A.D.
Independance is a great thing feed him real food it sounds like that is what he wants. He is old enough to eat most adult food except cut up small and let him do it himself. Place a little at a time on the tray so he won't shove too much in and choke. Try strawberries, grapes cut into quarters, stem carrots till soft and slice or buy canned sliced and cut up, cook green beans till very soft and cut up. Also pull chicken into small pieces and chop with a knife or any other meat. He may just want to do it himself.
Biggest thing feed him in a yucky shirt or no shirt at all, it can get very messy but they love it.