Everyone loves surprises. Maybe not the jump-out-and-scream-"Happy Birthday"-surprises, but surprises in general. Breakfast in bed surprises. Little blue box surprises. Littles putting their own toys away surprises. I like to savor these moments, because they can be few and far between. Today, my littles surprised me by eating tabouleh- that green tiny chopped up salad gracing the plate next to many Mediterranean dishes. Surrounded in a sea of children eating fast food, my little guys were eating tabouleh. True, I bought it for them and they really didn't have another choice, but after the first bite, they came back for more.
Children can be adventurous if we let them. I chose this dish for them because it was the only healthy option I saw, but it's not something I would have considered on my own. I actually don't like the salad myself. Point being, let your children surprise you. Don't decide for them what looks or sounds good- they may be more adventurous than you are. It's time to develop those palates!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
A Romantic Moment
Close your eyes and picture this scene. Ok, don't close your eyes- you'll need them to read this post.
You've been imagining this moment and now it's here. You are face to face. You lock eyes and slowly move toward each other. You can see the desire in his eyes. As you present the moment of opportunity, his mouth slightly opens and... he takes a big bite of yogurt off the blue rubber-tipped spoon.
Well where did you think I was going with that? Maybe you mistook this for a a trashy romance blog?
All joking aside, this is what you should expect at the table. At least for those months after you have started introducing solids and before the child is more independent about eating. The key elements here are a calm atmosphere and respect for the child's desires. When you start putting pressure on the child, he is less likely to eat (even if he is hungry), and also less likely to behave nicely. I'm not saying that you should be a short-order cook- that's a whole other blog entry. I am saying that babies have opinions, and that we as parents and caretakers should respect that. If you move toward the baby with a spoon and he clamps his mouth shut, turns his head to the side, or swats at the spoon with his hand, he is communicating that he is not interested in eating whatever is on that spoon. He might be thirsty. He might be full. He might think that cottage cheese is a weird texture and he will need more exposures to it before he feels comfortable enough to eat it.
So what do you do when your baby refuses food? You, as the parent or caretaker, are in charge of providing healthy food and a calm atmosphere at a relatively consistent time and location. The child is in charge of whether or not he eats it, and how much he eats. It's a division of labor, and when it breaks down- ie when the parent tries to take on the job of the baby- things go awry. If the child refuses to eat, offer some water or milk. If he refuses that, then mealtime is over and there will be a snack offered in about two hours. Take a deep breath. Your child will be fine*.
*Disclaimer- if food aversions or otherwise limited diet have caused your child to stop growing according to reasonable expectations, please consult a pediatric dietitian for more targeted advice. I do provide these services as well.
You've been imagining this moment and now it's here. You are face to face. You lock eyes and slowly move toward each other. You can see the desire in his eyes. As you present the moment of opportunity, his mouth slightly opens and... he takes a big bite of yogurt off the blue rubber-tipped spoon.
Well where did you think I was going with that? Maybe you mistook this for a a trashy romance blog?
All joking aside, this is what you should expect at the table. At least for those months after you have started introducing solids and before the child is more independent about eating. The key elements here are a calm atmosphere and respect for the child's desires. When you start putting pressure on the child, he is less likely to eat (even if he is hungry), and also less likely to behave nicely. I'm not saying that you should be a short-order cook- that's a whole other blog entry. I am saying that babies have opinions, and that we as parents and caretakers should respect that. If you move toward the baby with a spoon and he clamps his mouth shut, turns his head to the side, or swats at the spoon with his hand, he is communicating that he is not interested in eating whatever is on that spoon. He might be thirsty. He might be full. He might think that cottage cheese is a weird texture and he will need more exposures to it before he feels comfortable enough to eat it.
So what do you do when your baby refuses food? You, as the parent or caretaker, are in charge of providing healthy food and a calm atmosphere at a relatively consistent time and location. The child is in charge of whether or not he eats it, and how much he eats. It's a division of labor, and when it breaks down- ie when the parent tries to take on the job of the baby- things go awry. If the child refuses to eat, offer some water or milk. If he refuses that, then mealtime is over and there will be a snack offered in about two hours. Take a deep breath. Your child will be fine*.
*Disclaimer- if food aversions or otherwise limited diet have caused your child to stop growing according to reasonable expectations, please consult a pediatric dietitian for more targeted advice. I do provide these services as well.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The Toddler Food Conspiracy
The first real blog is serious business. It should be something that will draw you in, inform you, and leave you wanting more. There are plenty of controversies in the nutrition world- GMOs, BPA, and other three-letter acronyms (or sometimes longer, like MTHFR). Lots to discuss. But I'm going to start out with something that is the basis of my phood-philosophy. Toddler food is a conspiracy. There is no such thing. Once a healthy and developmentally on-target child has incorporated a variety of different foods into the diet, it should look like an adult's diet. The bites are smaller and sometimes maybe a little mushier, but in general, it should have the same components as the parents' diet.
There is a catch to this. Since the child's diet will mirror the parents', and since the child will want to eat what the parents are eating, that may mean that the parents' diet should be cleaned up a little bit. Many parents are more concerned with what their children are eating than with what they are putting in their own bodies. For example, many parents will be concerned to only feed their children organic foods, but they don't necessarily value organic components in their own meals. Marinate in that thought for a second. Do you need to spend a little more time contemplating your own diet? Maybe the truth is that your diet should mirror that of your kids'.
There is a sign outside of my local Whole Foods that says "Treat your body like it belongs to someone you love". I like that.
There is a catch to this. Since the child's diet will mirror the parents', and since the child will want to eat what the parents are eating, that may mean that the parents' diet should be cleaned up a little bit. Many parents are more concerned with what their children are eating than with what they are putting in their own bodies. For example, many parents will be concerned to only feed their children organic foods, but they don't necessarily value organic components in their own meals. Marinate in that thought for a second. Do you need to spend a little more time contemplating your own diet? Maybe the truth is that your diet should mirror that of your kids'.
There is a sign outside of my local Whole Foods that says "Treat your body like it belongs to someone you love". I like that.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
An Introduction
Hello blog world! The Baby Blog on Baby Bloom Nutrition has arrived!
Here I will be addressing common concerns, misconceptions, and other important information to keep you informed and up to date. You should also follow me on Facebook (Baby Bloom Nutrition) for information snippets and contests.
Stay tuned for the first real Baby Blog entry.
Here I will be addressing common concerns, misconceptions, and other important information to keep you informed and up to date. You should also follow me on Facebook (Baby Bloom Nutrition) for information snippets and contests.
Stay tuned for the first real Baby Blog entry.
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