Pumpkin Banana Yogurt for Baby

Good Morning! We are on vacation, so I haven't had time to post, but I thought I would share this yummy yogurt mixture. I've given my little guy pumpkin banana puree before, but this morning I decided to add some Greek yogurt to add some protein. This is full of calcium, protein, potassium, and vitamin A. This is for babies 6+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
2 oz pureed cooked pumpkin (I use organic canned pumpkin when they're not in season. You can also cut up a pumpkin into small cubes and steam or cook in the microwave. If you steam do it for 10-15 minutes, if you cook it add some filtered water and microwave for 5 or so minutes.)
1 banana mashed
2 tblsp plain 2% or higher Greek yogurt (I use Fage)
Pinch of cinnamon

Mix together, serve and enjoy!

First Foods

Let's talk about baby's first foods. There are a few different options when it comes to starting solids with your little one: *The consistency of first foods should mimic the consistency of breast milk or formula. It should be soup like*

The most popular being fortified rice, oatmeal, or barley cereals. You can start these cereals at 4 months, if your baby is showing signs of being ready for solids. These cereals are very easily digested, and are rarely allergens. If you are going to start with iron-fortified cereals, I highly recommend choosing a cereal that is organic, and brown rice (if you are starting with rice cereal). Mix cereal with breast milk or formula.

If you decide not to give your baby commercial cereal, you can make your own cereal. When your baby is 6 months old you can start them on homemade whole grain brown rice cereal or millet cereal. This is what we decided to do. This type of cereal,  known as Super Porridge (from Super Baby Food), is pretty easy to make. Mix with breast milk or formula. Here are the instructions on how to make Super Porridge: http://www.superbabyfood.com/super-porridge-by-super-baby-food-author-ruth-yaron/

Avocado was our little guys first food. Avocado is one of the super foods for babies. It is a great source of unsaturated fatty acids that are necessary for your baby's brain development. Serve mashed ripe avocado mixed with breast milk or formula.

Mashed Banana is another great first food for baby. It's gentle on baby's tummy, and very nutritious. Serve Mashed banana with breast milk or formula.

Cooked Sweet Potato is also a great first food for baby. It is jam packed with vitamin A as well as other essential vitamins for baby. Puree cooked sweet potato and mix with breast milk or formula.

The amount of solids you offer your baby at first really depends on your baby. I gave my little guy 1 oz of avocado mixed with enough breast milk to make it extremely soupy 1 time a day. I never believed that my little one would be able to let me know when he was ready for more food, but he was. Your little ones will let you know when they are still hungry, or want more meals in the day.

Starting solids with your little one is really fun, but don't stress out if your little one doesn't take to solids right away. Every baby is different, and not every baby is ready for solids at 4 months, 6 months, even 8 or 9 months. We started solids at 6 months.

Have fun, and remember to enjoy it, feeding your baby should be fun not stressful!

Sweet Potato with Cinnamon and Whole Wheat Parmesan Macaroni

Here's a step by step pictorial of what I made for dinner tonight:

3 oz cooked sweet potato puree (I steam and then puree)
2 pinches cinnamon

Whole Wheat Parmesan Macaroni
2 Tablespoons whole wheat macaroni
2 pinches parmesan cheese

P.S. This is how I store all of my baby food. My son has officially taken over our freezer:

Avocado Banana and Sweet Potato Mash

This was my son's first combination food, and still one of his favorites. Avocado, sweet potato and banana are all great first foods to give your little one. They are very easy to digest, and super nutritious. It is believed that human beings can survive on avocado alone; that's pretty remarkable!

2 oz cooked mashed Sweet potato
1 oz fork mashed avocado
1 oz fork mashed banana

You can change the amounts in this recipe. Sometimes I give more avocado and less sweet potato, etc....

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Apple Puree

The unseasonably cold weather we've been having in the bay area this week has me thinking of autumn, and about yummy pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great food for your little one. It's super nutritious and delicious. You can introduce pumpkin to your little one around 6 months. It's a great first food.

2 oz pumpkin puree (When they are in season I buy fresh, bake and then scoop out the flesh. The rest of the year I buy organic canned pumpkin puree. It is totally safe to use canned pumpkin puree, just make sure you buy 100% pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie mix.)
2 oz cooked apple puree (I peel, steam and then puree, however when I have time I slice up and roast in the oven with cinnamon and then puree)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (if you roast apples with cinnamon you don't need to add this)


mix together, serve, and enjoy!