Issue #034
1 July 2009

What's in this issue...

• Win a Peapod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed by July 29th
• Using Pineapple In your Baby Food Recipes
• You and Your Tiny Traveller
• Visit our New Articles
• Competition Corner
• Feeling a Little Lost?
• Safety Recalls
• Our Featured Product Review
• Calling All New Moms: Total Body Conditioning – Life After Baby’s Birth
• Visit Our Featured Website
• This Month's Recipe - Scrumptious Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Win a Peapod Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed - Enter By July 29th

The Peapod bed is very lightweight and portable - but what we particularly love about it is the fact that you can use it as a bed OR a shade tent for the beach, back yard etc.

So what do you need to do to win this fantastic prize?

Just send in your review(s) of your favourite baby products!

In addition to being in with a chance of winning, your review may prove very useful to other parents making decisions about which baby care accessories to choose for their little ones!

This contest is open to residents of the United States - and you can enter as many times as you like before the closing date of July 29th!

For more details of how to win this fantastic prize...

please visit our Baby Product Reviews page!

Using Pineapple In your Baby Food Recipes

We received two messages last month asking about the suitability of pineapple as a baby food - so we thought we'd make pineapple the topic of our newsletter this month and share with you some tasty baby food recipes using this tropical fruit!

When can my baby eat pineapple?

Pineapple is not particularly allergenic, so it doesn't need to be avoided for that reason. However, one problem with pineapple in regards to feeding your baby is its acidity.

Fresh pineapple and pineapple juice can cause a nasty diaper rash. Even canned pineapple may have a similar effect, although in our experience the reaction is far more extreme with fresh.

In some cases, the acids in pineapple may even cause a rash around baby's mouth. Generally, this isn't a sign of an allergic reaction to pineapple (although you should always check with your doctor to be sure) - but it is, instead, simply baby's delicate skin reacting to the strong acids. Even adults sometimes experience this reaction.

For these reasons, pineapple is NOT appropriate as a first food for baby.

It is far better to introduce it in the latter part of baby's first year (9 months onwards), when his digestive system has become used to coping with a wider variety of foods.

Even then, it is best to introduce pineapple slowly, a little at a time, mixed into other foods.

Not until you are completely sure that your baby won't react to its acidity should you think about offering chunks of pineapple to gnaw on. And you should always be VERY careful offering pineapple wedges or chunks - the fruit can be very fibrous, presenting a possible choking hazard.

SPECIAL NOTE: Pineapple is commonly responsible for flare ups in babies with infant reflux and is best avoided. Read more about infant reflux and solid foods here....

Health benefits of pineapple

Pineapple is a great source of dietary fibre, manganese, vitamin C and vitamin B1. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is considered a wonderful aid to digestion. This is thanks to the bromelain it contains - a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein. In fact, this enzyme is so good at its job that fresh pineapple juice is sometimes used to tenderize meat!

Note: If you add fresh pineapple to gelatin/jelly, it will not set. This is because the bromelain breaks the gelatin down. Canned pineapple, however, does NOT contain bromelain, as it is destroyed during processing - therefore, if you want to make a pineapple jelly for the family, use the canned variety!

Choosing and storing pineapple

When looking for a pineapple for your baby, see if you can find one labelled 'Extra Sweet' or 'Gold', which won't be as tart for your little one.

Unlike many other fruits and vegetables, size doesn't matter when it comes to pineapple - large or small, the taste, texture and nutritional value will be more or less the same. The pineapple should, however, be heavy for its size.

The fruit should be ripe when you buy it, because pineapples don't ripen any further once picked.

You can tell if a pineapple is ripe by sniffing it near the stem - it should smell sweet and pleasant. You can also try pulling out one of the leaves from the crown - it should come out easily if the fruit is ripe.

WARNING: Never offer unripe pineapple to your baby (or eat it yourself, for that matter). It can cause diarrhea, vomiting and irritation to the throat.

Pineapple connoisseurs recommend keeping the fruit at room temperature for a couple of days before serving it. This improves the texture by making it juicier and softer. The pineapple can then be stored in the refrigerator for around 5 days.

Once you've cut the pineapple, store it in an airtight container in the fridge. The flesh can dry out quite quickly, but you can maintain its juiciness by storing it in water or juice (preferably pineapple juice). It will keep like this for several days, but - as with all foods intended for baby - we recommend using it within 1 to 2 days.

How to cut and peel a pineapple

Vacu Vin 3-pc. Pineapple Slicer

There are two ways of doing this...

METHOD ONE

1. Cut off the stem end and base of the pineapple.

2. Stand it on its end and - using a sharp knife - peel it in long strips down its length.

3. Once you've removed all the skin and 'eyes', turn it on its side and slice it.

4. Cut out the circular core in the centre of each slice.

METHOD TWO (which we find quicker)

1. Cut off the stem end and base of the pineapple.

2. Stand the pineapple on end and cut in half lengthwise.

3. Cut again, crosswise, so the pineapple is now in quarters.

4. Lay each quarter on its side and cut off the core along its length.

5. Using a sharp knife, remove the skin (in the same way as you'd remove the skin from a fish!).

HANDY TIP: Save the pineapple flesh from the base of the fruit for your baby. That's where the sugars are concentrated - consequently, it will be softer and sweeter.

Should I buy organic pineapple for my baby?

Pineapple does not appear on the Environmental Working Group's list of the fruits and vegetables most likely to be contaminated by pesticide residues - the Dirty Dozen. For one thing, the skin has to be removed - and for another, the skin's thickness provides an effective defence against the absorption of pesticides.

Read more about pesticide residues and the merits of peeling produce for your baby

It is not important, therefore, to buy organic pineapple.

Fresh or canned?

If you are able to find truly fresh, succulent pineapple than that, of course, is the best choice for your baby. However, in areas where fresh pineapple is rarely - if ever - available, then canned pineapple makes an acceptable alternative. Be sure that the fruit is packed in fruit juice - not syrup.

Read more about using canned fruits and veggies in your baby food recipes

Pineapple baby food ideas

Fresh pineapple is yummy when mashed or pureed with...

• banana
• pear
• sweet potato
• cottage cheese
• coconut milk or cream

If the pineapple you are using is particularly tough and hard to mash, try cooking it briefly by steaming or simmering in a little water or juice until tender.

Pineapple baby food recipes

Simple pineapple yogurt

1 pineapple ring
pure maple syrup
natural yogurt

Drizzle the pineapple ring with a little maple syrup.
Place under a hot broiler (grill) and cook until it begins to brown.
Turn and repeat on the other side.
Cool until just warm, then puree in a food processor.
Stir into yogurt and serve.

Super-sweet sweet potato!

1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
4 fl oz (1/2 cup) soy milk
1 pineapple ring, chopped
pinch cinnamon
1 tsp unsalted butter (optional)

Simmer the sweet potato dice in the soy milk over a low heat, until tender.
Transfer to a bowl and mix with the chopped pineapple and cinnamon.
Check the temperature and serve.

Pineapple-y Pork

4 oz (1/2 cup) pork loin, chopped
8 fl oz (1 cup) low sodium or homemade chicken stock
1 small sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 pineapple ring, chopped

Mix the chopped pork and sweet potato dice in a saucepan and pour in the stock.
Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 5 mins.
Add the pineapple and continue to cook until the pork is cooked through and the sweet potato is tender (5 to 10 mins).
Mash or puree, then serve.

Foil Wrapped Chicken and Pineapple

1/2 chicken breast, bonelss and skinless
1 pineapple ring
1 small apple, peeled, cored and cut into rings
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Preheat the oven to 400 deg F (200 deg C).
Take a square of foil and lay the pineapple ring in the centre.
Place the chicken on top of the pineapple, then lay the apple rings over the top of the chicken.
Sprinkle with the basil.
Bring together the sides of the foil and seal to form a parcel.
Bake for 30-45 mins, until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.
Chop or puree and serve with brown rice.

Vegetarian Squash and Pineapple Dinner

1/2 acorn squash, seeds removed
1 tsp apple juice
1 tsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 oz (1/8 cup) crushed pineapple
pinch ground nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 425 deg F (220 deg C).
Place the squash in a greased, lidded baking dish.
In the hollow of the squash, add the apple juice and maple syrup. Rub 2 tsp of the butter into the surface of the squash.
Bake, covered, for 30 mins.
Remove from oven and, using a spoon, scoop out the flesh of the squash, leaving a shell around 1/4 inch thick.
Place the squash flesh in a bowl and combine with the rest of the butter, the pineapple and the nutmeg.
Mash well.
Return the squash mixture to the shell then bake for a further 15 mins.
Cool and serve (you can use the squash skin as the ultimate organic bowl!).

You and Your Tiny Traveller

But fear not - we're here to help you resist temptation and continue to provide your tiny traveller with the healthy, home-cooked food he's used to, wherever you may be!

We actually have masses of tips and articles on our site to make travelling with your baby a little easier, so here's a selection of pages we think you'll find useful this summer...

General travel tips

Air travel with baby

Flying with baby food/milk

Car travel

Taking baby abroad

Travel snacks

From our blog...

Homemade baby food ideas - no cooking required

Useful accessories...

Travel high chairs

Baby feeding travel accessories

Baby beach tents

Travel toys

Travel cribs/cots

Sun protection (US)

Sun protection (UK)

Travel accessories

Bon voyage!

New and updated pages

• We love receiving messages and photographs from YOU - but we were recently asked why there are no photos on our site of US! Somewhat belatedly (!) we have now added a page to our site, introducing our family and telling you a little bit about why we built this website...
  Meet us here!

• Diaper rash is incredibly miserable for baby (and for Mummy or Daddy, too!), so find out which foods may trigger a sore bottom and some tips to heal baby's skin...
  Diaper rash and baby food

  
  New baby food recipes and tips from our blog

• Flaked fish with parsley sauce recipe

• Why you should peel waxed vegetables and fruits

• Baked sweet potato and carrot samosas...mmm!

• The secret to storing large amounts of stock

• My baby prefers solid foods to milk

• Why cook baby's carrots whole?

• Starting solids at 4 months - one mum's experiences

• Creamy and aromatic plantain puree

• Extra special roasted pumpkin puree

• Baby food around the world - congee

• Starting baby food - then stopping...?

Competition corner

The Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition

Kristin Metcalf from the United States was the winner of June's Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition with her recipe for Blueberry Pear Finger Cereal - a fun and messy food for baby to feed himself!

Thanks for sharing, Kristin - and congratulations on your win!

The winning recipe - plus other recipes for

• Speedy Fish Pie
• Puree to Go
• Nicey Spicy Pumpkin Spread

Do you have an original baby food recipe you'd like to share with other Mums?

Then send it in using this simple form - you could be June's winner of a $20 voucher from Amazon!


Baby of the Month

Thank you SO much for all the wonderful entries last month for our Baby of the Month competition.

You can visit this month's winner and see more of our favourite entries on our Baby of the Month page. You'll also find the entry form and details you need to submit YOUR baby's photograph!

Feeling a little lost?

If you've been having difficulty locating the information you need on our site, then you'll be pleased to hear that we've added a new menu to the top of every one of our newly designed pages (there are still pages on our site that use our older design and which don't have the new menu, but we're working to get those updated as soon as possible).

The new 'drop-down' menu lists all our major pages, making it easy to find what you're looking for - and don't forget that most of our pages also contain a 'Search' function that scours every page on our site for the word you enter in the search box!

If you spot any problems with our new menu or find it difficult to use, then please do let us know. Your feedback is taken very seriously and we want our website to be as easy to navigate as possible.

We also welcome your suggestions for any improvements you'd like to see, so feel free to contact us with your thoughts - we promise you a quick and personal response.

Safety Recalls

Here's a round up of recalls and warnings posted to our blog since our last newsletter. If you (or someone you know) has any of the items listed below, then please click on the link to visit our blog for more information.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone else who you believe may be affected by these recalls.

Oatmeal Bread (UK)

Bugaboo Strollers (US)

Bonavita Hudson and Babi Italia Pinehurst Drop Side Cribs (US)

Bonavita Cabana Drop Side Cribs (US)

Baby Joy Brand 2pk Orthodontic Pacifiers (Australia)

Apple Sauce in Glass Jars (US)

Baby Pacifiers (Australia)

Babymoove Bebedelice Blender Seal (Australia)

Featured Product - The Wean Machine

Love the name... love the product!

The The Wean Machine Portable Baby Food Blender Maker is the ultimate baby food accessory for days out and about with your little one... no batteries, power - or bowl! - required!

Simply pop in the food you want to puree for your baby and it's ready in seconds.

It works rather like a garlic press in reverse - instead of squeezing the puree OUT, it squeezes it WITHIN the machine, which then becomes a 'bowl' from which you can feed your baby.

It comes with a silicone tipped spoon that attaches to the unit - and it's free from BPA, phthalates, lead and PVC.

The only point to note is that it only works well with soft foods - the manufacturers suggest banana and kiwi, cooked veggies and pasta - we'd add melon, avocado, ripe pear, peach/nectarine and plum to the list!

The The Wean Machine Portable Baby Food Blender Maker was invented by a Mum (all the best ideas ARE, of course!) and provides a simple solution to preparing homemade baby food when you're on vacation or just out for the day!

Calling All New Moms: Total Body Conditioning – Life After Baby’s Birth

When I was pregnant with my son Caden, I gained about 35 pounds and it amazed me how many people wanted to touch my belly! It seemed as though I had given everyone the “okay to touch my big belly” permit! But it really didn’t bother me. Actually, I thought it was quite cute at times.

Then my son was born. I’d been waiting for months to meet him and he’s finally here! As a new mom, I wanted to make sure Caden got everything he needed from me. I nursed him from day one and watched him get bigger and bigger. My midwife commended me on how much I really put into taking care of him. I thought to myself I owe it to him as he has been on a journey from a fetus to water baby in my womb to infant out into this world. It must be so hard to suddenly find your soul in a helpless, tiny body; a body that requires ingesting food, and elimination waste and wearing clothes and seeing lights and hearing noise. At times I felt overwhelmed as I was concentrating on him so much that I somehow allowed myself to get lost in his world.

Most of us are spending so much of our time thinking about our little child and acclimating him to the world that before we realize it we are in bodies that we don’t even know (or for that matter want to know)…what happened?!!! It doesn’t help any to turn on the TV or read about actresses that have returned back to either their pre-pregnancy weight or are looking even better in a matter of a few weeks! For the majority of the population (yes, those of us that don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on an in-house 24/7 access of personal trainers, chefs, nutritionists, etc.) it’s not that easy.

So what does one do?

Below you will find tried and true suggestions on getting back into shape in mind, body, and spirit!

Many of my clients have found these top 5 tips to be very helpful, I hope you do too! Here’s to your health!

Total Body Conditioning

1. BE REALISTIC

1. Know your body. Know yourself. Everyone doesn’t have a “bounce back into shape” body. For those that are younger or who were active before their pregnancy, it may not be as much of a challenge as for those who had sedentary lifestyles.
2. Listen to your body. Your body needs to recover. Your body has just gone through a very miraculous and awesome experience. Remember, it took NINE months for your body to change shape for pregnancy--it could take that long, or even longer -- for your body to change back!

   It’s OKAY! Keep a positive mental outlook and whenever you feel down, just remember why you went through all that you did: That sweet little baby!

2. BREAST IS BEST!

There is no better food you can provide for your bundle of joy than breast milk. Every year a new study appears finding some nutrient or immunological factor found in breast milk that cannot be duplicated in a laboratory.

Benefits for YOU:

1. After birth, immediate breastfeeding helps contact the uterus and reduce the risk of hemorrhaging.
2. Breastfeeding aids in natural weight loss by using up and extra 500 calories a day! That’s comparable to getting almost 2 hours of aerobic activity a day…wow!

There’s so much more on this topic but I’ve got to stop here so that I can share more stuff with you! For those of you that are not breastfeeding, please pay particular attention to #5.

3. EXERCISE

Two exercises you can do right after birth according to Lisa Stone, ACE-certified Pre-and Post-Natal Fitness Instructor:

Kegel exercises: To "find" your Kegel or pelvic floor muscle, try stopping and starting the flow of urine next time you go to the bathroom. That "squeezing" is the pelvic floor muscle contracting. Now try contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor while sitting at your desk, driving in your car, washing dishes, and while having intercourse. And don't worry - this exercise isn't visible to onlookers, so you can have a conversation with someone and do your Kegels at the same time. One client of mine put red dot stickers on her bathroom mirror, above the kitchen sink, above her child's dresser, on her rear-view mirror, etc., and whenever she sees a red dot she does 2 Kegels. Your goal should be 100 per day.

Isometric Abdominal Contractions: Lay on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the bed or floor. Take a deep breath in, and exhale as you tighten the abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button into the floor. Inhale as you release.

Also, here are some great websites to connect with for support in exercising:

www.strollerstrides.com (they are in the US and Canada)

www.seemommyrun.com (they are in the US only)

4. DID SOMEONE SAY SLEEP???

Yes, you read it correctly, we need to get the sleep our body needs! If only there were extra hours in the day! Perhaps this may motivate you to get as much sleep as you can: Sleeping more has been shown to aid in weight loss because if you're tired, you're more likely to eat junk food and refrain from working out. Of course if you have a newborn a few weeks old, this may seem like a dream… please be patient, it will only get better!

5. NUTRITION

My Motto: Eat Right. Feel Good. Live Well. Don’t worry, I’ll help you get started!

To everyone reading this, I am offering a free health consultation to help you to jumpstart your healthy diet and lifestyle! Please go to www.fyicynthia.com to sign up.

Here’s a great recipe to try:

Recipe: Fruit Nut Smoothie

Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup soy or rice milk
1 cup berries
1 cup diced melon
1/2 cup almonds
2-4 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Mix in blender for 1-2 minutes and serve.
Note: You can add other ingredients for added nutrition such as a spoonful of bee pollen, coconut oil, flax seed oil, spirulina powder or a scoop of protein powder.

So give it a try and let me know how this has worked for you or if you have found other ways, I’d love to hear from you! Shoot me an email at: cynthia@fyicynthia.com.

Learn how food, diet and lifestyle can have a tremendous impact on your overall health, happiness and well-being! All subscribers to Baby Bites will receive a FREE health consultation with me! Make sure you mention this offer when you respond!

The copyright of the article Calling All Moms: Total Body Conditioning, Life After Baby’s Birth in Homemade Baby Food Recipes is owned by Cynthia Hill. Permission to republish Calling All Moms: Total Body Conditioning, Life After Baby’s Birth in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Featured Website - Free Rice

www.freerice.com was established in October 2007 with one simple aim - to help end world hunger. But - instead of requesting donations - the site encourages visitors to answer a variety of questions on different subjects. For every correct answer given, 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program. One gram of rice contains approximately 48 grains - and 400 grams of rice will feed one person for one day.

The rice is paid for by advertisers, whose banners are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Freerice does not profit at all from this site - and, with enough participants from around the world - its contribution can be significant. In fact, Freerice has already generated enough rice to feed millions since its inception.

The reason we're featuring this site again is twofold - to introduce it to those who weren't subscribing to Baby Bites at the beginning of last year (after all, your little one may have been a mere twinkle in your eye, back then!). But it's also because the site has added MORE categories since last year, when it focused on grammar.

It now offers questions on art, chemistry, English, geography, mathematics and four different languages. If you get a question wrong, the next one will be easier - if you get it right, the next one will be harder... so it becomes very addictive as you strive to beat your personal best! And watching your total of rice grains mounting up is a real incentive!

If you have older children, then we recommend introducing THEM to Freerice, too - our eldest two children love it, competing with each other for the most rice - and our daughter found that the Spanish questions really helped her prepare for an upcoming test!

You can play the games at Freerice here - and feel free to pass on this link to others who might like to sharpen up their general knowledge and earn rice at the same time!

Recipe of the month - Scrumptious Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Here's a recipe that you can enjoy right along with your baby - the flavour is simply mouthwatering and the entire dish is very easy to put together.

This recipe can be enjoyed by babies from 6 months onwards - if you prefer, you can leave out the onion until your little one is older (although be sure to include it in the potato you make for yourself!). You can either serve the potato as it is (for older tots), or scoop it from its skin and mash/puree it for beginners.

To make Scrumptious Stuffed Sweet Potatoes you will need...

2 small sweet potatoes
2 tsp olive oil
1 heaped tbsp finely chopped red onion
2 oz (1/4 cup) cottage cheese
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 tbsp fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs
1 tsp wheat germ

Preheat the oven to 400 deg F (200 deg C).
Wash the sweet potato, then cut it in half lengthwise (but don't peel it).
Place on a lightly greased baking sheet, cut side up and drizzle with a little olive oil.
Bake until tender (around 40 mins).
Whilst the sweet potato is cooking, saute the onion in a little olive oil until tender.
When the sweet potato is cooked, use a spoon to scoop the flesh into a bowl (leave around 1/4 inch intact all the way around so it holds its shape).
Add the cooked onion, cottage cheese and basil and mash thoroughly.
Return the mixture to the sweet potato skins. Mix the wheat germ with the bread crumbs, then sprinkle over the sweet potatoes.
Drizzle with a little olive oil and bake for a further 20 mins.
Sit down with baby and dig in!