{BabyFoodie} Beyond Purée

So your baby has mastered purées and is eyeballing your dinner plate.  Here are some ideas to take him to the next level.  You may notice I try to avoid using wheat flour because it's hard on the digestive system among other things.  I didn't give my youngest any crackers or bread until he was around one year, and I still try to minimize it.  I'm sure there are LOTS of things to add to this list but this will get the wheels turning - comments welcome!

Soft & squishy finger foods:

• avocado (try with a little drizzle of soy sauce or at least a pinch of salt!)
• banana, watermelon, pear
• blueberries, cut in half
• scrambled yolks (yes, you can do this!)
• diced apples sprinkled with cinnamon and simmered 'til soft
• roasted potato wedges, with extra crispy parts removed
• TJs Lentil chips, helps them learn to "chew"

And here are some family-friendly meals that just require a little, if any, blending:

• Whole or refried beans (with avocado or cheese if your baby can eat dairy)
• Meatballs (these are so tender and easy for babies to swallow - if you're not doing oats/grains than try subbing ricotta for low-carb meatballs) 

• Virtually any meat, veggie and rice/quinoa/potato, etc. (e.g. pot roast with carrots and potatoes, roast chicken with rice and peas...) 
• Healthy muffins (these are my go-to recipe which sub oats for flour)

• Coconut Curry (recipe to follow, essentially coconut milk and curry powder over meat and veggies and rice)
• Homemade Chicken Soup (homemade stock is uber nutritious and rich in minerals -- click to learn how to make your own stock in the slow cooker)

• Easy Homemade Chili (my son loves this!)

I hope this gives you some ideas about new things to offer your lil' one!