Some First Food Ideas for Weaning Your Baby

1.    Sweet Potato Mash with homemade stock – slice 4 peeled medium/large sweet potatoes and steam for 15 mins or so.  Mash roughly and add a few spoonful’s of your homemade stock to give it a more creamy consistency.

2.    Homemade stock - Put Leftover bones and skin from a cooked or raw chicken carcass, Celery (especially celery tops), Onions (optional), Carrot, Parsley in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to bring the stock to barely a simmer. Add a squeeze of half a lemon at this point as it will help release some of the minerals from the bones.  Simmer partially covered at least 4- 12 hours, occasionally skimming off any foam that comes to the surface. Remove the bones and vegetables with a slotted spoon, and strain the stock through a fine mesh sieve. If making stock for future use in soup you may want to reduce the stock by simmering an hour or two longer to make it more concentrated and easier to freeze in little pots.

3.    Avocados -  are often called one of nature’s perfect foods because they are said to contain everything a person needs to survive. A wonderful “good fat” food for baby’s brain and physical development, try an avocado as baby’s first food instead of refined cereals.

4.    Pureed carrots/parsnips with pureed apple/pear sauce – steam the carrot/parsnips first for 20-30 mins or until soft. In the meantime slice apple/pear and put in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add a little water (no sugar) and stir until soft.  Blend the carrot/parsnip and apple/pear together to form a creamy consistency.

5.    Bananas – mashed up.  You may like to add some breast milk or formula.

6.    Quinoa (7/8 months old)

The health benefits of quinoa include high protein content, good source of vitamins and minerals, presence of antioxidants and high fiber content which acts as a natural laxative.

Ingredients:

·      1 cup whole quinoa (not ground into a powder)

·      2 cups water

1.    Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a saucepan

2.    Add 1 cup of quinoa

3.    Cover the pot, reduce heat and simmer approximately 15 minutes or until liquid has been absorbed. Let stand for five minutes and then “fluff” a bit.

4.    You may add fruits, veggies and/or other foods that are age appropriate for your baby.

7. Quinoa & Peas (7/8 months old)

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups cooked quinoa

  • 1 cup of your favourite chicken, vegetable or beef stock

  • Peas

1.    Directions:
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to low.

2.    Simmer for approximately 10 minutes – please watch this closely so that the quinoa is not reduced to a pasty thickness.

 
Fiona McEnroy, RecipesFiona McEnroy