Diet Water - What Marlowe Eats {A Vegan Baby}

I've been asked many times about Marlowe's (and my) diet. A while ago, I addressed my thoughts on raising her vegan: here. I'm still very content with my decision.... but, of course, I am very open about changing her diet to whatever I find to work best, or fill her needs.
I started introducing Marlowe to rice cereal around 5 months old. Then slowly started giving her purees or things in the mesh teether bag (mostly fruits) around 6-7 months old (this number could be off, I have tired mom brain). Slowly (very slowly) after that I would give her a new food to try here and there. Not for fear of allergies or anything, but mostly cause her bum is sensitive and anything the least bit acidic seemed to affect that. I usually made purees or let her "chew" on bigger items of food. I wasn't giving her as many solids as I wanted to give her at this point... mostly because... well.... it was easier not to. She seemed content on the breast and trying to feed her was near impossible. She was pretty set on not letting anyone feed her, so boob it was. Once she got to the point where she could pick up food and feed herself things really started rolling. Here we are today... and what does Marlowe eat? Pretty much everything I eat... with the exception of soups... cause you know... she can't feed herself soup and 'letting someone feed you is for babiesssss' (well, thats how she acts anyway... but she is all about trying to put food in other peoples mouths). Oh, and she hasn't had sriracha (or anything else overly spicy), yet. ;)

Anyway, so here are some photos of what Marlowe eats: 
***please forgive the blurriness and awful quality. 
(You try keeping food from your hungry baby in order to snap a decent photo, it's damn near impossible!)

mama and baby: roasted artichoke, carrots, zucchini, mushroom, onion, and tomatoes over pasta with oil, lemon zest, and fresh herbs.

mama: coconut milk thai vegetable tofu curry over whole wheat couscous with avocado and sriracha.  

baby: some of the vegetables and tofu from the curry (dried off a bit) with whole wheat couscous and avocado.

mama and baby: quesadilla with refried beans, salsa, cilantro, and nutritional yeast. (Not my finest meal, but ridiculously easy and quick for the trying days)

mama: comfort food night. Biscuits baked over a white bean vegetable stew.

baby: same. 

mama: spring roll FAIL. We love spring rolls, but not so much when they fall apart. Filled with an excessive amount of veg, steamed tofu, and herbs.... with a dipping sauce (ginger, garlic, mint, green onion, chili pepper, agave, soy sauce)

baby: same as mama (super blurry), no dipping sauce.  

side note: M's FAVORITE thing to eat? plain steamed tofu.

mama: pancakes, syrup, watermelon, mango

baby: pancake, watermelon, mango  

Pancakes are not a typical breakfast item around here. Marlowe usually gets one or two types of dried cereal with one or two types of seasonal fruit and/or raisins. (I usually just eat leftover's from dinner... or of course: TOAST). Also not typical around here? Sugar. I really thought I would get a lot of shit for deciding to raise Marlowe vegan, but to my surprise, more times then not: the comments I hear are about my choice to hold back on sugar. Yes, she's allowed sugar, but am I going to give her a cookie? Eh no, not really. She has molasses based teething cookies (that she loves), and has had a bit of syrup on her pancakes, or a few muffins on her birthday, but thats about it. I've heard SO many comments of disbelief from people about my choice to not stick a frosting covered cake in front of her for her first birthday. Do I think parents who do this to their kids are bad parents? Absolutely not, but I didn't want to do it for Marlowe. Do I think sugar is bad? Nope, I'd be a hypocrite if I said yes. I believe in a healthy dose of chocolate every once in a while. I also believe: everything in moderation. Will I sit there with three chocolate chip cookies and a glass of chocolate soy milk on a trying day? Or put chocolate almond butter on my toast every once in a while? Or drink a coffee with almond or soy milk with vanilla sugar? Yes, and I'll love every second of it. But even still, sugar is rare around here. Marlowe doesn't get those treats... not yet. For now: she gets teething cookies every once in a while... or (for the first time this week) graham crackers, and of course: lots and lots and lots of fruit... but thats about it (for now).

What else? She does get crackers (wheat or flax), like most kids. Or for a not overly healthy treat: Tings! nom nom. 

For vegetables? So far: everything, but every once in a while she decides she doesn't like sweet potatoes. She prefers things cooked, not raw (like mama).

Fruits: EVERYTHING. Especially: mangoes, strawberries and blueberries.  

For protein: steamed tofu is the biggest hit around here... otherwise beans, but she will only eat them in patty form. Some nuts too. 

Yep, so that is a basic rundown of what Marlowe eats. A lot of veg, some carbs and starch, protein, and you know.... pretty much: whatever I eat. Having a happy, healthy, vegan baby isn't that hard ;) 

Welp, Tonight (friday) I will get my first (two to three hour) break in a very long time. My hot date (Michelle) and I will be heading out to the opening of Alex's new restaurant. Other than that, I am hoping for some more beautiful weather so M and I can get out of the house for a bit. Happy weekend everyone!