Sugar & Spice & All Things Nice

As I have written, brown rice cereal was a real hit with BC. Then, we tried acorn squash. The first few mouthfuls were delightful. But by the end of his bowl, he was a little tired of squash. Next, we tried pumpkin. He ate it, but did not look like he really enjoyed it, which made me a little sad, since pumpkin is one of my all time favorite veggies. I began to brainstorm on how to make BC's vegetables more delightful for him.

Now, although I love pumpkin, I admit, I do not just eat it out of the can. I like to add cinnamon, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and cinnamon to my pumpkin (yes, I really love cinnamon... I even add it to my salads sometimes). So, why would I think that little BC would enjoy pumpkin straight out of the can? I would not eat it, so why should I expect him to gobble it up?

On a whim, I looked up when babies can have spices added to their foods. I found some very interesting articles. According to an article from BabyCenter.com,

Believe it or not, babies can handle all sorts of interesting food well before age 1. New research and a fresh look at baby feeding are turning cultural norms and even expert guidelines on their heads, and many believe that the result will be better health for kids.

The article goes on to say,

The bland fare that has traditionally dominated the diet of American babies—rice cereal, plain pasta, and the like—isn't bad for them, but it may be depriving babies of important nutrients and creating a generation of picky eaters. With their cautious palates, it's not surprising that preschoolers reject healthy "real food" in favor of uniform, sodium-loaded "kid food." (Think macaroni and cheese, breaded chicken fingers, and those ever-present fish crackers.)

My desire is to have an "odd eater" - not that BC eats weird food, but that in comparison with typical American kids, he eats differently. I want BC to eat and ENJOY a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. Eating veggies should never be considered a "punishment" for children. I was blessed with a Marvelous Mother and Fabulous Father who encouraged me and my Brave Brother to eat a variety of nutritious food. Was I labled a "picky eater" and "weird lunch box girl"? Sure. But in reality, I ate and eat a much broader variety of food than most people. Maybe I do not eat all the types of pizza at the buffet, but I will eat almost ANYTHING on a salad bar - and I do not mean a small salad bar, I mean like a Sweet Tomatoes kind of salad bar.

So, as I did my research, and thought about the grimace BC made at his pumpkin, I decided that it was more important to find a way for my little boy to enjoy his veggies than to not spice up his food and limit his diet. I started with 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. I still got a little of a leery face. I added a tiny bit more. Suddenly, BC's eyes brightened! He began to open his mouth for more! He started saying "Mmm...mmm...mmm" (which he does when he is enjoying a food). Now, he LOVES pumpkin, acorn squash, and butternut squash. All he needed was a little spicy kick.

Firstly, do not take my word - do your own research - talk to your pediatrician. Remember, this is your baby's health. Secondly, I would not recommend to start your baby off with spices - as in the very first food they try. But once you start vegetables, if you and your doctor agree, add a little spice to their baby food and jazz it up!

I am thankful that MM did not force or guilt me into eating food as a child. She did make compromises with me - I could not go back for more salad until I had eaten three bites of meat - or no dessert if I did not drink all my milk. She never told me about starving children in third world countries though.

Tony Merida, an author, pastor, and seminary professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary preached a sermon on adoption. He has five children, four adopted from Ukraine, one from Ethiopia. He tells a story about his son shortly after they brought him home from Africa. 

Joshua, we brought him home, I will never forget, it was like the second meal we had, Kimberly made a spinach salad. It's what she does sometimes. We learn to like them. Anyway, she sets one down, and Joshua, there is some other food on the plate, and he doesn't just eat around the spinach salad, he protests and leaves the room. Yea, he gets up and leaves. I put him back down, and he gets up and leaves again. I am trying to explain to him, even though he doesn't know English yet, you have to eat. And I kept thinking to myself, you know, when I was a kid, my mom used to tell me, "You need to eat your green vegetables." And I would be like, "Why mom?" And she would say, "Well, there are starving kids in Africa. And you should eat them." And I was just thinking to myself, "Apparently, they won't eat it either." My mom has used terrible logic to guilt me into eating spinach, and maybe some of you need to be freed as well. 

I will never guilt BC into eating food that he does not like. However, I will show him how to be thankful for the food God has provided for us to eat. I will encourage him to at least try new foods (especially before he gets seconds on foods he does like). I will teach him to be polite when food is offered that he does not care to eat.

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.

BC enjoying peas spiced with a little ghee and cumin.