I’m not sure how it happened, but Cameron will eat pretty much anything orange, which in the fruit and vegetable world is a good thing. The orange color exists in certain fruits and vegetables due to the presence of carotenoids, which turn into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A supports the immune system, helps vision, acts as antioxidants and promotes a healthy heart. At any rate, I’m happy that orange is his preferred color of the moment.
Early in our solid food adventure, sweet potatoes and carrots were two of Cameron’s favorites. He has expanded his taste buds to embrace papaya, persimmons, butternut squash, peaches, and cantaloupe. The first two on that list aren’t part of the usual repertoire of most babies, but thanks to his mother-in-law and a number of great ethnic markets in Atlanta, Cameron is being exposed to a wider variety of fruits and vegetables than the norm or what is found in jars on the supermarket shelves. Not sure he is ready for sea cucumber or bitter melon just yet though.
Making your own baby food really requires little effort. I just steam up the vegetable, run it through the food processor with a little water or breast milk or mash with a fork to the desired consistency. What I’m not going to serve immediately, I freeze in ice cube trays. Once frozen, I pop out my veggie cubes and store in a Ziploc bag for later use. I’ve never had to cook Cameron’s fruit because I waited to introduce it until he was old enough to handle it mashed on its own. Try it – it really is easy and there is no question about what other ingredients might be in your baby’s food.
What are your favorite orange fruits and vegetables?
Stay Connected with Ann