baby Dego wakes up so happy! his mood is crazy contagious and always reminds me of this quote:

'Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called, 'Everything That Could Go Wrong.'

well i do and it's FULL and needs to be deleted. lol.

he started clapping (or trying to) a few days ago and has not stopped since.

well this happens every weekend, right on schedule.

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decisions, decisions! i start craving those weekend foods... pizza, french fries, subway cookies, etc. i guess that's where my passion for making healthier versions of classic comfort foods came from though. i want to satisfy that craving (more often) without sacrificing my health or gym progress. fair enough!? i'm so glad we have tons of healthier alternatives to work with and swap out these days! anyway, i have been having some stiffness in my neck, so i hit the gym for cardio only and stretching for my saturday workout. will be taking it easy so i can hit it hard again on tuesday for my HIIT class.

i stopped by Sprouts after the gym and picked up some protein: 99% lean ground chicken breast and Applegate organic chicken and apple sausage for breakfast next week. i cracked open the sausage as soon as i got home though and had a filling post-workout meal of whole wheat toast, egg white/veggie/sausage scramble, and kiwi (low sugar ketchup & cheddar almond cheese on the side). delish!!!!

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oh, i got some pears too! they were next in line to try for Dego's homemade baby food. i just diced up 1 anjou pear, threw it in a small sauce pan with 2 tbsp water and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, covered it, and cooked it on med-low until tender. after less than 10 min, i poured it all into my Ninja and pureed the mixture until it was super smooth. pears = thumbs up!

then, we turned UP!!!!

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with letter puzzles on the floor,

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Food Network mag, and i killed the last of that coconut Arctic Zero pint with some fat-free cool whip and sprinkles on top. party, party! hope you had a relaxing saturday yourself!! after your workout of course ;)

Q: have you tried the Applegate Turkey or Good Morning bacon yet!?

what's your fave Applegate product?

i could not WAIT to make my own baby food!! having the power to put the best, nutritious, healthy, whole foods into my growing little man is such an awesome honor i take pride in.

around the 1 yr mark last month, Chiso started hating all things vegetables. i was in denial and thought he would remain the garbage disposal we all know and love him to be. they now usually end up in the seat of his high chair with him, become toys, or he just does this:

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i can get him to eat fresh fruits in raw form (strawberries, bananas, pears, blueberries, etc....) all day long. veggies don't even make it anywhere near his mouth as he puts his hands over his face when he sees or smells them coming. where did he learn this behavior!? needless to say, i'm still putting my blender to good use.

if i can hide spinach in a smoothie, i can do the very same thing with Chiso's food. sure this is nothing new, but it is so gratifying watching him eat his vegetables and literally lick the bowl clean. :twisted:

making different combos is where the fun begins! or not, lol. can't win'em all. but here are some cool pairings you can try (thanks, Marguerite!):

spananas: 1 cup cooked spinach, 1 banana, half an avocado. cook/microwave and blend. i use breast milk to get the mixability going in the blender. you can also use water or formula.

sweet potatoes + bananas + turnip greens (got carried away but hey, he ate it)

potatoes + zucchini

tastes just like mashed potatoes, but sneak in some sautéed veggies. cauliflower works GREAT here too! even got over on ol' Sonny.

banana + avocado

one of his favs- the texture is incredibly creamy.

apples + prunes

very sweet, which is prolly why he likes this combo.

add either chicken, lean ground turkey, or tilapia to these concoctions for a complete, balanced meal. Chiso's fave:

spinach, grilled chicken, and bananas.

notice a trend here? Chiso won't eat it if it doesn't at least smell like bananas! so, base your combos off of your critter's favorites.

1. hand-pick the ingredients: you have total control! pick a VARIETY of all-natural, organic, or raw, fresh fruits and veggies in the peak of their season, as well as lean cuts of meat. and please...don't limit your baby! besides, if they don't like it, you can eat it :lol: when fresh isn't available, frozen is the next best thing. 2. chop and cook: steam, sauté, roast, bake, boil until tender 3. blend: blender, baby food grinder, food processor, fork 4. save money!! that's a no brainer vs. buying the jarred/packaged varieties. you can make a nice batch that will last 2-3 days, and that coincides perfectly with the 4 day wait rule. finally, your baby gets more nutrients this way; no additives or preservatives, just the real thing. win-win.

know that the food your baby likes and dislikes will change like the weather. good luck, and DON'T give up!

what are some of your LO's fav combos? please share!