My Little One Loves Salmon
If you’re a parent who’s just started the baby food journey, you know exactly what I’m talking about—those moments of excitement mixed with frustration when you spend time preparing a nutritious meal for your little one, only to have them turn their head away, spit it out, or even cry. That’s been my life for the past month, and honestly, I was starting to feel a little discouraged.
When my baby hit the 6-month mark, I couldn’t wait to introduce them to the wonderful world of solid foods. I did all the research: bought organic vegetables, stocked up on whole grains, and spent hours steaming, blending, and portioning out tiny servings of everything from mashed sweet potatoes and pureed carrots to smooth avocado and even mild lentil puree. Each time, I’d sit them in their high chair, spoon in hand, with a big smile, ready to celebrate their first bite of something new.
Spoiler alert: Most of those bites ended up on the floor, on their bib, or back in the bowl. Sweet potatoes? They wrinkled their nose and pushed my hand away. Avocado? Spit out immediately. Carrot puree? Cried like I was feeding them something terrible. I tried adjusting the consistency—thinner, thicker, even a little chunkier—but nothing worked. I found myself questioning if I was doing something wrong, if the flavors were too strong, or if my baby just wasn’t ready for solids yet, even though the pediatrician said they were.
Today, I decided to switch things up and try something I’d been nervous about: salmon. I’d heard that salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for brain development, but I was worried it might be too fishy for a tiny palate. Still, I figured it was worth a shot—at this point, I was willing to try almost anything.
I kept it simple: I bought a fresh, wild-caught salmon fillet, removed all the bones carefully (seriously, I checked it three times!), steamed it until it was flaky and tender, then blended it with a little breast milk to make it smooth and creamy. I took a deep breath, scooped a tiny amount onto the spoon, and held it up to my baby’s mouth. This time, I didn’t have high expectations—I was just ready to add salmon to the “no” list.
But guess what? They opened their mouth! And they ate it! Not just one bite, but three whole spoonfuls. They even leaned forward for more, making those cute little cooing sounds that mean “give me more food, please!” I almost teared up right there in the kitchen. It sounds silly, but after weeks of feeling like I was failing at this whole (baby food) thing, that small win felt like a huge achievement.
I sat there watching them eat, feeling so proud and relieved. All the late nights researching recipes, all the messy clean-ups, all the moments of self-doubt—they were worth it for this one moment of success. I know there will still be more “no’s” in the future, more messy meals, and more frustrating days, but today, I’m celebrating the salmon win.
To all the other parents out there struggling with baby food: don’t give up. Keep trying, keep experimenting, and be patient. Your little one will find something they love eventually, and when they do, that feeling of accomplishment is indescribable. For me, today that something is salmon—and I’m already planning to make it again tomorrow.