At risk of sounding a tad bourgeois, I admit that one of the things I’ve taken for granted while growing up is eating. Many daughters of “tiger parents” may have experienced the same since we grew up being told that getting food in your belly isn’t a responsibility, but doing well in school, getting a degree and nailing that corporate job are. Even when we’re older, cooking takes a backseat while eating out becomes the norm.
That changes when a baby enters the picture.
When my husband and I learned we were expecting, my mum started providing home-cooked food to make sure I ate better. We also moved into my parents’ for the confinement period and we ended up staying longer. While I went back to work, my mum began extending the family meals to the baby. I gladly relinquished the responsibility as I was grateful for the break.
When my son, Aidan, turned one, we followed my husband on his diplomatic posting, which took us away from familiar food and routines. Aidan’s appetite was increasing and we never developed a taste for the Indonesian way of cooking. Overnight, I became a stay-at-home parent and was responsible for feeding my family.
Preparing family meals wasn’t easy initially, especially not with a toddler and a bear of a husband to feed. Between planning, finding nutritious recipes for tots and adults alike, and portioning, I found that baby-led weaning (BLW) made things easier because I could cook everyone’s meals in one go.
So here’s what I’ve discovered on my journey so far:
Plan Ahead
A shopping list and calendar on the fridge is all that’s needed to get sorted. I use the Organized Mums’ Weekly Planner Calendar (from Kaleidoscope, Publika) and Knock Knock’s All Out Of Pads (from Sundays, Bangsar Village II). I’d spend 10 minutes on Saturday mornings deciding on a meal plan for the rest of the week, listing down ingredients that are needed. Writing it out means you get to see an overview of the week’s meals and if the family is getting a balanced diet. Getting organised greatly helps to minimise prep time and the frustration around cooking. It also increases the chances of having the stuff I need to quickly throw a meal together.
Put Time Aside for Prep
As soon as I get back from grocery shopping, I’d have the poultry, meats and fish cleaned and fruits soaked before storing so it would be easy to use when it’s time to cook. I make homemade stocks for soup, pureed vegetables to sneak into meals and blended spices in advance, which are time savers when I’m cooking.
Cook Together
Involving your child in meal preparation, serving and cleaning up doesn’t just make the job easier, but it also increases the likelihood of him eating what he’s helped to make. Aidan’s given non-breakables like plastic measuring cups, steel pots and pans, and wooden spoons while I’m on the stove. It always results in fantastic bonding sessions involving music and dancing.
Don’t Be Discouraged by Picky Eaters
It can be hard when your child refuses to eat what you’ve painstakingly spent time on. After a few rejections of my own, I was worried if my toddler was getting enough to eat. However, when you take the BLW route, choice is a large element of many meals. I realised that Aidan needed a variety of flavours before he and I find his favourites. A quick fix I’ve found is to lay out a plate of finger food – ranging from fruits to bread fingers – that’s available within his reach at any time of day.
Serve the Rainbow
I incorporate a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables as a guide to healthy eating in BLW. The different colour categories not only carry its own set of unique disease-fighting chemicals, but also increases visual appeal on a plate and the chance of kids picking something up to eat. Mealtimes become fun lessons waiting to happen.
I’ve begun to associate cooking with an expression of love. It demonstrates a willingness to learn and a commitment to providing the best for your family. It makes you conscious of everything that’s being put into your child’s mouth in a way you’ve never thought for yourself. It makes you want to eat better so that you and your partner can live a long and healthy life to see him grow up. BLW complements our parenting philosophies. Being able to eat together with our son encourages a wholesome family food culture and healthy food habits that I hope will last him a lifetime.
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Khairun is mum to 18-month old Aidan and owner of Recovr Resources Sdn Bhd, a growing social enterprise in the recycling and equal employment industry. She and her husband Max are currently living in Jakarta, and are expecting a daughter in December.
