Greek Cream Cheese

This is a new product on the market. Greek Cream Cheese. It tastes almost exactly like regular cream cheese with slightly less "tang" but still just as creamy and delicious. This cream cheese has 2X more protein than regular cream cheese, 50% less fat, 25% less calories, 25% less sodium and live and active cultures. You can use Greek cream cheese as you would any regular cream cheese.

What I love most about this product is that it is a "lighter: version without any additives or ingredients to compromise the product. Both Layla and I love eating Greek cream cheese with jelly on toast or a bagel for lunch. 

Layla especially loves it when I cut her sandwich into her FAVORITE shape...a bunny! It is a great way to get toddlers excited about their food. See below a picture of Layla's Bunny French Toast. I use the same cutter for sandwiches. 

I would definitely recommend picking up this product next time you are at the store (I found it at Stop and Shop) enjoy!!!  For more info check out their website http://www.franklinfoods.com/greek-cream-cheese

40 Ways to Distract and Entertain a Toddler

Happy Friday Everyone! Here is a link a friend sent to me a while ago (before I had a toddler in the house) I saved the website knowing that I would be interested in checking it out once Layla got older. I am definitely going to have to give some of these a try. Especially the Zip-Lock bag painting...that looks like fun!

40 ways to distract and entertain a toddler

Healthy Snack or Lunch Idea: Apple Peanut Butter Rounds

I make this all the time for a healthy afternoon snack to hold me over until dinner or sometimes I eat this for lunch with a handful of G.F. pretzels and a piece of dark chocolate.

I also make this for Layla as a snack by thinly slicing the apple and just topping it with smooth peanut butter and cutting the "sandwiches" into strips that are easy to eat. I like to cut away the skin to make it easier for her to chew.

Apple and Peanut Butter Rounds

Ingredients:
1 apple-sliced into thin rounds (save the other part of the apple for snacking)
1-2 tbsp all natural peanut butter or almond butter
Handful of raisins
Drizzle of honey
Toasted pine nuts,  chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds
Cinnamon

Thinly slice the apple into 8 rounds. Top 4 apple rounds with peanut butter, raisins, nuts and drizzle with a little honey. Top each round with the other 4 apple slices and sprinkle with cinnamon. Enjoy!

Golden Harvest Muffins

Another muffins recipe. I choose this recipe because I wanted another healthy snack idea for Layla. I like giving her one of these muffins in the afternoon when she wakes up from her nap, something to hold her over until dinnertime. These muffins are healthy and satisfying, filled with shredded apples, carrots and raisins. Tom also enjoys these muffins in the morning to keep him content until his second breakfast later that morning :)

These muffins smelled and looked amazing right out of the oven. I am definitely trying this recipe using gluten free flour. I will let you know how they come out. One muffin has 250 calories. Enjoy!

**If you have a shredding attachment to a food processor, it makes the process easier. If not, you can use a hand help cheese grater.

Golden Harvest Muffins (Recipe from Pillsbury Best Muffins and Quick Breads)
Makes 18 regular sized muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
2 cups shredded peeled apples (about 2 apples)
1/2 cup shredded peeled carrot (1-2 carrots)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans-optional
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, beaten

1, Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners or grease muffin cups.

2. In a large bowl combine all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and cloves; mix well. Stir in shredded apples, carrots, coconut, raisins and nuts, if using.

3. In a medium bowl, combine oil, milk, vanilla and eggs; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.

4. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for 20-25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am always looking for snack ideas for my 17 month old daughter Layla. As I was walking though the grocery store, I noticed all the cookies/snacks had a lot of artificial ingredients and were full of sugar and preservatives. I want Layla to be able to have a healthy treat now and then, so I decided to forgo the store bought snacks and make some of my own.

I looked through my bazillion cookbooks and found a healthier version of chocolate chip cookies in Ellie Kreiger's cookbook Comfort Food Fix. Cookies in general, are not the healthiest snack but I wanted something special for her today. These cookies are made with whole wheat flour and 1/4 of the butter you would find in a regular batch of cookies. She enjoyed them VERY much, as you can see in the pictures below. I think this is a great recipe for baking cookies on a weekday for no occasion at all. Obviously this recipe isn't only for children, my 22 year old sister enjoyed them very much and I am sure once my husband comes home from work he will too!


Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 20 cookies

Ingredients:
3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp canola oil
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mash together the butter and sugars with a fork until combined. Add in the oil and egg and mix well. Stir in Vanilla.

3. Combine flours, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix well. Gently fold in chocolate.

4. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepares baking sheets, leaving 1 1/2" to 2" space in between (they will spread) Bake until golden brown; about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack. They will crisp as they cool. These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for 4 days.

*1 cookie has 110 calories and 5 grams of fat

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis

Comfort food can mean different things to different people. To me, it is all american meals that I grew up eating. Meatloaf, although I don't love it's name, is one of those comfort foods to me.

This recipe is very family friendly, your toddler or kids will definitely gobble this one up. It's super moist and filled with fresh herbs and melted cheddar cheese. Although meatloaf may not be considered the healthiest, this recipe comes from Cooking Light and they have lightened up this classic dish. Another great thing about this recipe is that it takes only 25-30 minutes to cook. By making these into "mini" meat loaves you cut the cooking time down in half. Serving this with potatoes is a must.

**I love to use my food processor to prepare most of this meal. You can make the fresh bread crumbs, dice the onion and garlic, grate the Parmesan cheese and chop the parsley and only have to clean up one item. Just make sure to chop each item separately (with an exception of onion and garlic which can be chopped together)

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis (adapted from cooking light)
Serves 6 (serving size one meat loaf) If you have big eaters in the family, I would serve 2 per person.

Layla's Plate :) 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 oz) fresh breadcrumbs
Cooking spray
1 cup onion-chopped
2 garlic cloves-minced (Optional)
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp fresh parsley-chopped
2 tbsp fresh grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp prepared horse radish
1 tbsp dijon mustard
3/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 oz white cheddar cheese, diced
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 large egg, slightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Heat a skillet over med-high heat. Add bread crumbs and cook 3 minutes until toasted, stirring frequently. Set aside in a large bowl.

3. To the same skillet, coat with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic, saute 3 minutes or until slightly tender. Add onion mixture to bread crumbs.

4. Add to breadcrumb/onion mixture 1/8 cup ketchup. 1/8 cup tomato sauce, and all remaining ingredients. Mix well.

5. Shape 6 (4" x 2") loaves on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray (if you don't have a broiler pan, coat a wire cooling rack with spray and use that) Combine the remaining ketchup and tomato sauce and distribute evenly, spreading over each mini.

6. Bake at 425 for 25 minutes, or until down. The sauce on top should be slightly browned.

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

I really love making muffins and trying new recipes. I tend to make at least one batch a week and freeze them for Tom's breakfasts during the week. That kind of makes me sound like a stepford wife, but I enjoy baking too much to consider that title.

This recipe often makes a frequent appearance our kitchen during the autumn months. The recipe comes from the cook book Best Muffins and Quick Bread from Pillsbury. Each standard size muffin has only 190 calories. These muffins are kid friendly as well, just make sure to chop the apples very small if young children will be snacking on them. 

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins

Makes 12 regular size or 6 large 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups chopped peeled apples

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup skim milk

1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

1 egg slightly beaten

Topping:

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 tbsp finely chopped nuts

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

**The picture on this post is shown with a topping of coarse sugar and cinnamon instead of topping above

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tin with paper liners. 

2. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup all purpose flour and apples; stir until apples are coated

3. In a large bowl, combine remaining 1 cup of flour, whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon; mix well. Add apples and all remaining muffin ingredients. Stir until dry ingredients are moistened. Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. 

4. In a small bowl, combine all topping ingredients; sprinkle about 2 tsp over each muffin cup. 

5. Bake are 400 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean (larger muffins will take longer to cook) Remove from oven, cool on wire rack and serve warm. 

Healthy Snacking for children and recipe for Whole Wheat Carrot Raisin Muffins

Here are some healthy snack ideas for children ages 15 months to 3 years. I have also included a healthy whole wheat carrot/raisin muffin recipe below. Layla loves to eat 1-2 of these mini muffins as a nutritious afternoon snack. I made a large batch and wrapped individual muffins with plastic wrap and placed them in the freezer. I take 1-2 muffins out of the freezer and reheat in the microwave for 15 seconds. These also make a great healthy breakfast for adults. Make a combination of mini muffins for baby and regular sized for yourself.

For calcium:
- Half a mini bagel with tomato sauce and cheese; toasted under broiler
-Single serving of cottage cheese or yogurt topped with fresh fruit, such as blueberries or peaches
(serving size 1/4-1/2 cup)
-Small bowl of whole grain cereal with chopped raisins and milk
-Small bowl of ricotta cheese (1/4 cup to 1/2 cup) with cinnamon and sugar or fruit puree
-Applesauce mixed with cottage cheese

For Protein:
-Thin slices of ham or turkey breast tucked into whole grain pita bread
-Whole wheat crackers with peanut, almond, or soy nut butter (for older children)
-Half a warm wheat tortilla, spread with spoonful of mashed beans, sprinkled with shredded cheese, rolled up
-Hard boiled eggs (sprinkle with mild curry powder or paprika)

For Produce:
-Sliced apples or ripe pears with sliced cheddar cheese
-Ripe banana dipped in strawberry yogurt
-Toasted slices or zucchini or banana bread with cream cheese
-Roasted red and yellow peppers with hummus
-Veggies such as cooked carrot sticks, broccoli with black bean or spinach dips

**Snack ideas from The baby and toddler cookbook

Whole Wheat Carrot Raisin Muffins (adapted from Martha Stewart Living)
Makes 36 mini muffins or 12 regular muffins

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large egg
1/3 cup skim milk
3-4 medium carrots, shredded
1 medium ripe banana, mashed

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or line with muffin liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt until there are no lumps. Stir in oats and raisins. Add oil, egg, milk, carrots, and banana and stir until blended.

3.Fill each muffin cup 2/3 way full with batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, check mini muffins between 10-15 minutes (depending on oven) and 23 to 25 minutes for regular sized muffins. Serve muffins warm or at room temperature. Freeze extras.

Baby and Child Friendly Quesadillas

Now that Layla is old enough I can start to give her more freedom when it comes to finger foods. Even though she only has 4 fully developed teeth and four more on the way, she is getting the hang of taking little bites of her food.

As her taste for different foods develop she is starting to become "picky" about certain foods, mostly vegetables. She tends to pick out the food she does like and tosses the foods she doesn't like on to the floor or feeds it to our dog. Our dog Bela has never eaten so well, you can always find her sitting next to the high chair at lunch and dinner time.

These Quesadillas are a great way to hide some vegetables or other foods such as beans. These quesadillas were full of shredded chicken, black beans, corn and cheddar cheese. She loved holding onto the pieces and taking bites. Just make sure to supervise when your child is eating these, making sure they do not take big bites, or simply cut them up into small pieces.

Makes 1 Quesadilla

Ingredients:
1 medium size flour tortilla
1/3-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/8 cup black beans
1/8 cup corn
1/8-1/4 cup shredded cooked chicken

1. Lay out tortilla and sprinkle cheese to cover half the tortilla, scatter beans, corn and chicken over cheese. Fold the tortilla in half to make a semi-circle.

2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tortilla and cook 2-3 minutes per side until the cheese is melted. You can keep warm in a low oven until ready to eat.

3. Cool the quesadilla down until appropriate temperature for your child. Cut into stripes or small pieces and serve warm. You can always reheat in microwave if it cools off too quickly.

Feeding Baby: Guidelines to suggested serving sizes

Here is a chart from the Oregon Dairy Council that shows the suggested servings sizes and guidelines for feeding your little one. As they mention, each baby is different and may eat more or less than the suggestions. There have been times when I have wondered if Layla is getting the appropriate amount of each food group and this chart is very helpful.



Feeding Baby: Guidelines to portion sizes


The only difference I might make would be to replace the serving size of fruit juice with whole fruits or water. Luckily for me, Layla loves to drink water from her sippy cup. Which bring me to my next recommendation. I am only speaking from my experience with Layla, but she seems to drink best from a sippy cup with a straw.

Throughout the last few months, I have found myself googling samples of babies feeding and sleeping schedules just to compare to what Layla is doing. Here is a sample of her schedule at 10 months of age:

6:00am- wakes up and breast feeds
8:00am- breakfast: (ex.) 1/4 cup of oatmeal (quick cooking oats) with whole milk and 1/2 to 1 whole banana
9:30am- Nap for 45 minutes
11:30am- Lunch: (ex.) grilled cheese with whole wheat bread and water.
1:00pm-breastfeeds
1:00pm-3:00pm- Naptime
3:00pm: Snack: 1 peach diced, 1/2 diced avocado or hard boiled egg yolks
6:00 pm: Dinner (she eats whatever Tom and I are eating)
7:30pm - Bed

The last few days she has not been napping in the afternoon very long. It might be time to drop the morning nap and stick with one longer nap in the afternoon. We'll see how it goes...

Layla's Favorite Meals: 8 months and up

Here are a few of Layla's favorite meals. She has become a very independent eater and loves to feed herself. She doesn't have much patients eating from a spoon these days, unless its something she really loves like oatmeal or yogurt. I usually cut up fruit for her to pick up and munch on while I sneak in some spoonfuls of food in between bites.

Layla and I share a similar breakfast every morning. We eat our oatmeal with banana and cinnamon. It's one of my favorite times of day. I use the same oatmeal for Layla that I do for myself. She doesn't seem to enjoy the baby cereals anymore.

Breakfast:
-Oatmeal with fruit:In a small bowl place 1/8- 1/4 cup of quick cooking oats and add 2 parts water (1/8 cup oats with 1/4 cup water) Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 min. Add in a little whole milk and cinnamon. You can also add in mashed banana or applesauce. Wait for the oatmeal to cool before serving. 

 Lunch: 
-Avocado and Egg on Whole Wheat Toast:
-Place one egg in a pot filled with enough water to cover egg. Bring water to a boil, remove from heat and cover for 14 minutes. After 14 minutes, place egg in cold water. Set aside. When the egg is cool enough to handle, remove the shell and rinse under water to make sure all the shell has been removed. Take the egg yolk out of the white and place in a bowl. Discard or eat the egg white (do not feed the white to your baby)
-Mash the egg yolk with 1/4 to 1/2 an avocado to make a spread. (You can also add in a little plain yogurt if you have it on hand)
-Toast 1 slice of whole wheat bread and spread on mixture. Cut the toast into small bite sized pieces and serve to your baby. They will gobble up this healthy lunch. Any extra avocado/egg mixture can be fed with a spoon.

"Spicing" up your babies food

I am always picking up the free magazine in the grocery stores that have healthy recipes and nutrition information. The other day, I picked up the free issue at Stop and Shop and saw this article on "spicing" up your babies food. Here is a summery and interesting points from the article by Wendy Cray Kaufman.

Adding spices and herbs is a great way to add interest and flavor without sugar and salt. A babies first foods need to be bland but as they grow you can use herbs/spices to develop a varied palate from the beginning stages. This helps you avoid the "picky eater" problems and create good eating habits.

In different cultures highly spiced food is very common. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may already be familiar with different flavors, as flavors of herbs and spices are transmitted through the breastmilk.

The best time to introduce more flavor is after 6 months. As always, introduce these seasonings one at a time in small amounts and watch carefully for any allergic reaction. Avoid extracts, such as vanilla, that contain alcohol. If you have any concerns about introducing herbs and spices to your baby, consult with your pediatrician.

Here are some spice and food matches to introduce to your baby:

Cinnamon:
-Applesauce
-Sweet potatoes
-Squash
-Bananas
-Yogurt
-Oatmeal
-Rice

Nutmeg:
-Pudding
-Carrots
-Squash
-Rice
-Bananas
-Yogurt

Cardamom:
-Sweet Potato
-Yogurt
-Bananas
-Applies
-pears

Basil:
-Sauces
-Pasta
-Vegetables
-Soup

Rosemary:
-Chicken
-Fish
-Potatoes
-Carrots

Oregano:
-Sauces
-Pizza
-Meatballs
-Vegetables

Garlic:
-Sauces
-Pizza
-Vegetables
-Soup
-Rice
-Quinoa

Curry:
-Lentils
-Beans
-Vegetables
-Rice

Dill:
-Fish
-Dips
-Sauces
-Potatoes

Babies First Lamb Chop

Last night I made Layla her first lamb chop. I baked in at 400 degrees for 12 minutes and then pureed it with a little water and some butternut squash. She loved it!! Of course she likes lamb chops, but will not swallow chicken or turkey. It seems she already has expensive taste when it comes to food. I will do you all a favor and not post a picture for this one, pureed meat is not the most appetizing thing to look at.

Lamb for baby: Makes 3/4 cup 
1 boneless lamb chop or steak(6 oz)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F . Line a roasting pan with foil and lightly oil a rack and place it in foil lined pan. Place lamb on rack. Roast turning once until cooked throughout and no longer pink; 12-15 mins per side. Remove and let cool.

Using a large knife, chop lamb and transfer to food processor or baby bullet system. Puree for 1 minute; with machine running add in 1/4 cup of water. Process until smooth. Add enough additional water to make it the right consistency for your baby. If you would like to make the lamb a little chunkier, it is okay to mince the meat extra fine for the baby to eat (mince like you would garlic).

Store in refrigerator for 2 days or freeze for up to one month.

Information About Nitrates in Baby Food

I was reading the handout the pediatrician gave me about feeding your baby solids and I came across this warning on certain foods you should not home-prepare for baby. It says not to make the following vegetables at home:

Beets
Turnips
Carrots
Spinach
Collard Greens

The reason is because these vegetables contain large amounts of nitrates (chemicals that can cause an usual type of anemia in infants) Baby food companies are aware of this problem and screen the produce for nitrates before preparing and selling the food. If you do decide to prepare these vegetables at home, it is best to serve them fresh, do not store. Storage of these foods increase the amount of nitrates.

Although the handout from the doctor states the above information, I have found articles that say the risk of your baby getting nitrate poisoning is very unlikely. Check out this website for more information.
http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/nitratearticle.htm

Hopefully you will find this information useful when making baby food at home.

Introducing Yogurt to Baby

Yogurt can be a nutritious addition to your baby's diet. Yogurt is usually introduced around 7-8 months, unless your doctor recommends a different age. It is important to give your baby pasteurized whole milk yogurt to allow maximum nutrition. Yogurt is full of protein and healthy fats needed for growth and development.

I recommend using whole milk plain yogurt and adding in your own homemade fruits. By making your own add-ins you can control the added sugar. Here are a few combinations that are favorable among babies:

Yogurt mixed with applesauce, puree of pears, mangoes, peaches and bananas.
You can also add in vegetables like avocado, carrots, sweet potatoes or pumpkin.
Add in baby cereal to make it a complete meal.
Try adding in a little cinnamon to applesauce or sweet potatoes for a new flavor combination.

Layla's favorite: yogurt with mango puree

If you don't want to make your own fruit and vegetable purees there are a lot of different baby yogurts on the market.

A question I had was "why is it okay to feed your baby cow's milk yogurt and cheese at 6 months, but not okay to give them cow's milk in a bottle until 1 year?"

With a little research I discovered the reason is because introducing small amounts of yogurt and cheese does not replace breastfeeding or formula feeding which give the full nutrition your baby need the first year of their life. Most doctors do not want you to introduce cow's milk in a bottle until 12 months to reduce the chances of parents replacing breast milk or formula.

Recalls and Food Safety in Baby Food

Please check out the information below regarding recent news on issues with baby formula and baby food recalls. Hopefully neither of these issues affects your little one.

High Levels of Arsenic (poison) found in baby formula, see video below





Baby Food Recall:
"For all parents, Nestle is asking for everyone to return all GERBER BANANA BABY FOOD expiring 2012 because they may contain glass. Please copy and paste for all babies safety. Batch code 7613033089 73"

Introducing meat to baby

I went for Layla's 6 month doctors visit today. It's time to start introducing meat into Layla's diet. There is something about pureed meat that just seems unappealing, right? I figured it would be a little more appetizing if I made the meat myself. Something about jarred meat puree, just seems wrong! To try to make this the most enjoyable for my little one, I will combine the meats with some of her favorite vegetables. If she is anything like her dad, she will be a meat and potatoes kind a girl!

At the doctor's visit I was surprised to find out that Layla is able to eat a lot more foods than I thought she could at this age, such as soft foods like pancakes, muffins etc.. The doctor said it's safe to give her most food with the exception of shellfish, raw honey, scrambled eggs and anything she can easily choke on. She mentioned that it is okay to mince up whatever Tom and I are eating for dinner, letting her try some. I am excited about this. I can also start giving her lunch and introducing a little yogurt into her diet.

When starting baby on meat, here are some of the baby "super" foods:

Chicken: Provides lean protein to support growth
Beef: Top source of iron and vitamin B12 used to build new cells
Lamb: High in iron and B vitamins, also high in zinc which supports a healthy immune system.
Turkey: High in selenium with boosts immune system and helps with cell growth and development. Dark meat turkey is a good source of iron.

Here is a video of Layla trying broccoli for the first time...it did not go over well. She also tried a little chicken last night but is not quite use to the texture yet. We will try again soon. 

Easiest recipe for you and baby-Butternut Squash Soup

This is the easiest way to make yourself a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner, while also making your baby a healthy meal at the same time. One small butternut squash makes enough for 8 jars of baby food and 1 large bowl of soup. You can alter any amount of the seasonings to your taste.

As mentioned in a previous post, butternut squash is one of the first foods you can feed your baby. Winter squash, such as butternut, is packed with vitamins, beta-carotene and calcium.

The Easiest Butternut Squash Soup:
Makes 1 large bowl and 8 jars of baby food (Makes 2-3 bowls of soup without baby food)

Ingredients:
1 small butternut squash
1-2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
Pinch of cinnamon
1-2 tbsp maple syrup
Salt and Pepper

1. Peel and dice the butternut squash into 1" cubes. Place in a pot of boiling water and cook until softened; about 20-30 mins.

2. Once the squash is soft, drain water and transfer half of the squash to a blender. To make baby food, add water and blend until smooth. Store in containers for 3-5 days or freeze for 2-3 months. To make the soup, add enough broth to puree smooth; add in cinnamon, maple syrup, salt and pepper to taste; blend together. Add in more stock to get the consistency you desire. Continue with the rest of the squash. Serve with a touch of heavy cream or plain yogurt.

Facts For New Moms: Starting Solids

It is very important to speak to your pediatrician before starting your baby on solid foods. Solid food should never replace breast milk or formula feedings until the recommended age of 12 months. If you are a new mom, I hope you find this information useful.

Why homemade baby food?
Making your own baby food allows you to know exactly what is going into your baby. A lot of jarred food contains unnecessary additives, preservatives and thickeners. Another great reason to make your own food is being able to use seasonal ingredients, which contain maximum nutrition. Making baby food is very easy and can save a family money.






When do you know your baby is ready to eat?
Most of the time the pediatrician will let you know exactly when the baby is ready to eat. Here are some signs to watch for to know the baby is ready;
-Can sit upright with little support
-Can hold head upright on their own
-Will open mouth when food is offered
-Can swallow food instead of pushing it all out
-Baby seems interesting in what you are eating

Stages of feeding baby:
4-6 months: It is important to introduce one food every 3-5 days to make sure baby is not showing signs of allergies.
-Baby can have single-grain cereal such as rice, barley, oatmeal and millet. Usually, at the age the baby eats 1-2 tbsp of cereal thinned out with breast milk or formula. Cereals that are iron-fortified are recommended. You can mix in different fruits and vegetables at this age. The most common are; sweet potatoes, peas, squash, carrots, apples, pears, banana. All of these foods are low-acid.
**In the morning I like to mix in fruit with rice cereal or oatmeal and for dinner I like to feed Layla 2-3 tbsp of a vegetable puree.

7-8 Months:
-You can introduce a wider range on fruits and vegetables such as: peaches, plums, cherries, beets, asparagus, mushrooms and green beans.
- You can also start combining foods that the baby has had previously.
- If the baby can handle it, you can keep the vegetables chunkier to initiate chewing.
-Babies first meats should include purees of lamb (high in iron), turkey (easy to digest).
-Other foods to introduce: cooked lentils and split peas (high in protein)

9-11 months:
-Coarse or chunkier fruits and vegetables
- Small pieces of cooked vegetables and ripe fruit
-Whole milk yogurt, ricotta and cottage cheese
-Meats such as chicken and pork.
-Introducing herbs and spices (onions and garlic)
-Fruit Juice (100% juice only) limit for 1/4 cup a day.

1 Year and up:
-Table foods such as soups, stews, pasta cut into bit sized pieces.
-Honey, cows milk, fish, citrus fruits and small amounts of salt and pepper.

What foods are worth buying organic?
The best foods to buy organic are the ones that tend to have high pesticide residue.
Organic Vegetables: Bell Peppers, Celery, Potatoes, Carrots, Spinach or Lettuce
Organic Fruits: Peaches/Nectarines, Apples, Strawberries, Cherries


What are the signs of an allergic reaction to solid foods?
-Vomiting or Diarrhea
-Excessive gas
-Wheezing
-Rash or hives
-Difficulty breathing
Most common food allergies come from milk, nuts, fish, wheat, soy, eggs, shellfish

Below are a list of foods that are beneficial to your baby and the reasons why they are a good choice.

Cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, papayas: high in vitamin A, healthy for skin and eyes.

Spinach, Avocado, Broccoli, asparagus: High in folate, which helps with heart health and cell growth.

Whole Grains, oats, millet, brown rice, cereals, pasta, crackers: Iron fortified cereals help give the baby the iron they need for growth and development. They contain carbohydrates for energy.

Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Chickpeas, Peas, Lentils: High in protein and carbs. They also contain high amounts of folate.

Poultry Meats, Eggs, Lean Pork: Protein to help build cells, muscle and organs.

Red Meat, Beef, Lamb, Dark Meat Chicken and Turkey: High in protein, iron and zinc to support healthy immune system and growth.

(Source Baby and Toddler Cookbook-fresh homemade foods for a healthy start)

Apple Pear Sauce

This sauce is very versatile. We like to eat this on pork chops, over ice cream or just by itself. I like to make this in the slow-cooker, but you could easily make this on the stove top. If you make this on the stove top, just make sure to stir occasionally and add more water when needed.

This sauce works very well for making baby food. If you are making this for baby, as well as yourself, add in the spices at the end. Apples and pears are both great foods the introduce to your baby early on. You should always introduce foods one at a time. Once they have tried both apples and pears, you can combine them, as I have in this sauce.

Pears and apples are both high in fiber and vitamins and help regulate the babies digestive tract. They have natural sugars, which makes this a favorite for most babies.
Below are pictures of Layla trying this for the first time.

Apple-Pear Sauce
Makes 3 cups

Ingredients:
2 lbs apples (a variety of apples works best. Jonagold, Honeycrisps, Golden Delicious are some of my favs)
2 lbs pears (I prefer Anjou)
3/4 cup water
1 tbsp ground cinnamon (you can also add 1-2 cinnamon sticks in place of ground cinnamon)
Pinch of nutmeg
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp brown sugar

1. Peel and dice the apples and pears and add them to the slow cooker. Add in water. If you are not making this for baby, add in spices, sugar and lemon juice. If you are making baby food, add in spices later on.

2. Cook in slow cooker on high for 2-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours, until tender.

3. To make baby food, scoop out 1 cup (or as much as desired) and puree in blender or baby bullet.

4.You can now add in spices and lemon juice to the remaining apples and pears and mix together. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve cold.