Organic Baby: First Bites

Homemade baby food is an interesting journey. As a parent, you are thrilled to expand your child’s palate with nutritious foods that actually taste good. You are the captain of their ‘food-ship’ whose voyage you will determine! There are varying opinions as to ’when’ to start your little one on solids. Six months seems to be the standard, but many start dabbling as early as four months. Each culture approaches first bites differently.  The French introduce yogurt cultures early, while Americans tend to start with rice cereal.  My preference; somewhere in the middle.

Armed with my Beaba baby food maker, I venture into the world of puree.  Much to my surprise, my little man has liked everything I’ve put in front of him and that makes me one happy mama!!!

Bananas are packed with nutrients, making them a perfect choice for one of baby’s first foods. Famous for their potassium, which stimulates nerve impulses and muscle contractions, bananas are also high in fiber and contain good amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Here’s a tip; Use fully ripe bananas to make sure that they are smooth and promote digestion (unripe bananas have the opposite effect); ripe bananas also contain more antioxidants.

For added nutrition and a natural laxative (Dr. Sears recommended) sprinkle some flax meal or flax oil into the puree. Flax is the plant version of omega-3 fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid.  Just add two teaspoons and receive as much fiber as 1  1/2 cups of cooked oatmeal. Flax is also high in antioxidants called lignans which bind with circulating substances in the body that might promote unchecked cell growth.  Many plants have lignans, but flax has at least 75 times more than any other. You would need to eat 30 cups of fresh broccoli (YUK!) to get what two tablespoons of flax can deliver.

Recipe:

1 ripe banana (makes 1/2 cup puree)

1. Peel the banana, cut into 3 or 4 chunks, place in food processor, sprinkle one teaspoon flax meal or oil.  Add enough water or breast milk to thin the puree to a consistency your baby can handle.

2. Refrigerate the banana puree in an airtight container for up to 1 day, or spoon individual portions into an ice-cube tray or other baby-food freezer container and freeze, covered for up to 3 months. (Some slight discoloration may occur during storage.)

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Mild, creamy avocados are a great early food for baby. It is full of folate and monounsaturated fats–good for a healthy heart and for cell reproduction–and vitamin E, which is beneficial to the skin, the heart, and baby’s muscles. Avocado also provides vitamin K which is helpful for blood clotting and puts this nutrient dense power house in the baby ‘super food’ category.

The jury is still out on agave nectar, with two pretty well-established (and opposing) camps emerging. I use it so sparingly to provide just a hint of sweetness.  Agave is low on the glycemic index and there is less of a concern with regards to allergies when compared to honey (due to pollination).

Recipe:

1 ripe avocado (makes 1/3 cup puree)

1. Cut the avocado and scoop out the flesh into a food processor and process to a smooth puree.  Add enough water or breast milk to thin the puree to a consistency your baby can handle.

2. Avocados oxidize quickly, causing the flesh to brown and turn bitter.  Try to peel only as much as you will use in one serving.

*Avoid the temptation to add citrus to prevent oxidation. Citrus is hard for a baby in the first year and can lead to diaper rash and upset tummies. Instead, try an old restaurant trick, lay a piece of plastic wrap smoothly over the surface and remove air pockets, will help prevent avocado from darkening.

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Chock-full of vitamin A and fiber–sweet potatoes (or yams) offer a balance of sweetness and earthiness. Zucchini is thin-skinned so it makes it easy to prepare and easily digestible for baby.

Recipe:

1 Organic sweet potato and zucchini

1. Peel sweet potato and cut into cubes

2. Cut zucchini into cubes

3. If using the Beaba, fill water to line three and fill reservoir, place sweet potato and zucchini in steam basket and steam until tender. Use the reserve liquid and one tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil  and puree to desired consistency.

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Organic applesauce is not only quick and easy to make, it’s extremely versatile.  Try combining with rice cereal or oatmeal for baby’s breakfast, or savory mashes later in the day. Add a pinch of cinnamon if your baby likes it (good for circulation).  Avoid tart varieties like the green pippin or the granny smith, otherwise your baby might not like it without sweetening.  Apples are full of fiber and vitamin C; additionally, allergies to apples are extremely rare.  Furthermore, they  are easy to digest and help prevent constipation, promote heart health, and control cholesterol levels.

Recipe:

1 large organic apple (makes 1/3 cup puree)

1. Wash, peel and dice an organic apple and steam, if using the Beaba fill reservoir to 3 and place apple chunks into steamer basket.

2. Puree apple with reserved liquid, add one tablespoon of Earth’s Best Oatmeal and add a pinch of cinnamon. (optional)