How to Feed a Henry

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Eat meals together. Yes, I know that it’s Monday, but today is Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children . I think that’s important enough to feature in this week’s tip for picky eaters. Celebrate Family Day by eating dinner together this evening. I grew up in a home that ate together at the dining room table nearly every day. The one exception was Sunday night, when we would eat on TV trays in the living room and watch a family movie. Even when we our schedules were busy with sports practice or other after-school activities, we made time to sit down, talk about our day, and eat together. The family dinner is a tradition I plan to continue for Henry. Family Day is sponsored by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. They initiated this national event in 2001 after research revealed that frequent family dinners are one of the best ways to keep kids away from smoking,...

As I mentioned yesterday, fish can be an outstanding choice for babies. It is a very healthy option. Plus, it melts into small pieces that are easy for Henry to chew and swallow. This recipe is Henry-approved. I've heard some people are intimidated by cooking fish, but there's no reason to be anxious. Grilling fish gives it a smoky flavor. Just be sure to oil the barbecue so the fish doesn't stick to the grate. The fish is ready when it easily flakes apart with a fork. This is likely to be our last grilling recipe for a while, since the weather is cooling down for autumn. Five-spice salmon and zucchini on the grill Ingredients 1 Tablespoon sesame oil 1 Tablespoon soy sauce 1 Tablespoon Chinese five-spice 1/3 cup orange or pineapple juice 1 clove garlic, crushed or minced 1 10-ounce salmon fillet 1 medium zucchini Henry enjoying a salmon dinner. Directions Whisk together the first five ingredients in a small bowl to create the ma...

We eat fish at least once a week, especially during the summer when we can get fresh locally caught seafood at our farmers market . You may not think of fish as baby food, but Henry devours it. He has happily gobbled up cod, halibut and tuna. He’s also tried seared salmon and barbecued eel when we go out for sushi. The flaky texture breaks into small pieces that are easier for Henry to chew and swallow than other meats. Henry wolfs down wild salmon with both hands. Fish is a great choice for kids since the Omega-3 fatty acids it provides can benefit a child’s brain development, vision, mood and immune system. In addition, fish are a good source of protein and Vitamin D . A 2011 Swedish study found that babies who ate fish before the age of nine months were half as likely to experience asthma or other wheezing symptoms by the time they were in preschool. What do you mean there's halibut on my face? It’s best to choose fish that are low in mercury and have not...

A few weeks ago I raved about our Chicco 360 Degree Rotating Hook On Chair . The compact size is a great space-saver in our teeny tiny dinette. Since then, I’ve learned two pieces of information about this product. Henry plays with an empty box while hanging out in his Chicco high chair. One - I’ve been pronouncing the Chicco brand name all wrong. Apparently, it’s “KEY-ko”, not “CHEE-ko”. Two - This sucker is a huge pain to clean. I have been diligently wiping down the tray after every meal. I washed the fabric seat after Henry ate especially juicy foods. I even gathered all the crumbs that fell in the little space between the seat and the part of the chair that allows it to turn. After a few weeks I started seeing an occasional fruit fly around Henry’s high chair, so I wiped all the surfaces thoroughly with Lysol wipes to be sure it was spotless. It turns out that no amount of cleaning the exterior of this chair will get it truly clean. After Henry’s spagh...