Amanda Kyle, MA, CCC-SLP
We often talk about ‘weanable foods’ and ‘meeting the child where they are at’ skill wise when we wean. For new eaters, the easiest way to present foods that are easy to eat and caloric are to consistently offer purees. But, the reality is that not every child is a fan of purees. This is especially tricky as kids get a bit older and begin to watch their peers and/or siblings eat ‘big kid’ foods which they want to imitate (which is great for motivation, but tricky for intake). And when you think about it, the majority of foods that adults eat are not pureed.
So, when our kids are not drawn to purees, what do we do for easy to eat calories?
1. Get creative.
Use caloric purees as boosters to easy to eat solid foods. An easy to eat food is anything that is easily broken down and can be chewed with minimal skill or effort. A lot of people default to crackers and other dry carbohydrates in instances like these; however, these do not offer enough nutrition on their own, so you’re gonna have to get a bit creative.
You can incorporate easy to eat foods in sticks, including fruit slices, steamed vegetable slices (with butter or oil), soft, processed meats (think crockpot or instant pot cooked or processed like meatballs, chicken nuggets, ground meats), large, overcooked noodles (like Penne). Offering these foods, especially in strips, gives kids a bit more control in how foods are placed in the mouth and can increase their ability to be able to chew this up while they are learning.
2. Think: Dips!
Purees make great dips, so offer dips as often as possible, especially with empty foods (like those dry crunchies we all love). You can use your traditional homemade purees as dips, or use any variety of food that is already a dip, such as guacamole, sour cream, hummus, yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, etc. You can also make crumbly foods, like ground beef and make this into a dip adding a wet food. One of my go-to’s is taco dip, ground beef, beans, seasoning, cheese and sour cream all mixed together and offered with veggie straws.
You can also look to foods that are naturally a puree that we all eat. Thicker soups (such as broccoli cheese, tomato, and potato) are a great way to offer a variety of foods and are easy to increase calories into (and this is something the whole family can eat). If dipping a spoon is difficult for your little one, you can offer these in a small cup and allow them to sip it. Small, 1 oz cups (i.e. a condiment cup, shot glass, dixie cup, or EZPZ cup) give them more control and is a less overwhelming volume.
Offer foods already dipped: plant one end of the food into the dip with the other end plain and exposed. This will allow your kiddo to eat the end that is familiar (and safe), and to explore the dip on the other end. When you begin to offer foods in this way (I often present as a ‘hedghog’, a pile of dip with food sticks sticking out all over, and 2-3 pieces on the side, dry), kids usually follow the same routine. They pull it out, look at it (sometimes show you), then drop it (or put it back) and eat their dry (familiar ones). They will then indicate that they want more of the dry ones.
This is when you can let them know those ones are all gone, but we still have some in the dip. Pull one out and show them the dry side, and let them know, ‘no dip’. Model eating the dry side and setting down the leftover dipped end. Then wait.
Over time, they will imitate eating the dry side, putting down the dipped end. Then eventually will taste the dip (either licking off their end they inevitable get messy trying to eat the dry side, or they are ready to try it off the preferred food). After a while, they will begin to accept their favorite foods dipped.
Note: through this whole interaction, we never once prompt them to eat or try the dip. Our focus is on helping them eat what is presented in a way they are comfortable with. We are letting them choose when to be ready to acknowledge the dip. I have seen this progression happen across the course of 1 snack as well as across the course of a month. But it pretty consistently works. So be patient and consistent. Trust the process.
No matter how you offer it, purees still provide a great way to boost calories and nutrition, and having a kiddo that is not loving straight purees does not mean that purees are off the table. Get creative in how these are offered, and continue offering, in a neutral way, even if it is refused initially. More exposures means more opportunities for acceptance!
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