How to Feed a Henry

With his first birthday fast approaching, Daddy and I have been thinking a lot about transitioning Henry from baby formula to milk. At his 9-month check-up , the pediatrician gave us information about how to make the switch. Rather than going cold turkey , the doctor suggested that we start by replacing one bottle of formula at a time when Henry turned 11 months old. Then, we can slowly introduce more milk and reduce his formula intake over the course of about two months. By the end of February, the conversion should be complete. Henry tries out his first cup of milk on Christmas Eve. As part of this transition, we’re also phasing out bottles . Henry has become proficient at drinking from a straw, even using my water bottle on occasion without spilling. I am confident he will make the shift to straw cups seamlessly, but we will also retry open cups to give him a chance to practice this skill. Henry usually drinks five or six bottles of formula per day of varying amo...

L ast week I posted the appetizer from our Christmas Eve dinner. This week, I am featuring the main course, pork loin with cherry sauce. This is a great recipe for winter dinner parties because it makes a beautiful presentation and the cherries in cider give the house a mouthwatering fragrance. The pork is seared with a savory herb crust, and then stays moist simmering in the cider. This recipe is Henry-approved. Ingredients 1 cup hard apple cider 1 cup dried cherries 6 Tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 pounds pork tenderloin 2 Tablespoons butter 4 Tablespoons shallots, finely chopped 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth Pork Loin with Cherry Sauce simmering in the pan. Directions Place cider in a 2-cup glass measure. Microwave on high for 20 seconds or until warm. Add the dried cherries to the cider. Cover and let stand 10 minutes or until the cherries start to soften. Drain the cherries in a col...

On Christmas Eve, Henry had two new food experiences. He sipped on his first cup of milk and tasted his first cookie. Next week I will have more information about our plan for transitioning from formula to milk, but today’s topic is the cookie. Henry tastes his first Christmas cookie. Both Daddy and I have a sweet tooth. We do not plan to be a sugar-free household; it just is not realistic for us. Daddy eats chocolate chip cookies nearly every evening for dessert. I am not a chocoholic, but I love to bake. I especially like making (and eating) fruit desserts, such as lemon bars and apple crisp. So far we have been very strict about giving sugar to Henry. He has had a few tastes of sugar in homemade jam, barbecue and teriyaki sauce, but overall we have severely limited his exposure. I do not want Henry to eat products made with high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners . In addition, I have been considering ways to modify our favorite recipes by substituting whi...

In my family, holiday meals have always included squash. This year, we are hosting Christmas Eve dinner and I will be making these squash bites. They are a delicious appetizer for your next holiday party.   Henry shows off his new penguin cup. This recipe is Henry-approved. Squash Bite Ingredients 1 small butternut squash or medium acorn squash (about 2 cups) 2 Tablespoons fresh sage (about 8 leaves) or 2 teaspoons dried sage 2 Tablespoons green onion 1 cup panko or other dried bread crumbs 1 large egg 1 Tablespoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 Tablespoons butter 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil Yogurt Dip Ingredients ½ cup plain Greek yogurt 1 Tablespoon fresh sage (about 4 leaves) or 1 teaspoon dried sage 1 Tablespoon green onion 1 Tablespoon lemon juice ¼ teaspoon cumin ¼ teaspoon black pepper Squash sliced and ready to steam in the microwave. Directions Rinse the squash. Cut the squash in half and rem...

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: The Importance of Texture. Children frequently go through food phases. They like something one day but not the next. As a parent it can be difficult not to get stressed out about what foods your child will eat. You may be tempted to assume that your child does not like a food after offering it a few times, but the issue may not be about taste. Henry squishes a banana with his hands. In observing Henry’s eating patterns, I have noticed that texture is critical. Some kids develop aversions to mushy foods , while others go through phases of not wanting to eat crunchy foods. Currently, Henry is boycotting squishy foods like bananas or steamed apples that stick to his fingers. He seems interested in exploring the texture but he does not want to put them in his mouth. Since he eats almost exclusively with his hands, he first experiences each food using his sense of touch. My approach is to continue offering Henry the opp...