Like lots of natural mamas out there, I want to keep my little one from becoming a sugar baby. You know, the kind of kid who will only drink milk if there’s chocolate syrup included and uses French fries as carriers for ketchup. As I scan the grocery aisles, it’s scary how everything from juice boxes to packaged cereal to yogurt are loaded with sugar – and these products are developed for and marketed to children!
With that in mind, the first food that crossed Griffin’s lips was an avocado. From there, I tried to keep banana, pear, and apple to a minimum and instead stress the veggies. Granted at six months, babies can’t handle too many veggies since the fiber is hard on their digestive tracks, but I was determined to stick to the ones babies can eat, such as carrots, peas, and squashes. I wanted fruit to be more of a garnish as opposed to the main dish.
Reality: Griffin doesn’t like veggies
He gags. He spits. He cried at the taste of pureed carrots. Peas were a pure meltdown. I even tried a soft egg yolk once and he looked at me like I had two heads (texture thing?).
And yet, when I tried an avocado banana mash, everything changed. Griffin opened his mouth. He swallowed. I even detected a smile. He was digging every messy bite.
Oh, no! Griffin’s a sugar baby.
I wanted Griffin to eat on his own terms, but I wanted him to like veggies too. So what’s a worried mom to do? Search the internet for answers, of course.
As I was reading an article on a great breastfeeding site called Kelly Mom , I saw a few facts that set me free. The article said not to feel bad about starting your child on banana or sweet potato or other “sweet” foods. It explained that breast milk is actually quite sweet, so it makes perfect sense that babies gravitate toward that taste first. As babies’ taste buds mature, they’ll branch out and explore other flavors.
Phew, that made me feel better… and it made sense. In fact, I find it no coincidence that Griffin’s favorite meal is the avocado banana mash which is high in carbs and fat, just like breast milk.
Thank you Kelly Mom!
This natural mama feels better about her son’s early eating habits. And I wanted to pass along this perspective in case other mamas needed to hear it too. Just because your baby likes bananas today doesn’t mean he’ll be eating Pop Tarts in ten years!
Is your child drawn to sweets?
How do you steer him or her toward vegetables and savory foods?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I found the same thing to be true with my little one. She would not eat the veggies I steamed and pureed for her, but found out she loves the organic jar food from the market, so I now mix the two. I gave in to the jar food because she is on the small side, so I want her to eat more, and if its jar food she likes, well then thats what she is going to get…as long as I can mix my spinach in with the jar of carrots. Oh well.
We do what we got to do! I wonder what makes the jar food taste better… is there any special ingredients? I think that’s a great idea to blend the two so mom wins and baby wins…
Sharing some helpful comments from my Facebook page:
Bettie Motter Pfeiffer
interestingly enough, babies don’t come with a sweet tooth, they are introduced to sweets, so, keeping your baby from them in the first place won’t get them hooked on a chocolate milk bottle or sweetened juices.
Bettie Motter Pfeiffer
My sons became diabetic from the ages of 7,7 and 9. Their father also had diabetes, they weren’t exposed to sweets at home so it really wasn’t all that hard to stop a habit that wasn’t started in the first place.
Anke Braun Weekes
I hardly ever give my 23 month old daughter sweets… So little that she considers seaweed crisps (from Trader Joes YUM) candy and will eat a whole box if you let her.
Sarah Rainey
I get told all the time how “lucky” I am that my boy eats well. I just smile and nod because when the other Moms were shoving cool whip in their babies’ mouths and letting them suck on lollipops at 4 months I was feeding mine his vegetables and such. I got told how mean I was and how it won’t hurt him to try ice cream, candies and such and I just stayed firm. He’s only now starting to get an occasional sweet and the boy will sit and eat salad with me, loves all his vegetables, tofu ect. A lot of the other Moms I know are struggling to get theirs to eat any sort of vegetable…. Ok I am feeling a bit smug LMAO. It just feels good that after the name calling and mocking they are now questioning why my kid eats so well and theirs don’t.
Bettie Motter Pfeiffer
Good for you, Sarah, habits only come from something being started in the first place. Good ones and bad. kids only learn from others. It isn’t something they are born with.
Jessica Fashun
We were blessed with a very good eater, so thrilled!
We have a veggiehead here. She prefers asparagus or green beans… she will eat these anyday. Although she does like a sweet banana too.
My mother was never really in the habit of giving me candy as treats in the home – I was offerred sweets a lot at school and daycare, but by that time it kinda lost its appeal – my reward for being good were (still :p) hugs and kisses from mummy
. Carb free warm fuzzy feelings. Win-win.
CC recently posted BLOG ETIQUETTE
Love how your mom rewards
. Hope to do the same.
we started out by blending veggie purees with breastmilk to help with the flavor transition. it also helps with the digestion transition when blended with foods that are known to potentially cause gas (like the dark greens, broccoli and spinach…).