During my son’s first year of eating finger food, I made sure he had a blast trying new foods! He always had a balanced meal, get exposure to common allergens at least once per week with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables. His plate always looked great. Once I became pregnant with my second, I started noticing that my plate, on the other hand, always seemed to be full of empty carbohydrates. So I decided to start taking care of my own diet the way I was already so passionately taking care of my sons.
And guess what? That one decision has been life-changing not only for him, but also for me. I had been mixing up concoctions for him that I had never tried (say, almond butter in oatmeal). Then one day I finally decided to serve myself what he was having and, to my surprise, it was incredibly delicious. And now that’s one of the only ways I’ll eat oatmeal! I’ve also tried several new fruits and vegetables that I was already preparing for him. He discovered his true love for apples and now him and I enjoy an apple a day together (so far, this new routine has kept the doctor away!).
Not only has this change been beneficial for me, but I can see what this has done for him as well. When we sit together to eat at the table, he looks at his plate and then immediately at mine to see what I’m eating. If they differ, he’s more inclined to ask me for some of my food. If they’re the same thing, I’m able to respond with a simple, “I’m eating what you’re eating.” That usually follows with a game resulting in us taking bites of the same foods at the same time.
Now, I’m not saying you have to do eat the same thing 100% of the time. It’s important for kids to also know and have boundaries and that sometimes they truly won’t be able to eat or drink (hello, coffee) what you are. But I do believe this approach has helped reduce any picky eating battles with our son since he began eating solids at 6 months old.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to feeding your child finger foods, Solid Starts is a great resource that has helped me understand how to safely serve my child different types of food. Are you eating what your child eats? If not, are you up for the challenge?