Mango Biscuits!

For a while I've been wanting to make somekind of minimal mess (well compared to fruit), dairy/wheat free, snack food for when we go out and have a coffee and cake. Just so Jenson doesn't feel left out. He does this lip smacking thing when he sees you eat and he wants some too.
Thanks to Helen's suggestions I made something today. Based on the recipe in her blog I kinda of mushed up mango and oats, chucked in some chopped dried apricots, spread it out on a tray and baked it for about 10 minutes.
They went down a treat and reminded me of this!

Typical day

Jenson is 8 months now and really enjoying his grub!
On a typical day he will have some porridge for breakfast. I'll stick whatever I have to hand in. Some cinnamon or vanilla or perhaps bananas, pears, blueberries and if I've made it a bit thick I give it a quick squirt!

Lunch is very like dinner really. Today he had some mince in one of those spinach purees plum baby do with rice spaghetti then I offer him some fruit, mango day today.

Dinner was some made up chicken thing. Onions, leeks, carrots, butternut squash, bit of tarrgon and teeny bit of chilli powder. He scoffed that and had some pear to nibble after. We offer a bit of water now and then. Just for a taste really and he breastfeeds as and when. I don't keep count or take any notice of how often!

Quinoa and bananitos

Wow does this boy love quinoa or what! He scoffs this stuff up. It's a great early food, no gluten and full of protein. It's also great if you don't have much time. Takes about 15 minutes to cook and I stick a sauce or veg with it.
I'm not one for bought baby food. There are just a few things I will buy though. Rice cakes, peter rabbit rice fusilli (as we are avoiding wheat/gluten) and plum baby purees. I tend to use the purees with something else when I'm being a bit lazy. The blueberry goes great with porridge and I use the spinach one on the rice pasta (as we are waiting before introducing tomatoes).
We had a little treat today and ventured out to Waitrose, a dangerous place a for a food lover like me. I was pleasantly surprised to find rice spaghetti and bought a few packs to keep us going. We also found bananitos. Tiny sweet bananas, perfect size for little hands to hold!

Ikea

BLW in the media

Just came across this article in the Independent about BLW.

While I'm here I'll mention one of Jenson's favourite meals. After all doing baby led weaning makes meals a non event really. There's not much I can write about to be honest. I cook food, I offer it, he squishes, eats some, decorates his ears and feeds the cat hovering under the chair with the rest!
Anyway he is rather partial to lamb stew thing I make up as I go along. I'm not one for measuring.
I just get lamb I cut into holdable strips, brown it in olive oil with onions a bit of garlic. Then I grate whatever I have, swede, sweet potato, carrots or leeks. Anything really. Chuck it all in with some water and rosemary and simmer for ages.
It's perfect for when you have a little one with a fall asleep 5 minutes before dinner habit, you just cook it a bit longer!

Yum

One of Jenson's current favourites! He gets really stuck in, I think it feels nice on those teething gums.

Saturday lunchtime

Jenson munched a rice cake while waiting for his veg to cool. The roast parsnips and butternut squash went down rather well.

First week of baby led weaning

Jenson is 6 months now, sitting unaided, teeth are cutting and he grabbed some banana off me the other day so we have started offering him some food to see what he does with it. We also weaned Dillon (now 4) the baby led way but he showed no interest until 8 months. As with all stages different children reach them at different times!
So far his favourite seems to be roast parsnips, the only one Jenson has cried for when he's dropped it.
I had totally forgotton the mess involved but memories of porridge encrusted wooden highchairs are coming back to me!

I thought I'd start a blog about it as to not clutter my normal nonsense blog with stories of steamed veg and squishing antics. Although to be honest there's not much too it really. Just a case of offering food (in suitably holdable sized chunks) when they seem ready (but not before 6 months) if they eat it, then let them get on with it. If they leave it, try again another day. Probably let you know they are ready by nicking something of your plate anyway!
I've known about this approach for about 4/5 years now so when I see young babies spoon fed puree it really does look so strange to me and gadgets like this seem just totally absurd!