Meanwhile, back in babyland...

Every now and again the enormity of it all hits me...I've been entrusted with the life of another human being.  It isn't just about raising a compassionate, smart, and well-adjusted black man in this world--I'm shaping his palate too.

I know these early days matter--my brother still hates for the food on his plate to touch and I remember that being an issue when he was 3 years old.  I know palates and habits can evolve, I can testify to that, but I want to lay the best, most delicious foundation as I can for Timothy. 

You want to talk about real simple cooking?  Then let's talk baby food.  Alongside more "lavish" meals like grilled vegetables, corn and radish salad, and marinated and grilled chicken, I've been all about the purees.  No real seasoning, no complicated recipes.  But lots of love is stirred in just the same.  So let me admit how incredibly humbling it is, to have my child spit out the food I prepared for him. 

Granted, it was a pea puree that truthfully, could have used some salt to perk it up.  Maybe Timothy's palate is just fine afer all.

To read about more of my baby food adventures as I attempt to raise a locavore, check out my piece in the June issue of Family Times magazine here.

Photo Credit:  Michael Davis

Comments

[Maria Erdman]

Jennifer, I laughed out loud when I read the sentence about your child spitting out the food you prepared for him. Been there!! Keep having fun!

[Mitch Mitchell]

How cute! I've always wondered if babies actually like and dislike foods up until a certain age since they seem to eat whatever you give them. Looks like you're having fun here.

[Margaret @ Eat First]

Timothy is beautiful -- congratulations! If you view feeding him as an adventure, I'm sure he will view eating as an adventure, too. Enjoy the journey.

[Padre Mickey]

When Tara and Anne were babies, we fed them whatever we were eating; we just put it in the food grinder and put it in their mouths. As a result, they were never fussy eaters and are adventurous to this day, as are their children.

It sounds like things are going well for you and yours.

[Kathleen]

I think the silliest thing all those books say is to not to feed babies anything with seasoning. I'm not saying to give them siracha infused food but if it isn't appealing to you it probably isn't appealing to them too. Let them try lots of different food. So long as they have acess to a variety of healthy food they will find food they like to eat. Another thing to watch out for is that some adventurous eaters early on hit a stubborn phase in the preschool years and stop eating all that great stuff you trained them early on. No worry if they keep being presented with good food eventually they will come back to it. A little Crunch and Munch never hurt anyone.

[Reid]

There are so many adventures associated with becoming a parent, including the food adventure. My children bedevil me with their fickle tastes! One day they love hot dogs as if their lives depended on them. The next day they have no use for hot dogs and why was I so silly as to think otherwise? I try not to imagine they'll be enticed into eating the special things I make for them, but occasionally I do fantasize that my efforts will yield empty plates and fervent thanks. Ha! I have managed to get them to eat all manner of fresh beets by demonstrating that beets turn your tongue really red when you eat them. It's a start. I think.

[Lydia]

Neither of my boys liked pureed peas. But, they both love cooked whole peas. (Joe even likes asparagus!) So, take heart that once your little guy is eating finger foods, a whole new world of cuisine will open up!

[Jill Hurst-Wahl]

Great photo of you two!

[Kathleen]

Nice pic in the paper of you with the little guy and ice cream.

[Jannah Prentiss]

Awww, I bet he loved it because it was made with love from his mama.

[Blue Promo]

Beautiful! I love the pic of you two!