Q about serving meat...

[Sarah O]

Hey guys,

I've given my LO's ground chicken and extra lean ground beef, and how I've prepared it is just browning it thoroughly in a pan (just like how you would make spaghetti sauce or something) and at first I pureed it afterwards and now I'm just mixing in the little meat chunks into their veggies.  Just wondering what other ways you guys prepare meats and specifically, do you have a popular finger-food way of serving it?  I've considered just putting small clumps of the ground meat on their tray that they can pick up and eat but I'm not sure they will since they don't seem to really like the meat so far.  Also, would you put bits of chicken breast on their tray or is the texture too difficult for this age (almost 10 months)?

Thanks!

Sarah

[woopster]

Hi Sarah,
They love chicken, spag bol, shepherds pie.  Sam has a harder time swallowing it, but can do it.
I usually give them chicken in little strips that they can hold, (they can't quite grasp (scuse the pun!) the fact that they can pick it up)

[Sarah O]

Thanks - how on earth do you serve them spaghetti?!  Do you puree it or something?

[woopster]

You can do.  I usually chop it quite small.  Watch out though - too much can make them constipated!

[Mom to M&M]

So you used to brown ground beef or chicken? Did you use anything like oil or margarine or just brown it as is? And did it puree easily and smoothly?

[woopster]

Karen, I would just dry fry it. No oil/fat. Cook it with whatever you're having then blend it smooth.  It stills feels quite 'grainy' in the mouth.

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks! I use jarred foods for fruits and veggies - but don't want to use jarred meats. So can I brown the chicken/beef and then puree it and maybe add it into her jarred sweet potatoes or apples or whatever?

[woopster]

Yep, should be fine.

[EmMUK74]

I roast all sorts of meats and give them to Rachel in small chunks along with mashed veg that we are eating.

I also poach white fish and give that to her since it flakes really easily.

and I give her bits of bacon as finger food occassionally - cooked in the microwave to make it softer and less fatty

hope that helps