To be honest, before we started solids, I had this vision of a "Pinterest baby" elegantly nibbling on steamed salmon without a speck of food on their face. Then reality hit: I’m currently on my knees picking broccoli out of the rug fibers while my son tries to use mashed sweet potato as hair gel.
The reason I’m such a loud advocate for the “100 Foods Before 1” challenge isn’t about being "extra." It’s a proactive strike against the "toddler beige phase"—that period where they suddenly decide anything that isn't a plain cracker is a personal insult. Flooding their palate with variety between 6 and 12 months is the best gift you can give your future self. It’s about making your life at the dinner table a lot easier down the road.
01 How to Stay Out of the Kitchen (Mostly)
When most parents hear "100 foods," they think: Who has the energy to be a short-order cook every single day?
Don't let the "aesthetic" bloggers fool you. Their secret is usually just batch cooking. This is the only way to hit the 100-food mark without living in front of a food processor.
A quick tip from the trenches:
Don’t put plastic bowls in the microwave, even if they say they’re BPA-free. The risk of microplastics and chemicals under high heat is one rabbit hole I’d rather avoid. Stick to glass or ceramic.
Even better? Family meals. Setting aside unsalted portions of your dinner lets the baby join the family table rather than being a solo science experiment.
Who’s the Boss?
Repeat this mantra: The Division of Responsibility.
You decide:
WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE the food is served.
They decide:
IF and HOW MUCH they eat.
The second you start begging for "one more bite" or trying to force-feed, you’re overriding their natural fullness cues. In this challenge, exposure is the prize. A lick, a squish, or even just a suspicious sniff counts.
02 Don't Play "Table Undercover"
I know the temptation to grind broccoli into a fine dust and smuggle it into a muffin is real. Resist the urge to be a food smuggler.
"Try 'Marketing' instead of 'Hiding.' Call those spinach muffins 'Hulk Cakes.'"
💡 What Counts as a “Food”?
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Different Textures: Steamed pumpkin, pumpkin puree, and roasted pumpkin count as three different exposures.
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The Spice Cabinet: A pinch of Cinnamon, Cumin, or Garlic Powder counts as a new flavor exposure.
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Healthy Fats: Olive oil, Hemp seeds, and Nut butters are essential brain-builders.
Safety: Gagging vs Choking
Gagging (Loud & Red)
Body's safety mechanism pushing food forward. Stay calm and let them work it out.
Choking (Silent & Blue)
Go take an infant CPR class. It’s the best "peace of mind" you can buy.
Skip the sippy cups and go straight to an Open Cup. It builds a mature swallowing pattern and might save you a massive orthodontist bill later.