How to Feed a Henry

This week we attended a family picnic. Since it was a potluck, I brought a twist on a fresh fruit salad. The leftovers were also tasty the next morning on top of French toast. This recipe is Henry-approved. For this recipe, you can use any variety of fruits that you have available, but you will need a fresh pineapple so you can make the dressing. You can also replace the mint with other fresh herbs such as lavender, basil, or lemon balm. Ingredients (Serves 4) 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks (save the core) 1 mango, peeled and cut into chunks 1 mini watermelon, cut into chunks ½ pint blueberries ½ pint blackberries 2 cups water 4 sprigs fresh mint plus about 12 mint leaves ¼ teaspoon lemon zest Directions Combine all the fruit in a large bowl. For the dressing, place the water, pineapple core, mint and lemon zest in a small pot. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes, then remove the pineappl...

Many experts encourage parents to keep in mind that food before one is just for fun. At this age, Henry is still getting all the calories and nutrients he needs from his liquid diet of formula. For the most part, only a small amount of solids are making it down to his stomach. If he was being spoon-fed, Henry would be swallowing more. With baby-led weaning , however, he is learning how to get food to his mouth and chew it before he learns to swallow. Starting solids is about exploring new flavors and textures, not about how much Henry eats. The World Health Organization suggests offering food two or three times per day when baby is six to eight months old. Henry joins us at the table whenever he is awake for a meal. He is usually awake for breakfast and dinner, but he is often napping during lunch. If he misses two meals in a row, I just add some vegetable soup to one of his bottles to make sure he gets some flavor variety that day. I do not offer snacks or make-up meals. A...

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Set a good example. As parents, we are the first role models for Henry. He will learn from our example, so Daddy and I need to eat our fruits and vegetables too. I am not a big fan of mango, but I let Henry watch me eat it with a smile on my face. Then he wants to try some mango too. Henry is more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when he sees Mommy and Daddy eat them too. A recent study confirmed that when parents lead by example their children have a more nutritious diet. The best way to inspire healthy eating habits is to demonstrate them first-hand to your children. Another study found that when parents ate an extra serving of fruit or vegetables each day, their child ate an additional half serving. Yes, it is important to talk with kids about food. But don’t just tell your child to eat their vegetables, let them see you eating a balanced meal that includes plenty of fruits and veggies. It may not always seem like it,...

It’s hot outside, so we have another grilling recipe this week. In addition to an abundance of summer zucchini, we have a healthy crop of potatoes that are ready to use. Kids love getting dirty, so let your kids help out with the harvest if you have a garden full of potatoes. Digging for potatoes is like hunting for treasure, and what kid doesn’t love a treasure hunt. Then grill up a batch of dirty potatoes for dinner. We use several varieties of red and yellow potatoes for this recipe. This recipe is Henry-approved. Ingredients (Serves 4) 10 small to medium size potatoes 1 teaspoon olive oil Pinch of sea salt Black pepper Dirty potatoes on the grill. Directions Scrub the potatoes and place them in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Boil on high for 10 minutes. Drain the hot water from the potatoes. Add cold water to the pot of potatoes to stop the cooking process. Remove the potatoes from the pot and toss them in olive oil, a pinch of...

As you may have read, Henry’s first food experience was at a restaurant. Before Henry was born, Daddy and I ate out frequently. We don’t eat out as much now that Henry is here, but we occasionally visit our favorite local restaurants . You really can enjoy a meal out with a baby, but it does take a bit of preparation and some flexibility. Here are a few tips we’ve learned for eating out with Henry. Bring along a few receiving blankets . Many restaurants offer the square wooden high chairs. These are quite wide for small children and do not offer much support. We roll a couple of receiving blankets and place them behind Henry to give him a bit of extra cushioning. We place a few rolled-up blankets behind Henry for oversized restaurant high chairs. Don’t expect a high chair . While most places have high chairs, some do not. We bring along a travel high chair for those times when the restaurant does not have them available. Otherwise, you may end up balancing your c...

Using a baby-led weaning approach to let Henry feed himself has not required a large investment of products, but a few items are essential to make this endeavor successful. Here are some of my favorites: High chair with tray We have been very pleased with the Chicco 360 Degree Rotating Hook On Chair . It easily and securely attaches to the table without taking up any floor space. The compact size of the clip-on chair is convenient for our small dinette, going out to eat, or traveling. The rimmed tray keeps Henry’s food within easy reach, except for what he drops on the floor. The tray is also detachable so it’s easy to clean. I like the rotating seat feature. I can spin Henry around to face the kitchen and he enjoys watching me cook. The clip-on high chair requires a sturdy table that does not have the potential for tipping over due to the added weight of a child. Alternatively, you could use a stand-alone high chair. The tray on Henry's high chair keeps food withi...

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Get your kids in the kitchen. Today’s tip should be obvious, but I think it is important enough to say it out loud - get your kids in the kitchen. Allowing kids to help with meal preparation will spur their interest in food. It also is more likely they will eat the food they help to make. A recent Canadian study found that children who helped with cooking were more likely to enjoy fruits and vegetables. Henry loves playing in the kitchen. Yes, there are downsides. Having children in the kitchen is likely to mean that it takes a little longer to get dinner ready. There will be more messes to cleanup. But if you really want your kids to eat what’s on the table, involving them in food preparation is the ideal place to start. Making a meal together helps them learn to love cooking, create fun family memories, and develop a sense of ownership in the food they help to prepare. There are lots of things your kids can do in the kitch...