Baby Led Weaning - A Typical Week

When I started this blog, the main purpose was to write about my adventure with weaning and specifically, Baby Led Weaning. I have been posting pictures of my Laid Back Boy self feeding and eating his solids on Facebook and I have had a few comments and messages from people who are welcoming these photos as they give them inspiration and ideas.

When I first started weaning with JC, I sought help and advice from one of my friends who had already been through this phase with her daughter and had great success. We discussed typical menus and what to feed when out and about and this was really helpful to me. I also invested in a cook book (I chose to buy Gill Rapley's Baby Led Weaning Cookbook, and no this isn't a sponsored post!) Before JC, I couldn't even make soup. I had no experience of cooking and what I did cook was pretty rubbish. I found that by sharing ideas with others and picking up a basic cookbook really helped me. When JC moved on from weaning and I grew in confidence with cooking, I bought a new cookbook called My Daddy Cooks, or as I like to call it, my saviour. This is written by a stay at home Dad and is just perfect for quick and easy family meals. He has a new book coming out soon (4th June 2014) and I can't wait to buy it!

So in the spirit of sharing ideas, here is our menu for the week. Our whole family will eat the same thing (give or take a few minor differences like cows milk, real butter and tomato sauce! It is designed to be varied within the constraints of my maternity pay budget and quick/easy to prepare with a 3 year old running around under my feet. Although not always listed here, I would try to offer a savoury followed by or accompanied with fruit. This is a contentious subject as people differ in their opinions on fruit and sugar etc but this is my choice and I am not a nutritionist. I am not advising here, merely showing an example of a typical week in our kitchen. I offer cooled boiled water from a cup with every meal and he still takes 2 7oz dairy free bottle feeds and 3 breastfeeds each day. The recipes for many of these can be found in the Baby Led Weaning Cookbook although I change and adapt them to suit myself now. I hope you find these helpful . . .

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Monday	Porridge (not the baby stuff, real oats) and mashed blueberries. (Loaded spoons)	Lentil and Vegetable soup with bread dippers	Grandad Kevy’s Homemade Burgers with carrot sticks
Tuesday	Scrambled Eggs and strips of toast with pure spread	Tuna Croquettes, green beans and carrot batons	Beef and Onion Stew and Mashed potato
Wednesday	Dairy free Eggy Bread and tropical fruit salad	Lentil and Vegetable soup with bread dippers	Chicken Salad
Thursday	Drop Scones (like pancakes but thicker) and melon strips	Tuna Croquettes, baby corn, broccoli	Meatballs in Tomato sauce and  spaghetti
Friday	Porridge (not the baby stuff, real oats) with apple and cinnamon puree. (Loaded spoons)	Sardines on toast Fresh fruit and soy yogurt	Bacon Wrapped Chicken with broccoli
Saturday	Egg and soldiers (Pure spread) Pear strips	Tuna mayo pasta	Meat Loaf with broccoli and carrots
Sunday	Drop Scones (like pancakes but thicker) and mango strips	Lentil and Vegetable soup with bread dippers	Roast Chicken Dinner

 

Mouthwatering Monday - Week 1

I meal plan every week, not always on a Monday! It started as a bit of a habit from the various diet clubs I have attended over the years but now it has become just another routine that helps family life seem a little less chaotic. If I know what is going to be on the table each night and if I know that I have the correct ingredients in my cupboard and fridge to make each meal, I am filled with a certain comfort.

This is my first meal plan that I am linking up with Mrs M.

Monday - As I write this I have already enjoyed tonight's dinner. I use this Netmums recipe for my Beef Stew and I love it. It's super easy, filling and cheap. 

Tuesday - I cook a very basic stir fry which is actually more like a chow mein. I fry the chicken in sesame oil, throw in a stir fry pack (usually edamame bean as that is Grumpinator's favourite) with a little extra sesame oil. I stir throw the cooked noodles with a little soy sauce. Sometimes I might add a packet sauce but I prefer it as basic as possible. 

Wednesday - We go to my Mother in Law's for dinner on a Wednesday. A nice mid week break from the cooking!

Thursday - Shop bought fishcakes, no effort involved! I can cook my own and I have but I am all about the saving of money, time and energy at the moment. I will serve the fishcakes with some baby corn, mange tout and potato wedges.

Friday - I love salmon as does Grumpinator! The honey and Chinese 5 spice glaze is another Netmum's favourite, it's so simple but a very delicious meal. 

Saturday - I have bought a gammon joint and I will be using a recipe from my favourite recipe book by a fellow blogger, Nick from My Daddy Cooks. It's a tasty honey glaze with a pea mash. 

Sunday - is a day of rest so if I can't convince my step dad to have us over for a roast chicken Sunday lunch, I will buy a cooked chicken and cook the trimmings. You can't have a roast chicken dinner without a wee chipolata sausage or two and some thick gravy. YUM!

Mum Tums at the Ready

Just Kidding! 

My Guru, Liska, has started off the New Year with a new found enthusiasm for losing the weight and feeling great. She has inspired me to make a start.

I am not on a diet.

I am not starting a regime.

 If I do I know I will fail and end up here but heavier next year.

Instead, I have joined my local gym which offers loads of classes and I am going to go to the ones that I really enjoy, when I have time and because I actually want to go.  I have also started eating for health. I have planned menus which are based around foods I enjoy. I am practically eating my way through the My Daddy Cooks book by Nick Coffer. I love this book and most of the recipes are healthy and wholesome dishes. It's a fab book, buy it if you are looking for inspiration.

I am not counting syns or points or cheques because as soon as I do I end up feeling deprived and starving which leads to me binging on junk.

I am however, cutting out chocolate. More from a health perspective than a weight perspective. It makes me feel like crap when I eat it. Why am I continually treating my body like a bin?

I will be trying to lose weight, eventually, but I know that before I can start to concentrate on weight loss I need to make eating well 80% of the time and moving my arse 80% of the time, my goal. If I can incorporate these two things into my life, then the weight loss will be a side effect - hopefully.

What I do know is I don't want is to be sitting here typing this next year, fatter and more miserable. I am sick of thinking about it.

Link up with Liska if you want some motivation and support or just have a read so you know your not alone in fighting the flab!