Graduating from breast milk and formula to solids is a major milestone in a baby's first year. If your little one is ready to make the leap, throw away your preconceived notions that baby's first foods have to be monotonous and dull. These 15 recipes incorporate unexpected flavors and ingredients to make the early days of eating a whole lot more fun!
The temperature doesn't have to be pushing the 100-degree mark to be thinking about popsicles. As any parent of a teething tot can attest, ice-cold pops can be a lifesaver any time of year. If you're already making your lil one her own baby food, homemade fruit and veggie pops are just another way to use your purees, and a great way to introduce new tastes. Simply add the mixtures to your favorite popsicle mold — we're partial to Annabel Karmel's Fill and Freeze Puree Pops — for a quick (and healthy) teething remedy. Not sure which flavor combinations might work well together? Check out these five unique baby food popsicle recipes. From sweet creamed corn to strawberry banana yogurt, these pops are sure to please year round.
If you haven't jumped on the homemade baby food bandwagon, it's not too late. For many mamas, the idea of buying, steaming, chopping, and mashing fruits, veggies, and proteins sounds intimidating, especially when jars and squeeze packs are easy to grab as you run through the grocery store. But we're here to tell you that making it yourself is easier than you think — and a lot less expensive too. All it takes is a little preplanning and a few tools that you probably already have around the kitchen. Our handy guide will put you on the path to creating your very own baby café in the comfort of your own home.
We've been bitten by the baby food pouch bug! Lighter, easier to recycle, and available in more interesting flavors than traditional baby food jars, squeezable baby food has quickly taken over the shelves at our favorite stores. But until recently, the squeezable trend didn't have room for homemade baby food advocates. That is until now. Over the past few months, we've seen an onslaught of packages designed to be filled with purees mama's whipped up (literally) at home. Check out six options that redefine the concept of make and take when it comes to homemade baby food.
In the Japanese culture, cooking is a thoughtful process that's executed with careful intention. In addition to combining ingredients to appeal to the sense of taste, food is meant to stimulate the brain, eyes, and mouth simultaneously. With that in mind, Mika Shino developed Smart Bites for Baby — 300 recipes designed to make mealtime a nutritious, mentally stimulating, and fun experience for babies and toddlers.
Utilizing a range of textures, colors, and flavors, Shino's recipes include foods that are proven to promote brain development — think fish, soy, nuts, berries, sesame, and more. Smart Bites for Baby is organized by age, making it easy for kitchen-savvy parents to know when to introduce each recipe.
We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek at three of the inventive recipes in Shino's book: creamy orzo with crabmeat, coconut curry soup, and chocolate sesame cupcakes. Check them out, try them on your tots, and let us know what you (and your little ones) think!
Starting grains with your baby doesn't have to be bland. Add some flavor to your lil one's diet with this simple and tasty recipe. If you've never cooked quinoa before, don't worry — it's easier than you think. Found in most grocery stores, quinoa is packed with everything good for developing bodies and brains. The small, round grain is high in protein and antioxidants, perfect for growing babes. Quinoa also has a slight crunch, making this baby-food blend perfect for teething tots!
Lots of moms like to think out loud, and CherylDee is one of them. Here is one of the latest posts to her Lipsticks to Baby Bottles blog.
This is probably one of Kiara's favourite dishes, and I believe many Asian kids, too! It's easy peasy to make and tastes delish!
What you'll need:
For all the items that I stated as optional, it's really up to you which you would prefer. Some would rather skip Bovril and garlic and just use chicken stock, whereas some would do the opposite. So that part is really up to you and depends on how you would like your baby's food to be. I personally have used all three methods, and Kiara likes them all the same.
Step one: Add rice and carrots to a pot of boiling water (or boiling chicken stock). You can add finely chopped garlic if you would prefer to add more flavor to the dish.
Step two: I let this simmer in for about 15 to 20 minutes until the carrots are softer. Plus the rice takes a while to cook, too! Once done, add your minced chicken, which cooks quite fast since it's itty-bitty pieces.
Lots of moms like to think out loud, and CherylDee is one of them. Here is one of the latest posts to her Lipsticks to Baby Bottles blog.
A few days ago I decided to try out a recipe I found online. It sounded delicious, well in a baby delicious sorta way! So let's jump right into it. Here's a list or more like pictures of the items you will need to create this dish for your bubs.
I know I did not state any carrots in the title, but I did add in some, purely just for color. Well and K loves carrots, but I added just a tiny bit. So there you have:
So just chop up the items and pop them into a pot of boiling water. Chopping them up to smaller pieces makes it easier to mash up later when they're fully boiled. While your vegetables are boiling you can start doing your pastas in a separate pot. For one serving you can just use 1 tablespoon worth of pastas. Up to you if you prefer the stars version or the spaghetti.
Baby's first Thanksgiving may entail a special bib, a personalized place mat, and plenty of attention from fawning relatives, but it probably doesn't include a plate of turkey, sweet potatoes, and stuffing. Just because your lil one is too small for the buffet line, doesn't mean she has to miss out on the holidays delicious flavors. Turkey day favorites lend themselves to baby purees neutral flavors and smooth textures. I've rounded up Thanksgiving puree options for solid food-eating tots — both homemade recipes and store-bought versions, so no child goes without a bite of turkey on this festive day!
