Food ideas

[flipper33]

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and after talking with my natropath and rheumatologist i need to stay away from a lot of foods.
Things like; all wheat products, dairy, sugar, processed foods, peanuts, citrus fruits, cheeses and beef.
I know what i need to do but i have a few questions about my kids.
I have a three year old and a four month old. I want to get everyone in the house healthy and keep them away from these foods too.

So we need to eat a lot of high protein lean meats, tons of veggies, nuts, fish, millet, and quinoa and legumes

What do you feed your babies for their first foods?
Do you make your own baby food?
How do you give them whole milk substitutes for their second year of life?
Do you have any meal ideas for my 3yr old?

I would appreciate any suggestions
Thanks,
Kelly

[Bronnie]

first foods are what we eat. i don't start until they're much older than 6 months, when they are looking for food rather than interested in what we're doing. but things such as sweet potato if they want a mash, or pieces of vege so they can hold it (carrot, celery, those sorts).

mine breastfeed till they self wean, and mine were allergic to milk, so dairy really wasn't an issue. for us, breastmilk is whole milk
we eat lots of legumes - made up as a dip with citric acid (lemon juice), salt and garlic. or just drained and these added if you don't have time to blend. added to mince with tomato and a bit of spice for a mexican type dish. i mix different nuts with various organic dried fruits (apricots, dates, sultanas) and cranberries for a snack box for my children. because they started solids when they were ready, i have no fear of them choking on the nuts, particularly my 2 yr old.

[Amanda.R]

I started my son on solids at about 6 months, only trying one thing at a time. I only fed him organic foods until he was about 2. Because of allergies in my family I had him on a gluten, dairy, preservative and sugar free diet. He loved mashed avocado, pumpkin, sweet potato, stewed fruit, watermelon, stewed prunes which i found he needed when constipated even just the water they were cooked in was good. I made porridge out of polenta or quinoa or rice flakes and added a bit of breast milk. I didn't given him anything hard or crunchy till he was about 2 i think, unless it was cut really tiny, except for some gluten free organic teething rusks as I am very paranoid about choking (after seeing a child die choking on a biscuit when i was a kid). Once he was more accustomed to food I found grated apple and carrot were good. I didn't need to worry about milk as he only stopped breastfeeding 2 months ago (he is 3.5 now). He also loved sticks of tempeh as finger food, and i would also make fingers out of baked polenta.