Maybe you’re like me & all this learning and unearthing from the past few weeks has you not just thinking about your own actions, thoughts, but also how important it is going to be to also guide the next generation to be more aware (of others and themselves).

To take care of their bodies, families, communities & world, from the inside out.

As a mama, I’ve been thinking about it a lot: what do I want to teach my baby? How do I want him to BE, as he is out in the world.

I have so many thoughts on the matter. And this week as I’ve been thinking about it,  and the other day, it dawned on me. As funny as it sounds, I realized a lot of how I’m teaching him about food feels like it’s just a tiny microcosm for other big lessons in life. Things like:

• Sticking with the simple things, the pure things, and the real things in life. Knowing what those things are, and how to always come back to them.
• Paying attention to how you feel... and continually checking in on this, which in turn gives you the ability to notice how others might feel (emotional intelligence)
• Being kind to your body by what you put in it will enable you to be kind  to others as well. It starts inside.
• Knowing yourself & your body enables you to become confident in who you are…which lights the path for others to do the same.
• How to take care of your inner world, so you can help take care of others (pouring from a endlessly full cup)

I mean, amongst so many other things.

It got me thinking how THIS is why something so simple as food– and how we prepare it, think about it, enjoy it, source it, talk about it, gather around it– is significant for everything else, from the very beginning.

It’s such a symbol for life. How you are with food is often reflected in so many other things, which is why it’s sometimes the easiest, most tangible place to start when you want to rise up in your life.  Or need a meaningful boost. Or help the next generation do so, as well. It’s a tiny act, that can have a big ripple.

So, just doing it as intentionally (and as simple) as you can, is always the best place to start. Or come back to, always. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate or expensive. Just real. And put together with love.

That’s always what I think about when I’m making him food: that it’s a gift. Something that will help him now as he’s growing and forming… and for the rest of his life too, in so many ways beyond just physical things.

It’s a foundation that he’ll carry and know. It makes me smile to think about.

One of the recipes I’ve had on repeat for him lately are these lil baby blueberry pancakes. They’re full of goodness and so very simple– two of my top baby food requirements. Actually, kind of my only requirements.

Because while the famous morning baby cake is great and I still make it a lot when I have time on the weekends, as he gets older, sometimes I need things that get on the table quicker. So I’ve been making a big batch of these pancakes and just re-heating them up each morning.

Little guy loves his breakfast, and done this way, so do I. Win-win.

The only downside is his dad intercepts them and eats them all too. So, you’ve been warned 🙂

The Baby Blueberry Pancakes

Makes 2 servings

1 cup almond meal (or whatever flour you want– I’ve used garbanzo bean flour here too to keep it nut-free and it works great).

2 eggs (or flax eggs)

1 banana, mashed

1 tablespoon flaxseed

1-1 1/2 cups spinach

1/2 cup blueberries, strawberries or raspberries (chopped if needed, frozen are fine here too)

Directions:

Blend all ingredients (except berries) in a blender, then pour into pancake shapes on a hot pan, over medium heat, greased with coconut oil. Add blueberries as the first side cooks. Cook 3-4 minutes, flip, and cook another 2-3 minutes. So good. So fluffy.

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