Making baby food!!

[Guest guest]

> " Daina " <solomom21

> Making baby food!!

>

> Hi there! I am looking for some info on making your own homemade

> vegetarian baby food.I also need some help with some ideas to switch

> over to a full time veggie!!!!!Daina

 

Hi Daina,

Is your baby just beginning solids, or a bit further along? How old?

We might be able to help more if we have a little more info about where you

are now with your diet and your baby's. Are you switching from nearly

vegetarian to vegetarian, or from vegetarian to vegan?

When my ds was eating solids somewhat, that is, beyond starter cereal, I

would puree any fruits and veggies I had around, and often combine them

(carrot/apple/rice, blueberry/white potato, etc). I'd make extra and freeze

it in an ice cube tray (cover tray with plastic wrap). Generally I'd use

water to get the foods smooth enough, but some lend themselves to a bit of

fortified soymilk.

Some good puree-able foods, to get you going:

(Starred items are usually easiest if cooked first)

carrots*

corn*

apples

whole-grain pasta*

rice*

sweet potatoes*

peas, green beans*

white potatoes*

farina (cream of wheat) - great pureed ('til smooth) with strawberries or

other sweet fruit

avocado

kale* (and other bitter greens, best when mixed with mild sweet foods like

apples and white potatoes)

banana

Barbara's Breakfast O's

and this " paste " was good for iron but it's sweet so small amounts suffice:

combination of dried fruits, such as apricots, figs and pineapple, and

coconut flakes, boiled soft and pureed (add the cooled boiling water to get

the right consistency).

 

It's good too, to add nuts in with any puree, just add water if needed to

keep the consistency palatable. Walnuts and avocado provide the very

important omega-3 fatty acid. Also, a couple times a week, you can add a

0.25 teaspoon of flaxseed oil to the puree for the same reason.

 

(If you don't know about flaxseed oil/ omega-3 fatty acid, let us know, or

check articles at www.vegfamily.com and other veg*n websites.)

 

You might also check www.veggiebaby.com It'll help you find recipes for

babies, as well as give you info on going full veggie yourself.

Oh! A note about iron-fortified baby foods (Cream of Wheat is usually

enriched with iron) - if you're breastfeeding, iron-fortified foods may

interfere with the baby's abilitiy to absorb the iron in your breastmilk.

If the baby is older than 9 months and has been breastfed all along, its

stores of iron start running low at about this age. It's certainly better

to feed her/him iron-rich foods (green leafy veggies, but not spinach) than

to give the baby food that's been fortified with iron, which can also cause

a bit of constipation. Then again, so can bananas. ;-)

Again, give us a bit more on what area you need help with, and we'll be glad

to share our ideas. Good luck.

Peace.

~Doh