Yogurt

One thing which we forget to give our babies which is very good for us as well as kids is yogurt.. It is really high in calcium and a good source of healthy fat to the kids. Though it is told that we have to avoid cow milk for babies up to one year yogurt and cheese are exceptions and can be given in large amounts to the babies as they are easily digested by babies.
Yogurt…
Even though you get many brand of baby yogurt in the market I still prefer the home made one. I make it at home and my son loves it. I add fruit puree to it or even veggies at time and trust me they love it though it may seem yak to us adding veggies to yogurt. My best combinations are adding apple sauce or peach puree with yogurt or you can just make a smoothie with them like adding banana or avocado with yogurt and mixing them off in a blender this makes a great evening snack for your babies.

Yogurt recipe!!

Though its dumb of me to put in a recipe like for yogurt which is made every day at our homes but for kids I like to make it a little special.
I use one cup of full fat milk and 2 tbsp of cream and warm the milk and and add lil curd and let it set for the night.

You can add any fruit or veggie to the yogurt but remember you need to steam the veggies and make puree. For fruits most of them u need to steam like apple, pear, peach though avocadoes and banana’s don’t need to be cooked ever. (citrus fruits not till 9-10 months).

Fruit Facts

In my series of the topic of fruits I would like to discuss about One fruit which Indians don’t eat but very good for babies is Avocado’s
This fruit is full of nutrition. Avocados are high in fat or to say healthy fat and many health promoting properties. A good source of vitamin K, dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, foliate, copper, and contain more potassium than a medium banana- 877 grams of potassium in one avocado vs 470 grams in a banana. And much less sugar

For most of us who want to know more about the fruit

Here are the nutrition facts
Serving Size 1 cup, pureed (230g)

Amount per serving
Calories 384 Calories from Fat 319

Total Fat 35g 54%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 23g
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 18mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 16g
Sugars 1g
Protein 5g

Vitamin A 7% Vitamin C 34%
Calcium 3% Iron 8%
Thiamin 12% Riboflavin 19%
Niacin 22% Pantothenic Acid 34%
Vitamin B6 33% Potassium 33%
Phosphorus 12% Magnesium 17%
Zinc 10% Copper 20%

To read more about it please check

http://www.peertrainer.com/DFcaloriecounterB.aspx?id=2022

Avocadoes

Avocadoes can be started as early as 4 months (please consult your docter for the age.. As the recommended age to start solids is 6 months).
The best part of giving avocadoes is that it saves your time it need not be cooked at all. My best recipes of avocados is the Avocado smoothie. My kiddo loves this one.

Avocado smoothie

Avocados
Yogurt
Jaggary

Cut and depit the avocadoes and then add yogurt and the jaggary to it and blend them together.

Avocado-Banana

Avocado
Ripe banana

Cut and mash both banana and avocado together. You can add cereals to it. Or is a best evening snack.

Fruits ...

Fruits can be a great source of nutrition for you babies.
We normally introduce fruit to our babies in from of juices which I say is not a good start for the infants... As in juices you remove all the gudness and feed only the sugar so the best way to feed your baby with fruits is by pureeing it and then giving.
You can start giving fruits to your babies from the age of 4 months ( please check with your pediatrics ). To start with you can start with apple sauce, mashed banana, mashed mangoes if in season … almost all fruits can be taken with out cooking for babies but a few like apple pear bearries need to be cooked before you serve them to your babies. you cn find a lot of recipes of fruies in the blog here is one which my baby loves....

Apple sauce:

½ cup water
2-3 medium size apples(pealed, deseeded and diced )
pinch of cinnamon powder

Method:

mix all the ingredient and oil in a large sauce pan till the apples are nicely cooked.
Remove it after cooling puree it and serve to the baby hot or cold as they like.

Can be frozen and stored in the fridge.

SPROUTS kichidi

Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice, washed
2 tablespoons sprouts (moong or matki)
1 teaspoon onion, chopped
1 small clove garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
1/2 teaspoon ghee
a pinch asafoetida (hing)
salt to taste

Method
1. Heat the ghee in a pan and add the cumin seeds. When they crackle,
add the asafoetida and garlic and sauté for a few seconds.
2. Add the chopped onion and salt and sauté again for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the rice, sprouts and 3/4 cup of water and pressure cook for
3 whistles.
4. Coarsely mash the khichdi and serve lukewarm with fresh curds or raita

BABY OMELET

2 Egg Yolks
Milk or Formula
Puréed Chunky Veggies
Cheese

METHOD:-Prepare a small frying pan with a pat of butter or ghee and heat

Beat Egg Yolks & Milk or Formula in bowl

Pour Egg mixture into heated pan

Scramble Egg mixture until almost cooked and add Veggies

Cook until Egg mixture is no longer runny

Add small bits of shredded cheese (Swiss, American, Cheddar or Parmesan)

Scramble again when cheese has melted .

Teething Biscuits

Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup jaggery grated,
1 teaspoon poppy seeds,
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
1 teaspoon desiccated coconut (optional)
5 tablespoons ghee, melted

Method
1. Sprinkle the poppy seeds on a greased round plate. Keep aside.
2. Melt the ghee in a frying pan and add the wheat flour, stirring continuously till it turns golden brown in colour.
3. Remove from the flame and add the jaggery, cardamom powder and coconut. Stir well.
4. When the jaggery melts and the mixture is still warm, pour it into the greased plate with poppy seeds and spread it evenly.
5. Cut into diamond shapes while still warm.
6. Store in an air-tight container when cool.