Exploration

When I first wrote that title, about 10 seconds ago, I had intended it to mean that Toby was now exploring new  foods and textures; but have suddenly realized that I, myself, have undergone a great deal of culinary exploration.

Right before having Toby, I had been in college for three years and then living on my own for another. I ate copious amounts of SideKicks, chicken fingers, rice and cookies. I loved cooking, but it mostly took the form of baking cakes or cookies for people. I had no reason to prepare anything more substantial or imaginative.

And so it became apparent that once Toby had started eating solids I couldn't just make a pot of pasta or mashed potatoes, while he munched away on rice puffs and boob. I became hyper-conscious of balanced meals and finding ways to make baking still taste good without using 2 cups of sugar and chocolate chips.
A lot of people make soups for the family, but since Toby had no interest in having a spoon shoved in his mouth, and was not yet skilled enough to do it himself, I had to find ways to have daily finger foods, that I could also eat and fill-up on.






- 13 month old Toby, pondering chewing tactics for his cooked peas, carrots and pepper.






I bought a lot of frozen veggies and cooked small amounts at a time for twice as long as indicated on the package to make them soft enough to 'gum' instead of really chew. I usually had chicken myself, or just ate a lot of veggies and dip.
I kind of felt like I was getting into a rut because there were so many common foods I was avoiding still because of Toby's rash and moodiness.  Rice, chicken, veggies, repeat. Potato, beef, veggies, repeat. I missed other food terribly.

It was probably around this time that I became so determined to explore more food options. I started buying and eating fruits and vegetables that I previously disliked or dismissed. I took full advantage of my access to almost 10 herb varieties in our gardens and added a different mix to the meal each night.
I could have the same food three times in a week and have it taste completely different.
Toby sat on the counter or in a sling while I chopped and stirred and he soon began helping himself to the raw cut up herbs that ended up in clumps on my counter.
I wanted food to be exciting for him, not just plain peas and rice every night. I couldn't use a lot of types of sauces because the onion bothered him and a large amount contain gluten and copious amounts of salt. But when I loaded a pot of rice with parsley and lovage, it suddenly had a whole new flavour experience.
Toby, from a very young age, began to view this range of flavours as 'normal'.

Once his head wrapped around the fact that everything he ate tasted different, he wanted to eat more.

Favourites at this time included:

Stealing frozen blueberries from the bowl when I was trying to make muffins. (Also great for teething)

Eating every single cut up grape at Great-Grampy and Gran's

And sharing apple slices and raisins with friends (once paranoid-mom was convinced

that chewing techniques were advanced enough to avoid choking on apple pieces)

Every time my mom witnessed him eating something with gusto, she would shake her head and mutter "He's.....you."

I would love for him to grow up with a flair for food. Or maybe he'll be over-exposed to it and want nothing to do with it when he's older.

But for now, the adventure continues!