Quesadilla

Although your baby doesn't need teeth to effectively implement the baby-led solids method, there are times when they can be quite serviceable. I tried quesadillas a few months ago, before Buttercup had teeth, and it didn't go over too well. She tried a piece, spat it out then ignored it. 


Recently I made a quesadilla for my own lunch, and gave some to Buttercup. It was made with whole wheat tortillas, spinach, cheese, garlic and cumin. I cut it into little Buttercup-sized squares. She was much more interested now that she's got a few teeth. I've found she uses them to clamp on food while she pulls on it with her hand. Whatever works!


She definitely preferred the tortilla to the cheese. Whenever the melted cheese would squish out the sides and fall on her tray she would pick it up and try it, but spit it back out again. 


PROS: good and easy multiple-food-group meal
CONS: teeth make this food more manageable

Soup (with a spoon)

This continues my three-part series on introducing utensils to your baby-led solids baby. Sometimes Buttercup uses a fork or spoon now (see yesterday's post). 


This particular photo is from the first time Buttercup used a spoon. I had made a soup out of dinner leftovers (chicken breasts in the slow cooker, roasted garlic, onions and potatoes, broccoli and spinach - all pureed with chicken stock and milk). It was a very yummy last minute lunch idea and Buttercup was eager to partake. I grabbed a teaspoon from my normal dishes (I think I had baby spoons at one point, but I either gave them away or put them somewhere and can't find them). Buttercup has a pretty big mouth, and can fit extraordinarily large toys in it, so I figured a little spoon would not present a challenge to her orafice. Anyway, I held on to the spoon while she grabbed it and guided it to her mouth. 


Buttercup ate 6 ounces of this soup on two separate occasions. She was very proud of her spoon-using skills, too. I was surprised by how little soup ended up anywhere but her mouth. It was a pretty non-messy experience!


PROS: yummy, nutritious, shockingly non-messy
CONS: requires more parental involvement than 'normal' BLS meals (is that really a "con?")

Spinach

I can never decide what my favorite thing about baby-led solids is. Some days it's the simplicity of it - how I never have to buy or make purees and spend time spooning food into my baby's mouth. Sometimes it's the fact that my little baby eats things like curry, fish, or gjetost. And, sometimes it's the fact that my baby's diet mainly consists of fresh, healthy foods and she loves it! 


Whilst making myself a sandwich one day I threw a couple of my spinach leaves Buttercup's way. I didn't really expect her to do much more than play with them. But, being the omnivore she is, she ate them. Seriously, this kid will eat anything. This has its downfalls, especially when she's playing on a not-freshly-vacuumed floor or outside, for example. One of Buttercup's favorite non-foods is paper. She loves tearing apart and chewing on paper. While I don't endorse paper as a good food for babies (and feverishly try to prevent Buttercup from eating it), I guess all of her practice at eating books paved the way for her to successfully enjoy spinach leaves. HA HA!


Buttercup has had cooked spinach mixed into dishes before (and blended into her smoothies), but this was the first time she ate raw spinach. She tore the little leaves apart and ate them much in the same way she eats every little piece of paper she can get her hands on. I was curious how she would deal with the spines, but she ended up tearing the leaves off the spines, and left the spines alone. I was also interested to see if Buttercup would gag on little bits of leaf getting hung up in her throat. While she did cough a few times, she didn't have any problems with it. However, I wouldn't recommend this to babies just starting down the baby-led solids path. Also, I suggest buying organic spinach, as spinach is one of the "dirty dozen."


PROS: great nutritious superfood, no prep
CONS: not for the BLS newbie


***UPDATE: The evening I posted this we gave Buttercup raw spinach leaves again. She coughed a lot more than she did the first time. So, I guess I'm saying "be careful."***

Smoothie

I have a wonderful friend who gives her kids smoothies to sneak extra fruits and veggies into their diets.
It's really a brilliant idea, and one I tucked away for future use. Well, the future is now. I made myself a 
strawberry, banana, OJ and homemade yogurt smoothie the other day to use up a browning banana. I poured some into Buttercup's shot glass to see what she'd do with it. Well, she drank it, of course! In fact, she wouldn't even let go of the cup.


This was the first time Buttercup has ever liked yogurt. I'd like to ascribe that to my awesome yogurt-making ability, but I just don't know. By the way, making yogurt is a great way to use up the 52,000 gallons of milk WIC gives you a month, and it's super easy to do. Here is a link to a some good instructions: Modern Alternative Mama Blog. 


Since Buttercup has decided to officially drop her 4:00 nurse, I've been giving her an afternoon smoothie instead. I throw in a banana, half an avocado (makes it creamy), a handful of spinach leaves, some frozen fruit (great way to use up those sour strawberries), some OJ and some homemade kefir or yogurt. She will drink 1.5 to 2 ounces.


PROS: great way to get extra nutrients in your baby
CONS: parental vigilance required if giving baby a smoothie in a cup 

Spaghetti

Buttercup is mainly eating the same dinners as Hubby and I now. When we first started baby-led solids we would give her a single food item to work on. Now she happily chows down on complex meals. For example, I like to make a healthier version of spaghetti bolognese with: whole wheat noodles, Morning Star crumbles (meat alternative), spinach, mushrooms, garden tomatoes, and cream cheese. We gave some to Buttercup 's. The only difference I made to her portion was that I threw in some avocado, because I had to use some up and Buttercup hasn't been too thrilled with avocado lately (see Avocado, take 2). I made a little spaghetti pile on Buttercup's tray, since this is what's worked best with similar items (ex: tabouleh, rice).

Buttercup ate it all with gusto, even the mushrooms and tomatoes. I guess she likes those foods cooked better than raw. Also, this was the first time Buttercup had eaten dairy products that she didn't stink (see dairy posts). It was only a small amount, but maybe her body is getting better at handling it? Anyway, I love that her meals require so little preparation (and virtually no extra cost). BLS is so easy!

PROS: good way to combine lots of healthy foods

CONS: requires a bath afterwards