Fruit Recipes (Stages 1 and 2)

Stage 1

Some moms believe that fruits should be introduced a couple of weeks after the vegetables. The reason is purely taste! Fruits are sweeter and babies may not like vegetables if introduced to fruits first.

Good options to introduce fruits are apples, pears, bananas, avocado, papaya, plums and prunes.

• Homemade Apple Sauce (add pears for a great taste and variety!)
  

- 6 Red Delicious apples

- 2 cups of water

Wash thoroughly the apples. Peel and slice them, getting rid of the core. Boil in water for about 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove. Don't throw the water away, it contains several minerals and vitamins. Blend the content with a hand mixer, or a blender until it turns into a smooth paste.

Add iron fortified cereal (whole rice or oatmeal) if desired.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.

• Mashed Bananas with Cereal and Formula or Yogurt
  

- 1 banana

- 1 teaspoon of rice or oatmeal cereal

- 1-2 teaspoons of formula or yogurt (only if your baby has already been introduced to yogurt!)

Peel the banana and mash with a fork. Add the formula/yogurt and stir. Add enough cereal until desired consistency.

Preparation time: about 5 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in potassium, magnesium, calcium and folate (vary by chosen ingredients).

Stage 2

• Berry Banana Shake
  

- 1 banana

- 5 oz. organic whole milk or formula

- 6-8 pitted cherries, and/or 2 tablespoons or blueberries (you can use frozen berries or cherries)

Peel the banana and wash the cherries and/or berries. Mix them all in a tall container. Add the milk or formula. Blend the ingredients using a hand mixer, or a blender. Pour the mix into a sippy cup. You may need to use a strainer otherwise the small pieces may clog the spouts/straws. Babies absolutely love this shake!!

Preparation time: about 5 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in antioxidants, potassium, calcium and protein (vary by chosen ingredients).

• Finger Breaded Banana (you can use other fruits too!)
  

- 1 banana

- 1 tablespoon of iron fortified whole rice or oatmeal cereal

Peel the banana and cut it in cubes small enough to be picked up by baby's little fingers. Spread the cereal on a small plate and toss the banana cubes on it, covering each cube entirely. This will allow the baby/toddler to easily pick up the cubes without sticking to his/her fingers.

Preparation time: about 5 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in potassium, magnesium and iron (vary by chosen ingredients).

Veggies and Legumes Recipes (Stage 1)

Stage 1 is appropriate for babies 6-8 months, during the initiation to solid foods.

All recipes suggest the use of organic ingredients. If you can, opt for organic food, especially when your little one is growing so quickly!

For a list of non-organic vegetables and fruits with the highest and lowest load of pesticides available in the market, please click here.

• Sweet Potato (very nutritious and babies love it!!)

- 1 lb. organic sweet potato

- 3 cups of water

Wash thoroughly the sweet potatoes with a brush. Don't peel them. Cut them in pieces and boil in water.

After about 20-25 minutes poke them with a fork. When the pieces are very soft and tender, remove the pan from the stove and wait until it cools off. Don't throw the water away, it contains several minerals and vitamins. When the pieces are cold enough, peel them, get rid of the skin. Mash or blend the peeled pieces in the water you used to boil them. Using a hand mixer, or a blender will make it very smooth for the baby.

Preparation time: about 30 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in beta carotene (it is orange!), vitamin A, and potassium. Also contains calcium, folate and vitamin E.

• Cauliflower

- 1 lb. organic cauliflower

- 1 1/2 - 2 cups of water

Wash thoroughly the cauliflower with water. Cut the florets and stems in pieces and boil in water.

After about 15 minutes poke them with a fork. When the stems are very soft and tender, remove the pan from the stove. Don't throw the water away, it contains several minerals and vitamins. Blend the content with a hand mixer, or a blender until it turns into a smooth paste.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in vitamin C, A and Calcium.

• Carrots

- 1 lb. organic carrots

- 2 cups of water

Peel the carrots and wash them thoroughly with water and a brush. Cut the carrots in chunks and boil in water. You can also use a steamer basket.

After about 20 minutes poke them with a fork. When the carrots are soft, remove the pan from the stove. Get rid of the water, it contains nitrates* that are not suitable for babies. Blend the carrots with about 1 cup of mineral water using a hand mixer, or a blender until it turns into a smooth paste.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in beta carotene, vitamins A, C and Calcium.

*Organic foods are grown without the use of commercial nitrate fertilizers, therefore the risk of nitrate concentration is minimized. By the time a baby is six months old, its digestive system is fully developed, and the amount of hydrochloric acid in a baby's stomach kills most of/or all the bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrite. In older children and adults, nitrate is absorbed and excreted.

• Squash
  

- 1 lb. organic squash (Butternut, Acorn or Winter)

- 2 cups of water

Cut the squash in half and remove all seeds. Wash it thoroughly with water and a brush. Bake it for about 50 minutes in a pan with about 1 inch of water. Set the oven to 400 degrees F. Poke the flesh with a fork. When it is soft, scoop it from the skin and blend with enough mineral water to make a smooth paste.

Preparation time: about 60 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in calcium, potassium, vitamin A, carbohydrates and fibers.

• Green Beans
  

- 1 lb. organic green beans

- 1 1/2 cups of water

Wash thoroughly the green beans with water. Boil or steam the beans for about 15-20 minutes, until tender consistency. Remove the pan from the stove. Don't throw the water away, it contains several minerals and vitamins. Blend the content with a hand mixer, or a blender until it turns into a smooth paste.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in vitamin C, A, and calcium, potassium and iron.

• Sweet Peas

- 1 lb. organic peas (natural or frozen)

- 1 - 1 1/2 cups of water

Wash thoroughly the peas with water. Add the water and boil. After about 15 minutes poke them with a fork. When they are tender, remove the pan from the stove. Don't throw the water away, it contains several minerals and vitamins. Blend the content with a hand mixer, or a blender until it turns into a smooth paste.

Preparation time: about 25 minutes.

Nutritional value: high in vitamin C, A, B and calcium, potassium and phosphorus.