What'll she eat?

This is a common question in our house.  Since I am an eater with a lot of "rules" including not eating meat, many people wonder what my expectations for MacKenzie will be.  The bottom line is:  both Scott & I want her to make her own decisions about what to eat when she's old enough to make such decisions.  That doesn't make the conversations about what "might" happen any less entertaining:

So, when I was still at home and dieting post-pregnancy, I was eating Grape Nuts everyday.  It's a filling "meal" and became a staple.  Since heading back to work, eating cereal is less practical, so I'm not drinking much milk.  Scott mentioned this weekend that he had to get a smaller milk at the store because I had "goofed up our milk consumption." 

My response was, "well, in the next year you can share milk with MacKenzie." 
His response was, "Oh cool.  When can she start drinking chocolate milk?" 
I said, "Oh, not for a while.  She should probably wait until she's at least three if not older.  Even then it should only be an occasional treat." 
He said, "Oh no.  You're going to make her eat like you aren't you?  All kinds of weird restrictions." 
I said, "No.  I just don't want her to have sugar or chocolate too early.  There's no need for it. Giving it to her too early is unnecessary.  She won't want it or have a taste for it." 
He said, "So, when can she have chocolate cake?"
I said, "Well, she could probably have a cupcake or something on her first birthday."
He responded, "Great.  So, she can only have chocolate cake once per year like you?"
I said, "No, no.  But she doesn't need to live on it either." 

Grandpa Floyd weighs in regularly that he'd like to feed her steak.  You see, once upon a time, I did eat meat.  In fact, it seems I loved "juicy meat."  My dad couldn't cut the steak fast enough for me.  He's convinced it will likely be the same with MacKenzie.  He's probably right!

There won't be any steak, cake or chocolate milk for a while.  But she sure is interested in eating these days.  She watches us closely and even mimics our eating while she watches.  We head to the pediatrician this week.  We'll see if he is ready for us to start rice cereal or wait until she's 6 months old. 

It should be interesting.  We decided before she was born that she should be the one to make decisions about what she eats.  I was able to decide whether or not I'd be a vegetarian.  She should be able to decide if she loves meat or doesn't like it.  With a ravenous carnivore as a Dad and a restrictive vegetarian as as Mom...it should be interesting.  

Will it be carrot salads or steak?  Only time will tell :-)