A kid who eats

 Although O has been off his feeding tube for 2 years now (!!) he still struggles with gags and textures of different foods. He also is hesitant to try new foods.

Ara is a different story! She has enjoyed eating from the start, and doesn't turn anything away. I have combined a few methods of feeding, following mostly Ruth Yaron's book Super Baby Food, Dr. Green's Color In (as in White foods- out!), and some infant led weaning methods.

Also, our pediatrician shared right off the bat that the "old school" method of feeding was also out, that being thinned rice cereal first, then veggies, then fruits, all being bland and liquidy. I only did a week or two of straight purees, and then she preferred very soft little chunks.

 Dipping a raw carrot in mashed carrots

 She almost ALWAYS feeds herself left handed.

 Eggs or tofu, I can't tell...

 This was her first egg yolk from our chickens, I remember as it was outside on a beautiful morn.

 Lil lefty has always fed herself. She will eat from us feeding her but likes to be independent.

 plums and kale

 pureed greens over garden potatoes

 Garden peas steamed up. These 4 oz canning jars are her food jars. I bought 12 and they are amazing for travel, a quick nook in the micro, or freezing. LOVE them!

 Fresh plum off our tree.

 Plum chunks and raw oats sprinkled on for ease of picking up and a little more fuel.

 lotsa egg yolks and greens!

 Watermelon and potatoes

 Green cauliflower, pureed chard, and babara's brown rice puffs.

 Chugging some almond milk

 Green cauliflower is so great!

 Ara helped me eat 10 peaches in 3 days.

Beets!

My main feeding goals are for her to eat the same foods that we do, have a great variety of foods, and enjoy trying new foods. So far she meets all of those foods. I think the most important one is that she eats how we eat, and vice versa. I cooked her cauliflower, I had it for dinner too. She ate beets, I ate beets, I had lentils, she had lentils, and so on.

I think we all should eat more like how babies eat, or at least how Arabelle eats! Whole foods, very little if any packaged foods (the only ones I can think of are Barbara's brand cold cereal for a quick & clean snack).

Here is her food list of foods she has tried, and therefore liked! This is pretty much in order...
mama's milk
avocado
sweet potatoes
pears
apricots
prunes
whole milk yogurt (not very much or often)
brown rice grain
millet
oats
mango
papaya
winter squash
banana
cherries
tofu
cottage cheese
egg yolk
asparagus
artichoke
green beans
carrots
summer squash
potatoes
peas
grapes
peach
almonds
almond milk (homemade)
brewer's yeast
apple
cantaloupe
honeydew
kiwi
plums
watermelon
broccoli
fig
wheat germ (a few times)
lentils
mung beans
hemp seeds
cauliflower
beets
kale
turnips
parsley
chia seeds
blueberry
whole grain pasta (one night she wouldn't take any breast milk from bottle from Nana so she got Spaghetti noodles! Of course she loved them! That was her only time so far)
quinoa

Spices:
oregano
cumin
cinnamon
nutmeg
cardemom
chili powder
cilantro

She will eat 1/4 cup usually of any given food, possibly up to 1/2 cup depending on the meal.
Pretty sure that sums it up for now. I feel so blessed to have such a good eater. I know it can change but I am loving every minute of it. If you want to eat healthier, go off of this food list!! RD approved:).