Tag: baby led weaning

Mango & Brown Rice

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This sweet and savory combo is a great option for babies who are finger-feeding themselves, and works best with very ripe mango. If you prefer, stir in a little coconut milk for creamier consistency. We also like it with a mix of brown and wild rice.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 peeled and diced mango
  • 1 lime
  1. Stir the rice and mango together in a large bowl.
  2. Squeeze the lime over the rice mixture, and stir to coat. Serve!

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Wheat Germ Breakfast

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This little breakfast is easy to whip up, and packed with nutrition for growing babies and toddlers.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup plain non-dairy yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons wheat germ
  • 2 tablespoons mashed ripe banana
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  1. Stir all ingredients together and serve.

Note: If you baby doesn’t like banana, use apple puree instead.

Banana Bread

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This nut-free banana bread is sweetened with agave and applesauce and has no added oil. Perfect for babies and toddlers, in other words, but big kids love it, too!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, divided
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1/2 cup melted Earth Balance butter
  • 2 tablespoons thawed apple juice concentrate
  • 1/3 cup agave nectar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 ripe bananas
  1. In a bowl, combine the flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Pour the applesauce into a large bowl and stir in the remaining baking powder. Whisk in the butter, apple juice, agave, and vanilla.
  3. Mash the bananas in a bowl and add to the applesauce mixture.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined.
  5. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour; a wooden pick inserted in the center should come out clean.

Banana Bread (1)

Carob Yogurt

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Carob Yogurt

It’s too early for babies to have chocolate before one year old, because of the caffeine. Try carob powder instead, for a sweet treat!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (5-ounce) carton plain non-dairy yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon carob powder
  1. Sprinkle the carob over the yogurt and stir to combine.

 

Hummus for Babies

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This mild hummus is just right for toddlers and babies. Because you can control the amount of salt, it’s preferable to store-bought hummus.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (15-ounce) drained and rinsed can garbanzo beans
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  1. Combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.

Black Bean & Carrot Mash

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Black Bean & Carrot

This mash of beans and carrot puree will thicken as it cools. Once thickened, it’s perfect to pick up by the handful for little ones who are baby led weaning!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (15-ounce) drained and rinsed can black beans
  • 4 ounces carrot puree
  1. Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until warm.
  2. Remove from heat and mash with a potato masher to desired consistency.

Yogurt Ice

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These easy “popsicles” will be fun for your baby to eat in the high chair, or perhaps just amusing to play with! You can puree any fresh fruit to equal 1/2 cup for the recipe; in a pinch, use a fruit pouch from the baby food aisle. Veronika’s favorite is a peach/apricot blend.

Since I didn’t want Veronika to hurt herself on long popsicle sticks, I found a great alternative; milkshake-sized straws cut to about the length of her fist. Just supervise closely at feeding time and remove the sticks if they come free from the yogurt.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (5-ounce) plain non-dairy yogurt
  • 1/2 cup fruit puree
  1. Stir together the ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Divide evenly among the compartments of an ice cube tray, and insert the straw “sticks”. Freeze until solid.

Yogurt Ice (4)

Apple or Banana Yogurt

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Apple Yogurt (2)

If you want to introduce yogurt to your baby, adding fruit is a great way to incorporate a little sweetness without buying a sugary variety. For both of these recipes, I use almond milk yogurt.

Apple Yogurt:

  • 3 tablespoons plain non-dairy yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons applesauce
  1. Stir together until combined.

Apple Yogurt (1)

Banana Yogurt:

  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 (5-ounce) container plain non-dairy yogurt
  1. Mash the banana with a fork until very smooth. Stir in the yogurt.

Banana Yogurt (2)

The latter recipe is best served immediately, or you can freeze it in the cubes of an ice cube tray for high chair shenanigans.

Banana Yogurt (1)

Tofu Bites

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These crispy tofu bites are a fantastic homemade alternative to store-bought chick’n nuggets. A big hit both for those who are Baby Led Weaning and with older kids!

Ingredients:

  • 1 (1-pound) package firm tofu
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  1. Cut the tofu into 36 triangles.
  2. Combine the flour, pepper and garlic salt in a shallow bowl. Dredge the tofu pieces in the flour mixture and transfer to a baking sheet brushed with the olive oil.
  3. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. Let cool before serving.

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