we all know and love him to be. they now usually end up in the seat of his high chair with him, become toys, or he just does this:

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i can get him to eat fresh fruits in raw form (strawberries, bananas, pears, blueberries, etc....) all day long. veggies don't even make it anywhere near his mouth as he puts his hands over his face when he sees or smells them coming. where did he learn this behavior!? needless to say, i'm still putting my blender to good use.

if i can hide spinach in a smoothie, i can do the very same thing with Chiso's food. sure this is nothing new, but it is so gratifying watching him eat his vegetables and literally lick the bowl clean. :twisted:

making different combos is where the fun begins! or not, lol. can't win'em all. but here are some cool pairings you can try (thanks, Marguerite!):

spananas: 1 cup cooked spinach, 1 banana, half an avocado. cook/microwave and blend. i use breast milk to get the mixability going in the blender. you can also use water or formula.

sweet potatoes + bananas + turnip greens (got carried away but hey, he ate it)

potatoes + zucchini

tastes just like mashed potatoes, but sneak in some sautéed veggies. cauliflower works GREAT here too! even got over on ol' Sonny.

banana + avocado

one of his favs- the texture is incredibly creamy.

apples + prunes

very sweet, which is prolly why he likes this combo.

add either chicken, lean ground turkey, or tilapia to these concoctions for a complete, balanced meal. Chiso's fave:

spinach, grilled chicken, and bananas.

notice a trend here? Chiso won't eat it if it doesn't at least smell like bananas! so, base your combos off of your critter's favorites.

1. hand-pick the ingredients: you have total control! pick a VARIETY of all-natural, organic, or raw, fresh fruits and veggies in the peak of their season, as well as lean cuts of meat. and please...don't limit your baby! besides, if they don't like it, you can eat it :lol: when fresh isn't available, frozen is the next best thing. 2. chop and cook: steam, sauté, roast, bake, boil until tender 3. blend: blender, baby food grinder, food processor, fork 4. save money!! that's a no brainer vs. buying the jarred/packaged varieties. you can make a nice batch that will last 2-3 days, and that coincides perfectly with the 4 day wait rule. finally, your baby gets more nutrients this way; no additives or preservatives, just the real thing. win-win.

know that the food your baby likes and dislikes will change like the weather. good luck, and DON'T give up!

what are some of your LO's fav combos? please share!