Recipes

Ruth Yaron

Why pay more than $1.00 for 1/2 pound of processed commercial baby cereal, when you can make your own baby oatmeal for pennies a serving? Put a cup of water in a saucepan on the stove top to boil. Meanwhile, take 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of oatmeal (non-quick cooking) and whiz it in the blender until it becomes a powder, stir it into the cup of boiling water, turn the heat down to low, and let cook for 10 minutes. Stir with a whisk or fork to prevent lumping and scorching on the bottom. Let cool thoroughly before feeding to your baby. It will look just like the commercial boxed baby oatmeal mixed with liquid, but much, much more economical!

Baby's food should be only moderately warm, about 99 degrees or body temperature -- like breast milk. Test for safe temperatures by poking or swirling your clean finger throughout the bowl -- the cereal should feel neither hot nor cold because it should be at body temperature. (If you are uncomfortable putting your finger into your baby's food, remember that it is certainly better than burning your baby's mouth!)

TIP: You can double the recipe and store half of the cooked oatmeal, covered well, for up to two days in the refrigerator.

When warming food from the refrigerator for baby, warm ever so slightly on the stove top or for a few seconds in the microwave, just enough to get the chill out. Stir very well to distribute any "heat pockets" or "hot spots" that may burn your baby's mouth. Then test for proper temperature as described above.

You can buy oatmeal at the supermarket, but take a trip to your local health food store to get certified organic oatmeal. It may be a little more money than the non-organic supermarket oatmeal, but it's well worth it for your precious little baby. Who knows what long-term effects pesticides have on your little baby's body?! And organic oatmeal from the natural foods store costs only a small fraction of the over-priced commercial brands of baby oatmeal.

NOTE: Always consult your pediatrician before feeding any foods to your baby. One advantage of using baby formula and commercial boxed baby cereals is the added iron, but you can make up for the lack of iron supplementation in homemade baby cereals by giving your baby over-the-counter (no prescription needed) iron drops. They are sold in any pharmacy and most supermarkets. Make sure you get your pediatrician's OK first.

The Super Baby Food book has instructions for making baby brown rice cereal and other healthy whole grain cereals for your baby. Recipes also include cereals with added split peas, lentils, soybeans, and other legumes, which are just as quick and easy to make. Whole grains and legumes are SUPER FOODS that you want to include regularly in your baby's diet (and in your diet also!). You may not like them, but your baby will. Her taste buds have not yet been ruined by the highly-processed, sugared, salted foods to which most of us are accustomed. Why not start her on a healthy diet of homemade, whole, natural foods! You'll save lots of money on baby food bills and, by eating a super healthy diet your baby will be happier and healthier, and your super healthy baby will save you money on doctor bills :-) !!

Baby Bananas

I'll never understand why parents pay a fortune for jarred, processed bananas when fresh are soooo easy! To make bananas for baby, peel a ripe banana and thoroughly fork-mash until there are no lumps and the banana is so mushy it's almost liquid. That's all there is to it.

If your baby is just starting on solid foods, you can mix the mashed banana with a little formula or breast milk to make it a very liquidy consistency.

Most commercial jarred baby bananas are not organic. Try to buy only certified organic bananas, because bananas (and all imported fruits) are sprayed with fungicides which can be absorbed into the peel and flesh of the fruit.

Super Quick Mini Jelly Roll for Toddlers

Take a slice of un-toasted whole grain bread. Remove crusts. (Use crusts for bread crumbs. See section on how to save money by grinding your own bread crumbs from those end slices that no one ever eats.) Spread with all fruit no-sugar-added jelly or jam. Roll bread up as you would a sleeping bag. Stab with a skinny carrot or celery stick or toothpick to keep from unrolling. Instead of, or in addition to, the jelly, use peanut butter, cream cheese, tahini, humus, or any sandwich spread. One of the sandwich spreads should be a colorful jelly so your child can see the swirl.

French Fries - Not!

Don't deep fry potatoes in all that oil--bake them for your toddler instead! Cut up 2 or 3 potatoes into quarters, eighths, or French fry shapes. You can peel them if you wish, but remember that the peels have lots of nutrients. Put the cut-up potatoes in a bowl and toss them with melted butter. Use only about 1 teaspoon of melted butter for each potato. (Or save washing a big bowl and brush them with melted butter instead.) Spread potatoes on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake in pre-heated 400 oven for 20 minutes or until browned.

Variations: Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese and/or parsley on those fries before they go into the oven--delicious! Or use sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes for an extra jolt of vitamin A.

Melon Yogurt Bowls that Your Toddler will Love!

Cut cantaloupe in half (length-wise or width-wise) and reserve the rind shells for later use as bowls. Scoop out seeds. Use melon baller to scoop out balls. Return melon balls to shell bowls with to cup plain yogurt for each bowl. Serve immediately for maximum taste and nutrients. Kids will love the natural bowls. If the bowls are rolling around and unstable, cut a slice off the bottom to make them flatter.

Variations: Pineapple, honeydew melon, or papaya can be used instead of cantaloupe. Sprinkle ground or chopped nuts on top, or add a squirt of lemon or orange juice.

Kiwi Health Cereal

Dice or mash a kiwi with fork. Add cottage cheese, wheat germ, and a little maple syrup. Add a pinch or two of brewer's yeast (whose bitter flavor will be hidden by the sweetness of the kiwi and syrup) for an extra nutritional punch. Remember that vitamin C and iron work together. There is vitamin C in the kiwi and iron in the wheat germ.

Variations: Instead of kiwi, you can use banana; instead of cottage cheese, you can use yogurt. Banana adds iron, but not much vitamin C, so serve with orange juice or some other high vitamin C juice.

Fruit Juice Snowballs

Crush ice in blender to make snow. Use ice cream scoop to shape like snowballs and place in bowls. Pour fruit juice over snowballs. Your toddler will have lots of fun with these!

Variation: For a sweeter, thicker topping, use fruit juice concentrate mixed with a little water. Use paper cups instead of glass for a refreshing outside summer snack.

Apple Pumpkin Puree Baby Food (Mercedes Solis)

Ingredients: 1 medium pumpkin, 3 apples, peeled and cored (any kind), 1/4 cup pine nuts, Water, Cinnamon, Nutmeg (optional - sprinkle into the cooking water or when you puree/mash), Ginger (for more taste you can also add some).

Directions: Halve the pumpkin, peel and de-seed it then cut into cubes. Slice the apples (you can also use pears for variety). Add 3 inches of water to a pot and then insert a steamer basket. Add the pumpkin cubes and apples. Bring water to a boil and then steam gently until soft and cooked. Be sure to check on the water level. Puree or mash as needed for your baby.

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