Green baby crack

Note: The post title reads like it might be about some horrible new diaper rash - but it's not! Today I'm talking about food.

We continue having fun introducing new foods to Jonathan. I have become much more relaxed about ingredients, with only a few exceptions, so his diet has really broadened in the last few weeks. His reactions are priceless! Here are some of my favorites:

1) Gerber Macaroni and Beef: This is basically baby Spaghetti-O's, with less salt that the adult version. I have not been in the habit of heating Jonathan's foods, even the meat-containing ones, because I don't want him to come to expect it. But even I could not face feeding the poor little guy cold Spaghetti-O's. So I popped the bowl in the microwave for a bit. I am very paranoid about overheating foods and burning his mouth. After heating on "medium" for thirty seconds, I took the bowl out, and thought it felt a little too warm. I stirred it thoroughly to remove "hot spots." It still felt warm, so I put the bowl in an ice water bath for a little. Then I scooped up a spoonful and blew on it. Finally, after tasting it to make sure it was lukewarm, I gave Jonathan a taste. He is not used to warm food! He kept his mouth open with the O's on his tongue and panted like a dog on a hot day. Drama baby.

2) Fresh fruit: There have been some lovely peaches and cantaloupes at the market these days. I will carve out little chunks of fruit for Jonathan and place them on his high chair tray. He does not like to touch anything slimy or sticky! He will poke the offending bits with a finger but will not pick them up. Instead, he will pick up the Oatios scattered around them. Then, when all the Oatios are gone, he will furiously wave his hand over the tray, shoving all the fruit to the side. If I pick up a piece and offer it to him, he will clamp his mouth shut and whip his head from side to side. This strongly resembles his "dancing," as seen in the video on the home page. I have to bribe him with an Oatio before he will take a piece of fruit. The current rate is one O for one fruit piece.

3) Veggie Booty, aka Green Baby Crack: This is a health food snack that is quite popular with the toddler set these days. They are rice and corn puffs, flavored with spinach and kale. They are low salt and baked rather than fried. They taste and look, to my eyes, quite a bit like moldy Cheetos. But I thought Jonathan might like to try them. I gave him one and he used his front teeth to nibble on it. His initial reaction was a little muted - he didn't go crazy like he did for the YoBaby yogurt, but he seemed happy enough to swallow it down. I didn't realize how much he liked it until dinner, when I put a few pieces of Veggie Booty on the tray along with his usual appetizer of Oatios. The appetizer keeps him busy while I am getting his food ready. I turned to look and he was carefully picking up all the Booty and leaving the O's behind. Once the Booty was finished, the O's were left on the tray, looking quite forlorn. I asked him if he wanted them. He picked one up, contemplated it for a minute, then deliberately threw it over the side. I guess that's a "no."