We all know how picky babies can be when it comes to a new food, so
here are some yummy ideas. They have all been tested and tried on a few
picky eaters.
* If you have any Yummy & Nutritious recipes please feel free to contact us and we will post them for you.
** Excellent website about baby food, nutrition, recipes etc. WholesomeBabyFood
Yummy Homemade Granola (for 18m + ,warning: contains nuts!)
Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, and salt. Combine both
mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes,
stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add raisins and mix until evenly distributed.
Cool and add to your kids or your (you're allowed to eat it too) favorite yogurt, kefir or ice cream. :)
Bone appetit!
Thanks to Julie for sending us this yummy recipe
Butternut Squash soup recipe - (7-8+), nutritious and tasty!
1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 tsp cinnamon
vegetable or chicken broth (or water+chicken consume seasoning)
In a pot, sautee chopped onion and finely chopped garlic for 3-5 min. Add
cinnamon and stir. Immediately add butternut squash and add water or broth
(vegetable or chicken works) to cover. Bring to boil, then cook for 25
minutes (until squash is soft). Blend the mixture thoroughly. Add pepper,
if desired. Enjoy!
Great way to introduce onion and garlic and cinnamon into the baby's diet
without it being an overpowering flavour.
Homemade cottage cheese, made it this weekend, mmm...yummy... (from ~8-9 months)
Ingredients:
1 gallon 2% milk or whole milk
1/2 cup vinegar or 1 juice of 1 lemon
Directions:
1. Heat the milk to 190F ~ 85C
2.
You will need a thermometer for other cheeses but you can get by here
turning off the heat just before the milk begins to boil.
3. Add the vinegar or lemon juice and allow the mixture to cool.
4.
When cool, pour the mixture, which now consists of curds and whey into
a colander or cheese cloth(preffered) and drain off the whey for about
half an hour.
5. Serve to the baby fresh cottage cheese also can be mixed with fruits or fruit puree.
Blueberry Banana Smoothie (from ~7 months)
2 scoops formula
120 ml water
1/4 cup blueberries
1/4 cup banana sliced
Mixing Directions;
Warm blueberries in the microwave until the juices begin to run,
add water, formula, blueberries and banana in a bowl and blend
together with a hand mixer or blender... Easy & Yum Yum... :-)
Applesauce (from ~6 months)
Wash and core 4 pounds of apples (skins on), and cut them into
1-inch pieces. Simmer apples, covered, in a large saucepan with 1/3 cup
water until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender.
Working in small batches, blend until smooth. Pass through a fine
sieve. For coarser texture, pass apples through a food mill, or pulse
in a food processor. Fill 1/4-cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays.
Makes 4 1/4 cups or about 48 cubes.
Carot Lentil and Coriander puree (from ~8 months)
- 12 oz carrots
- 6 oz potato
- 1/4 cup red lentils
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 1/4 cup formula or breastmilk
Directions
Trim and peel the carrots and potatoes and then chop into small
cubes and place in a saucepan. Rinse the lentils thoroughly, discarding
any black hits.
Add the lentils, coriander and milk to the pan and bring to the
boil, then cover and simmer for 4 minutes, until the lentils are very
soft. Top up with a little extra hot water if necessary.
Purfe or sieve the vegetable and lentil mixture until smooth.
Spoon a little into a bowl. Test the temperature and cool if necessary, before giving to baby.
Cover the remaining puree and transfer to the fridge as soon as possible. Use within 24 hours.
Peas and Pears (from 7 months)
- 2 cups frozen green peas
- 2 tbsp. water
- 1 or 2 small ripe pears (peeled, cored and chopped)
Directions
To microwave: Place frozen peas in microwave dish. Add the water.
Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 minutes. Add chopped pear and cook another
2 minutes on HIGH. Puree and freeze as usual, using additional water
for thinning if needed. Makes about 1 ice cube tray.
Here are some tips for babies ready for new foods (check with your doctor).
- Brown (parboiled) rice with zucchini and acorn squash*.
- Quinoa with butternut squash
- Millet with carrots and a little broccoli
- Lentils and squash
- Soba noodles and yams
- Whole wheat couscous and pasnips and peas
(*don't underestimate the versatility and lovely flavour of all the squash family!!)
Directions
Just cook the grains (rinse well first) and steam the vegetables,
then use your food processor (a must for baby food) to make a big
batch. Making 2 dozen ice cube size servings makes it seem more worth
while, and keeps well in your freezer in plastic bags. Once you start
experimenting...your freezer fills up quickly and your baby's diet is
full of taste, texture and variety.
Keep the tall baby food jars that you have to defrost the next day's
diet. Label the lid with a permanent marker (carrots and peaches look
very similiar!).
The consistency needs to be smooth for success...I sometimes add a
little soya or rice cereal to make the vegetable more palatable ( ie.
more bland) for a baby.
Good luck and when those last few bites are no longer interesting to
your baby...don't force them on her. Changing to fruit is always
welcome and the leftover bites can sneak in, disguised with fruit.