Boujee Baby Food?
So, like most people I know, I have to really stretch my money when it comes to food because those receipts can REALLLLY get out of hand - $15 here, $20 the next day, etc. Etc. It adds TF up. When it comes to food for myself and my son's father I try to buy as much produce as possible to keep things healthy but we still (for now) stock up on cheap, horrible-for-your-insides food like RAMEN and snack packs of chips. Lots of grab-and-go foods for days I don't have time to prepare food for work.
However, this post isn't about our unstable adult diet, but on how I make sure our baby boy is eating just the best of the best so he can FEEL and GROW into tip-top shape.
How I see it: we've already poisoned our bodies with a bunch of junk and abuse over the years, too much Monster and Red Bull, alcohol, smoke, yadayada. But for Kai, what we have is a clean slate to work with. I was at my peak of health during pregnancy. All of my doctors were concerned because I've been diabetic for over 15 years and that can lead to a lot of complications when pregnancy is thrown into the mix but luckily for us we had a perfect baby boy- perfect weight, perfect size, perfect health, perfect smile- and that's how I intend on keeping him. So when it came time to start eating Foods, I have been EL JEFE, trying to make sure that every day he gets a good amount of fruits, vegetables, and protein. I try to avoid foods that are devoid of nutritional value and excess sugar. Now that he's about to be a year old, I'll admit sometimes I let him snack on foods that I yelled at people for trying to give him a couple of months ago... It's just those eyes and that look he gives me when I refuse to share, it kills me. But anyway, back on track, staying focused, Atalie!!
Some people think it's crazy that i always keep avocados on deck for him because they are considered more of a luxury to have than an essential part of a broke-bitch budget BUT hear me out, the benefits are intense and if I have to put back some snack foods for US so Kai can get those healthy fats then that's whats going to happen, knowwhatimean? It was one of his first foods because of the creamy consistency and he immediately loved it. Just plain and natural, no salt or spices, that's how he started. Now I mix it up for him the same way that I eat them, myself. Some olive oil, little bit of ginger dressing, loaded up with cilantro and tomatoes, whatever we have that doesn't destroy the nutritional value behind it all. So what does aguacate do for babies?? Why is it so important to me that he have them as a part of his regular diet??
Well, most people cringe at the word 'fat' automatically avoiding all foods containing fat when they want to eat in a healthier way. However, we all need fats as a crucial part of brain development, to help those building blocks of the brain the same way protein does for muscle. As someone who is so new to this world, developing a functional and highly complex noggin is definitely Top 5 on the list of things to constantly work on.
Avocados are also known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. So whilethey're aiding his brain in development, they're also cleaning his system and banishing toxins and fighting inflammation which can be brought on by many things (and I should know this, as someone who has suffered countless sleepless nights due to inflammation off the bursa sacs surrounding my shoulders. Something I never want him to endure!).
Finally, in addition to all of that, avocados carry within them vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin E and minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, sodium and zinc—all in one great superfruit. Is that a kickass tool supplied to us by mother nature, or what?
I'm just happy he's started on them at such a young age and he has the taste for it now. I didn't try my first avocado until I was maybe around 10 and to me it was just AWFUL. Being Boricua, my grandma would literally get offended by this, lol. We'd be like getting ready to go ham on some chicken and rice and beans and she'd yell from the kitchen, "quieres aguacate con tu arroz??" And just like last time, I'd tell her I didn't like them and she would do that lip-smackingthing followed by like an, "Ayy (or aii??? I'm not sure how to spell that sound, still to this day), como que no te gusta el aguacate? Con un poquito de sal son rico...esta nena es loca..Deja esa pendeja ja." Eye rolls, the works. Grandma shit, you know. Hey, it just wasn't my cup of tea. But pregnancy changes your tastes for things and along with my newfound love of red peppers, onions, and sweet wine, I now loved -nay, CRAVED- the green deliciousness. So I did research on the benefits behind them and why I should add them into my diet and I was convinced I wanted my son to get started on them when he was ready to start on solids.
My son is so strong for his age and he has had muscle definition in his legs since less than a month old. When he learns how to walk, we already know we're in for it because he is the polar opposite of a lazy baby. He's constantly going and going and figuring things out. He can't walk on his own yet but he holds onto the bed and basically runs in laps, climbing on, climbing down, running to the other side with his little lopsided fast-walk, it's adorable but it also shows how when he learns something, he really picks it up and goes, goes, goes! Honestly, I attribute his intelligence, coordination, and strength to his healthy diet.... that and good genes from Mom and Dad, of course ;)
