Baby Food Recipes, News and Information

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With such a large variety of sippy cups available these days, it can be hard knowing which one to buy... and when to think about introducing one.

Our Guide To Introducing A Sippy Cup aims to answer some of the frequently asked questions about how to get started - it includes some advice about what to do if your baby refuses to use a cup and also suggests some alternatives if you plan to skip the sippy cup altogether... Read more...

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April 6, 2007 15:16 - Veggie Treat - Turnip, Potato and Pear Puree

A yummy meat-free treat for baby, this puree combines turnip, potato and roasted pear for delicious results! This recipe is suitable for babies of at least 6 months of age who have already been introduced separately to the ingredients.

You will need...

1 pear, peeled and cored, then quartered
little maple syrup
1oz unsalted butter
1 large potato, peeled and diced
1 small turnip, peeled and diced

Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.
Melt the butter, stir in the maple syrup and toss with the pear quarters until coated.
Place on a baking sheet and roast for around 45 mins until very tender, turning during the cooking time and basting with the juice.
Place the pear and any cooking liquid into a food processor and puree. Set aside.
Simmer the diced potato and turnip separately until tender (20-30 mins), then drain. Puree the turnip and mash the potato with a dab of butter (it's not a good idea to puree the potato in the processor as it may end up a little "gluey" in texture).
Combine the pureed pear and turnip together with the mashed potato and serve (don't forget to try some yourself - this is a VERY tasty combination!).

For more pureed baby food ideas... Read more...

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April 7, 2007 10:40 - Is Your Refrigerator Safe?

We all know that an important aspect of preparing homemade baby food is storing it safely and correctly... and that means either refrigerating or freezing either the raw ingredients or prepared foods. So it is vital to make sure that your refrigerator is running properly - and these simple guidelines will ensure that your baby's food is kept at the correct temperature.

• Your refrigerator should always be at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At higher temperatures, bacteria that cause illness will thrive and multiply very rapidly.

• Use a refrigerator thermometer or an appliance thermometer to keep a check on the temperature of your refrigerator. Some grocery stores sell these, otherwise you should be able to find one at your local hardware store. Place a glass of water on the middle shelf of your refrigerator and sit the appliance thermometer in the water. It can take between 6 to 8 hours to get an accurate reading of your refrigerator's temperature.

• By properly maintaining your refrigerator, you will not only keep it running at the correct temperature, you will also be conserving energy and saving money. So check that the grill at the front of the refrigerator is dust-free, which keeps air circulating to the condenser. Vacuum or brush the condenser ever 2-3 months. And keep your refrigerator clean, using plenty of hot soapy water. A dirty refrigerator operates far less efficiently than a clean one.

Our baby food preparation and storage page offers you more tips to help you safely prepare food for your baby at home... Read more...

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April 7, 2007 11:09 - More Benefits From Fruits and Veggies

We have always known that a diet packed with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables was good for our babies... but now a new, British study has shown that fruits and veggies provide other benefits that were previously undiscovered!

The study was carried out by researchers from the National Heart and Lung Institute, London, who looked at around 700 children aged between 7 and 18 on the Greek island of Crete. They found that the majority of the children enjoyed a Mediterranean diet, which included fresh fruit and vegetables at least twice a day. This healthy diet appeared to offer strong protection against allergic rhinitis, but also protected children against skin allergies and asthma. The researchers also found that children who ate nuts at least three times a week were less likely to wheeze - because, according to their report, nuts are high in vitamin E (which provides protection against cell damage) and magnesium (which can improve lung power).

The study also noted that noted that children who ate oranges, apples and tomatoes on a daily basis seemed to be protected against wheezing and allergic rhinitis - and that red grapes were particularly powerful! This is because they contain high levels of antioxidants and a polyphenol known as resveratrol which reduces inflammatory activity.

Eating a lot of margarine, though, was found to double the risk of both asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Source: http://thorax.bmj.com

Now, not all the foods included in the Mediterranean diet are suitable for your baby, of course. Because of the risks of nut allergy and choking, pediatricians recommend delaying the introduction of nuts until at least three years of age - others are more cautious and suggest waiting until your child is five. And some parents prefer to wait until the end of baby's first year to introduce citrus fruits and tomatoes. If you would like to give your baby red grapes, you should give them WITHOUT the skins until your baby is old enough to chew them well - you should also cut grapes into quarters, as whole grapes present a choking hazard.

But by offering your baby a wide variety of fruits and veggies from the outset, you will encourage him to be adventurous with his foods and open to trying new tastes and textures - this will make it easier to introduce some of the beneficial foods highlighted in this study later on.

Click here for a variety of delicious fruit baby food recipes - or take a look at our vegetable recipes here.

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April 8, 2007 14:42 - Tummy Pain From Unripe Bananas

Bananas are a great food for babies - not only are they high in potassium, they are rarely the cause of any allergic reaction and are very easy to prepare. But it is important to make sure that a banana is nice and ripe before you give it to your baby - unripe bananas just don't taste as good and can also cause digestive discomfort.

The reason for this is that unripe bananas are quite high in starch. This starch is not digested in the small intestine - instead, it ferments in the large intestine. This causes gas/wind in your baby's tummy, which can make him very uncomfortable or irritable.

Ripe bananas, on the other hand, taste sweeter, because most of the indigestible starch turned into sugar during the ripening process. Not only are they easier to digest as a result, they can also be very soothing to the gut and are a great food to try if your baby is suffering from diarrhea.

TIP: If you are mashing bananas for your baby as a first food, try mixing them with a little breast milk or formula - this creates a more manageable consistency for your little one.

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