Ideas for adding different veggies to diet

Sarah - posted on 11/17/2009

One of my girls favourite meals (and was her first introduction to chicken) is couscous, chicken and corn. I boil a chicken breast then blend it to a finer consistency and stir it into cooked couscous and add a small can of creamed corn. I puree the corn a little too as the pieces can be kinda chunky, but am phasing that out now she is older. It freezes really well. Only problem is we get couscous everywhere when she eats it - but that's half the fun of eating these days.
Blended meat added to veges may be a good way to introduce him to meats as you can start with small amounts to get him used to the new flavour and texture. I also do a basic bolognese sauce with blended mince meat and add that to pureed pumpkin or sweet potato as she won't eat it without the added veges.
Just start with small amounts and try different things. You will be surprised at the combinations they will eat.

Vanessa - posted on 11/16/2009

Thanks, everyone!! This helps so much.

Leyda - posted on 11/15/2009

Quoting Vanessa :

Quoting Katherine:

I make all my my son's food. It's really easy. 

Thanks, Katherine...  Do you also give him some kind of meat (chicken or beef)?  I can definitely handle the veggies/steaming... but the meat?  I don't want him to wrinkle his nose and put up a huge fight.. when I tried the jarred meat he was so upset!

I HAVE FOR CHILDREN AGES 9,6 ALMOST 3 AND 11MONTHS I AGREE WITH KATHERINE COMPLETELY....ABOUTTHE MEAT YOU SHOULD JUST BOIL IT OR BAKE IT CUT IT UP REAL FINE AND FEED IT TO UR BABY NO SALT NECCESARY EVEN IF YOUR BABY HAS NO TEETH THERE GUMS ARE VERY STRONG AND WILL BREAK UP THE FOOD IF THERE OVER 9 MONTHS U CAN STAR DICING THE FOOD INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM PUREES THAT WAY THEY CAN START THE TRANSITION OF TABLE FOODS BUT TRUST IN UR MOTHERLY INSTICT YOU WILL KNOW...... GOOD LUCK

Laura - posted on 11/15/2009

I'm interested in the recipes:)

Shalom - posted on 11/12/2009

You've just described carotenemia, and my daughter has it too! It's been gradually decreasing since i reduced the amount of carrots and yams she eats, but it's totally harmless. I make all her food myself when we're at home- i find it really easy and since it's so much less expensive, i can much more easily afford to give her nothing but organic produce as well as a greater variety of foods.

If your son can do the pinch grasp, you can give him all sorts of things. I like to give Avery the almost-toddler version (small, soft cubes) of what her daddy and i eat at supper, but for lunch she gets a nice variety of lower-carotene veggies, pieces of cottage cheese or my homemade yogurt cheese, avocado (VERY good for babes... LOTS of vitamins, and omega fats) She eats bits of soft fish (her fave protein) as well as chicken and tofu, but she does NOT like pork, beef or other red meats, so i don't bother giving it to her. I never add salt to anything, and babies don't miss the salt. You can try adding herbs/spices to his food, but only one new ingredient at a time, and in very small amounts. My girl LOVES cinnamon and has never shown a reaction to it, and now breakfast isn't the same without it. Try homemade INSTANT applesauce... grate 1/2 an apple into a glass bowl using the finest grater you have, microwave for 90 seconds and TA DAH!

I'd be happy to write out some recipes for you if you'd like... just let me know, and GOOD LUCK!

Shiro - posted on 11/12/2009

have you tried mixing sweet potatoes with other veggies? like with spinache, peas, green peas, etc

Katherine - posted on 11/11/2009

I have not started him on meat, yet. I'm not sure when and if I will. So, not pointers there, sorry!

Emma - posted on 11/11/2009

I too make all of my sons food, and freezing it makes for a quick and easy meal. Try adding something he likes with something he doesn't like, for instance puree sweet potato with green beans. when you cook meat its also easy to puree and mix with vegies.

Vanessa - posted on 11/11/2009

Quoting Katherine:

I make all my my son's food. It's really easy. 

Thanks, Katherine...  Do you also give him some kind of meat (chicken or beef)?  I can definitely handle the veggies/steaming... but the meat?  I don't want him to wrinkle his nose and put up a huge fight.. when I tried the jarred meat he was so upset!

Katherine - posted on 11/11/2009

I make all my my son's food. It's really easy. Just steam anything (broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, etc) until you can easily slide a fork into it. Then puree it in a food processor. You know the salt content is ZERO and then I just add it in with whole grain brown rice, small alaphabet pasta and sometimes a little cheese. You can make large batches of food all at one time and then portion it into ice cube trays and freeze them for the perfect serving size. You can do the same with rice (make a large batch, portion and freeze). I cook the pasta fresh every time, though.