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For 6 months +
If you are looking for some easy variations
to provide for different tastes and texture, try Peas and
Carrots; Green Beans and Potatoes; Carrots and Corn; Carrots
and Sweet Potatoes; Potatoes and Squash; Squash and Corn;
Apples and Pears; Bananas and Kiwi; Peaches and Apples; Apples
and Bananas; Pear Pineapple; Plums with Apples; Apples &
Cherries; Sweet Potatoes and Corn. Make the mixes 50/50, cook
until soft, and puree to desired consistency.
Ingredients:
Frozen or Canned Fruits and Vegitables
OR
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Please use as many organic fruits and vegetables
as you can when making baby food. Fruits and vegetables not
labled as organic will have levels of pesticides and other
unwanted chemicals that babies shouldn't eat. Organic produce
is farmed without processed chemicals and has improved
vitamin and mineral content.
Procedure:
Canned vegetables should be checked on their
labels to see if they are low salt or unsalted. Try to get
unsalted. Canned fruits should be checked on their labels to
see if they are unsweetened or canned in natural juice. Do not
buy canned fruit that is canned in heavy syrup. Check the
texture of the canned fruits and vegetables to see if they are
very soft (holds a form but breaks up easily with your
finger). Some canned fruits and vegetables will have to be
cooked over low heat until they are soft enough for your baby
to eat unless you are blending or mashing them.
Fresh
or frozen vegetables and fruit should be washed and peeled.
Cook over low heat in a small amount of water. Cool and puree
or mash. A word of warning: Beets and spinach have high
concentrations of nitrates that can dampen your babys ability
to get oxygen in his or her blood. Use these foods in
moderation or not at all until his or her first birthday.
Most pediatritions suggest sticking to the basics
(cereal, vegetables, and fruits) until the 7th month. However,
I would suggest that you talk to your pediatrition to see what
he/she recomends. You could discuss it during your next visit,
or call and ask. You may even like to print out our recipes to
take with you so you can ask which would be okay to feed your
baby now.
Steaming is one of the best cooking methods to preserve vitamins and minerals in foods. Place the food in a steam basket, sieve, or colander above boiling water and cook in the rising steam.
Microwave cooking is another way to prepare foods, especially vegetables, which cook quickly in very little water.
Boiling or simmering fruits and vegetables is an acceptable cooking method but will result in loss of some nutrients in the cooking water. Be sure to use only a small amount of water and save the cooking liquid to thin the pureed food to eating consistency.
Since babies do not have a preference for salty or sweet, you should not add salt or sugar to their food. It's a good idea to keep your child from developing an early taste for such additions. Studies suggest that feeding babies too much sodium may trigger high blood pressure later in life in those individuals who are likely to develop high blood pressure.
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