Who would have thought that a midwestern (beef-cattle raising) farmer's daughter would be slipping her daughter something like tofu?
If you've been reading this blog for a while or if you have spent some time with Ellie in person then you know that she's got some 'issues' when it comes to how she eats her food and what she'll put down the hatch. Due to her strong preference for sweet foods and limited palate for savory flavors, I was wracking my mind for new alternatives for infusing her liquid diet with the nutrition she needs, particularly in the area of protein. No matter how enticing the little labels, foods like Gerber's chicken with vegetables and spaghetti in meat sauce were both met with a clamped mouth, turned head, and gentle push away by Ellie's right hand.
Friday I was bemoaning my lack of creativity in meeting Ellie's nutritional needs when thankfully my friend Andrea suggested tofu, the primary non-animal protein source favored by vegetarians. On Saturday I was optimistic and bought not one, but 2 boxes of tofu (one "firm", the other "extra firm" -- I had never bought it before so I didn't exactly know which kind to get).
So what is tofu? According to Wikipedia, tofu is 'strained bean curd' or 'coagulated soy milk' (don't scrunch up that nose, Dad) -- a product whose origin harkens back to the far east. What makes tofu such a versatile ingredient is its ability to blend in with many dishes, both savory and sweet. When you eat a diet of thick, blended food like Ellie, flavorless tofu pulls two punches in that it delivers protein without distraction and serves as a thickener to her primary meals: soups and smoothies.
So what does she think of it? So far, she hasn't acted like she's noticed anything different at all! And if you get a hankering to try it yourself, it can be found in the produce section.
If you've been reading this blog for a while or if you have spent some time with Ellie in person then you know that she's got some 'issues' when it comes to how she eats her food and what she'll put down the hatch. Due to her strong preference for sweet foods and limited palate for savory flavors, I was wracking my mind for new alternatives for infusing her liquid diet with the nutrition she needs, particularly in the area of protein. No matter how enticing the little labels, foods like Gerber's chicken with vegetables and spaghetti in meat sauce were both met with a clamped mouth, turned head, and gentle push away by Ellie's right hand.
Friday I was bemoaning my lack of creativity in meeting Ellie's nutritional needs when thankfully my friend Andrea suggested tofu, the primary non-animal protein source favored by vegetarians. On Saturday I was optimistic and bought not one, but 2 boxes of tofu (one "firm", the other "extra firm" -- I had never bought it before so I didn't exactly know which kind to get).
So what is tofu? According to Wikipedia, tofu is 'strained bean curd' or 'coagulated soy milk' (don't scrunch up that nose, Dad) -- a product whose origin harkens back to the far east. What makes tofu such a versatile ingredient is its ability to blend in with many dishes, both savory and sweet. When you eat a diet of thick, blended food like Ellie, flavorless tofu pulls two punches in that it delivers protein without distraction and serves as a thickener to her primary meals: soups and smoothies.
So what does she think of it? So far, she hasn't acted like she's noticed anything different at all! And if you get a hankering to try it yourself, it can be found in the produce section.
4 comments:
Good for you - sticking with it. It can be hard with any baby/toddler to be creative through their pickiness, but you have even more special challenges on that front. I know I find it easy to fall into a food rut planning meals for Sam.
Rachel
while researhing better nutrition
appeasing a meal disposition
a switch to the soy
and the kids cry "oh boy,
Lets make tofu a dinner tradition"
hey nathan and cydil
I can bevlieve ellie eat tofu how did she eat tofu with aunt hannah is leave her comment on the blog hannah said
You may even try to go a health food store for even more ideas on nutrition. I know that their is so many different things out there and Ellie will have no idea how healthy you have changed her diet!
See you on Saturday.
Aunt Marcia
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