When our son was five months old, my husband and I decided we could not wait until the recommended six month mark to feed him solid foods. Our little guy was demolishing bottles at record speed. It was finally time to see his face light up at the taste of flavor in his mouth!

Solid food feedings started out fun, but due to allergy and choking scares, this new food freedom quickly became anxiety-filled and limited. Not wanting to add one more element of stress to our new role as parents, we decided to follow a few steps to put the fun back into feeding.

Our Plan

1. We absorbed endless amounts of information on food allergies. Carrie Kirby’s article on Peanut Butter Baby Food helped a lot. Combining research and a discussion with our pediatrician, we developed a comfort level for moving forward with foods that may be more likely to be allergy ridden.

Keep in mind that you can rely on the wisdom that comes with your mommy and daddy instinct here as well!

2. We enlisted the help of our friends, family, pediatrician, local preschools, and the internet to compile a list of food options that fit within dietary guidelines for our son. We learned that low sugar and sodium content were two priorities for us to look out for. Another lesson learned was that if it says “organic” or “all natural” it is not automatically a good choice. Always read the label!

3. We started working off of our idea list (below). Some foods our son enjoyed, some he didn’t, and others he developed a taste for with time. I have heard that it takes up to 30 times for a child to know if they like something or not.

Allergies

When trying something new, it is recommended to wait a few days before trying another food to determine if an allergy will develop. An informative article on what a food allergy looks like and what to do if one results is food allergies.

If your child has a gluten allergy, Sonja Stewart has excellent gluten-free recipes.

Our List for a 1-Year-Old

Plain Yogurt, Applesauce & Cinnamon

French Toast Strips

Beef Ideas

Sweet Potato Muffins

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

Sloppy Joes

Pancakes Made with Applesauce

Brown Rice & Melted Cheese

Cheese Sticks (String or Cheddar (Costco sells these for a good price)

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Macaroni & Cheese

Scrambled Eggs

Fruit Medley (Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Bananas)

Kirkland Organic Animal Crackers (Costco)

Chopped Pears, Mandarin Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pears, Pineapple, Mango (When not in season Dole sells jars of these, pre-cut — with or without syrup).

Sweet Potato Fries

Beets

Avocado or Guacamole

Grilled Cheese

Mashed or Baked Potato (Sweet or White)

Noodles with Butter & Cheese

Bread with Cream Cheese

Bagels

Cooked Carrots

Cottage Cheese

Pinto Beans

English Muffin Pizzas

Nectarines

Cheese Crumbles

Pirates Booty (puffed chip)

Have fun, do recipe/idea swaps with friends, and experiment with spices and different flavors, as you might be surprised at what your child enjoys!