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October 16, 2007 09:33 - Cool Cous Cous and Banana Pudding (7 months+)
This creamy, dreamy dish for baby is simply delcious! You can serve it as a dessert... or even as an unusual and appetizing breakfast!
The tiny cous cous 'grains' are very easy to prepare - no actual 'cooking' is required as they merely need to soak in boiling water. This means that you can put this tempting treat together for your baby in minutes!
Although cous cous grains are very small, they do add texture to this dish - so it won't suit babies who like their food completely smooth! But those happy with 'lumpier' foods will love it (and so will you!).
Because cous cous is made from wheat semolina, this recipe is unsuitable for those who need to avoid wheat or gluten (babies under 6 months of age in particular).
You will need
1oz (1/8 cup) uncooked cous cous (use the whole wheat variety if available) water or apple juice 4oz (1/2 cup) natural yogurt 1 small banana, mashed
How to make it
Prepare the cous cous according to the directions on the pack - to add a little interest to this dish, you can soak the grains in apple juice instead of water. Mix the mashed banana with the natural yogurt. When the cous cous is ready, combine it with the banana/yogurt mixture and serve at once (otherwise the banana will discolour).
You can also add...
...a little maple syrup for sweetness! Alternatively, stir in some pureed melon - or even pureed strawberries if your older baby has been safely introduced to them. Yum!
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October 17, 2007 14:05 - Mobility and Mealtimes!
All parents are thrilled when their babies take their first steps! But many are less thrilled to discover that their little ones become less 'cooperative' at the dinner table at around the same stage!
Slow weight gain
When your baby begins to walk, you may notice that he gains weight more slowly than before. This is not at all unusual - after all, he's burning off extra calories with this newly-discovered form of exercise!
But another factor that may contribute to a reduced rate of weight gain is a reduced intake of food! In fact, we receive more e mails about feeding problems in babies at the 'early walking' stage than at any other time!
So what's the connection between walking and feeding problems?
Your baby is probably gaining a better sense of his own independence. He may begin to assert this independence at the dinner table by seeking more control over what he eats.
In your baby's eyes, walking and exploring are fun - being confined to a highchair most certainly isn't!
Many parents notice that - when their babies acquire a new skill - previously learned skills tend to go by the wayside for a little while. So the baby that was just getting to grips with the spoon may revert to using his fingers again.
What should you do?
DO speak to your doctor if you are concerned about your baby's rate of growth or feeding habits. He may suggest you keep a food diary, where you note down everything your little one eats in a day. You may be surprised by just how much your little one is still consuming!
DO give your baby the independence he wants at mealtimes, by providing him with a range of healthy finger foods and allowing him to feed himself.
DON'T insist on spoon feeding your baby at this stage if he refuses it. Trying to force him to eat will create even more tension. In most cases, if your baby is hungry - he will feed himself!
DON'T allow excessive snacking. Occasional healthy snacks (like fruit) are fine, but giving your baby too much food between meals will mean he's full before he even gets in his highchair. This leads to a vicious circle - you allow your baby to snack because he won't eat his meals, but he won't eat his meals because he's had too many snacks! If your baby is a 'grazer' and prefers to eat regularly throughout the day, then make sure the foods you give him are nutritous. We recommend sitting your baby down to eat - even if he's just having a snack - as this creates better eating habits and is safer than allowing him to wander around with food.
DON'T turn the dinner table into a battle-ground! Even if you are frustrated by your baby's refusal to eat, don't let it show! Try to keep a light and happy atmosphere at mealtimes.
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October 18, 2007 08:59 - The Wonders of Wheat Germ
Adding wheat germ to your baby's food is an excellent way to increase the nutritional value of his meals. And the wonderful thing is that it has a very subtle flavour, so it's easy to include it in many of your recipes!
Find out more about wheat germ, the most nutritious part of the wheat grain - and take a look at some suggestions for including it in your baby's foods...
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October 21, 2007 16:04 - Cooking with Swede/Rutabaga
Have you ever thought of cooking swede (or rutabaga) for your baby?
Sadly, it's a vegetable that's rarely used as a baby food ingredient - yet pureed swede is yummy... and all our babies loved it! It's a great source of vitamins A and C and is very easy to prepare - to make a basic swede puree for your baby, you can simply steam or boil peeled chunks of swede until tender, then mash or puree in much the same way as potato. The good thing is that swede tastes MUCH more interesting!
We've just added a very simple recipe for swede and parsnip cream to our swede/rutabaga baby food page - so why not come and take a look!
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