By Patricia Davis
Watching my baby sitting in her high chair, with food all over her face, having fun with her first solid food meal, is something I’ve dreamt about my whole life.
Introducing solid food is such a huge step in a baby’s life. Meal time is often an important socializing tool for babies. It teaches them that family comes together to eat, talk and laugh. There are so many different ways to introduce food to your baby, so let me start by saying that your pediatrician usually gives you the best advice on when and how to start.
My first baby was born in December and typically between four and six months, you are given the go ahead to start purees. My pediatrician recently recommended I begin introducing my baby girl to puree’s and I had already begun researching the best ways to create a positive relationship between her and food.
Because she is still so young, basic puree’s watered down with breastmilk or formula is the best way to get a baby used to texture and taste. Here are two recipes that I love making and my baby loves eating.
Things that you will need:
- Blender or Food Processor
- Storage Bags
- Ice Cube Trays
- Breastmilk or Formula For Consistency
- Bowl
- Steamer Basket
Roasted Banana Baby Puree Recipe
Ingredients
4 peeled bananas, cut lengthwise
1/8 tsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roast: Place bananas on a baking sheet and roast for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool slightly.
- Blend: Place bananas and rosemary into a blender or food processor and puree for 1-2 minutes or until completely smooth. You may need to add additional water, so start by adding in 1/4 cup increments until you get the desired consistency. You may want to add a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent it from browning.
- Serve: Let cool slightly, and serve to baby or freeze for later.
Apple Puree
Ingredients
2 medium apples, peeled and cored
3 tbsp apple juice, or boiled water
Instructions
- Chop the apple into small, even sized pieces.
- Put these into a heavy based saucepan with the apple juice or water.
- Cover the pan and cook over a low heat (about 6 mins for apples) until the fruit is tender.
- Blend the fruit to a very smooth puree (no lumps) using a blender or food processor.