Baby Burgers and Broccoli

Ichigo and I have been enjoying baby-led weaning for about a week and a half now. It has been a really positive experience for us. She enjoys everything I have given her, and I love watching her explore new colors, textures and tastes. I love garlic and strong spices, so I want to start adding more flavors to her food.
I decided to make her some ginger and garlic broccoli and mini turkey burgers tonight.
I steamed the broccoli for about 7 minutes, then I sauteed minced garlic and ginger for a few minutes in a little olive oil, added in the broccoli and continued to saute it for another 2 minutes or so.





After that I made mini turkey burgers with a few shakes of cumin and minced garlic mixed in. I shaped the burgers like fat fingers, so that Ichigo would be able to pick them up.
I had no idea how much Ichigo was going to love her "spiced up" food! I gave her the broccoli first and she just sucked and sucked on it. She was in heaven. Once she finally got around to trying the turkey burgers, it just got funnier. She was sucking and gnawing on them. It was a flavor explosion in her tiny mouth. It is just so much fun to watch her eat!

Ichigo's first foods

Little Ichigo turned 6 months old on March 1st.
I've been planning to use baby-led weaning, and let Ichigo feed herself. I love the idea of letting your child have control of their experience with food.


Sweet potato

Since she has been showing signs of readiness for solids, her papa and I gave her baked sweet potato fries at lunch time. Sweet potatoes were a big hit! Today I mixed things up and she had green beans, a carrot, and more sweet potato fries. She seemed to enjoy everything. A lot of what she does is play and exploring, but she put everything in her mouth and she is able to swallow bits without gagging.


Carrot and green beans

She also practiced drinking from a cup with some water. She loves drinking breast milk from a shot glass (but refuses bottles), so I decided to let her practice holding a little cup by herself. Most of the water was just dumped down her front unless I hold the cup with her. I think I'll continue to help her hold the cup until she seems to understand the idea a little more.
I'm so happy to be giving my daughter a healthy start with food. My husband and I both love cooking and eating. I look forward to having a new assistant in the kitchen in a couple of years!