So, your baby is showing all the signs that he or she is ready for the next stage of feeding… in addition to breast milk and formula. And, of course, you want to encourage them to experiment with food and make sure they try a variety of foods and don’t become picky eaters.

We are very lucky to have good… eaters. I know part of it has to do with luck, but part of it helps them discover new foods and tastes, and it also makes them discover new ones. You want your kids to love “greens”. Our girls will sometimes ask for salads. And sometimes they say “no thanks” and that’s okay because I know they’ll want it again the next day. Yes, they are just like us, these tiny people.

Just like us, they need variety, but they can also be picky. It’s easy to give up when they don’t like something, but it’s just as important not to. Babies need a variety of nutrients in their first year of life, but there are six essential nutrients you should be sure to follow: protein, omega-3s, calcium, iron, fiber, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, so you should keep trying. So, what have we done to ensure that our little girls have a wide choice of allowed foods?

Start with vegetables. We started with mild flavors, homemade or store bought, like Beech-Nut Organics™ Sweet Potatoes. I think sweet potatoes were my girls first meal. They didn’t scream “vegetables” in their mouths, but they weren’t as sweet as some fruits either. Then we worked on stronger flavors like spinach, broccoli and green beans.