My Ellie is learning to eat. At nine months old she has been on solids for a few months now and in general she is doing very well. I have started to introduce finger foods, like toast and wild blueberries. She is a big fan of the toast; like my eldest she may be a carb lover. Watching her experiment with the different tastes and textures of food, including how it feels smashed in her fingers, it has me wondering when food became such a battle.

For me, trying to lose weight, food is a source of anxiety. I am constantly wondering if what I eat is healthy enough, am I eating too much or too little, will it lead to weight gain or weight loss. It is a constant thought process!

For my son, at two and a half, it is a battle to see if he will eat what is presented to him. It is planning to avoid fights. And enduring them once they happen. It is wondering if what he does eat is healthy, if it gives him all the nutrients his growing body requires. 

But for Ellie it is just about the pleasure - the new tastes and textures. It is about trying new things. I envy this newness and wonder how I can apply it to my own eating. How can I find the joy in food, once again. And pass this joy along to my son turning mealtimes into fun times instead of a battle ground.

We all need a little bit of baby's innocence!