Baby’s First fruits

 

No doubt, the past generations were introduced to solids much earlier than we introduce solids to our infants these days. According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should only be breast-fed and/or formula fed and healthy babies do not need water/juice until solids are introduced.  They get all the fluids they need from the breast milk and/or formula.

Babies love the sweet taste of fruits. Some fruit needs to be first cooked and then puree before offering to baby’s such as apple, pear, etc.  Others can be just mashed and given to babies.  For example, mangoes and bananas do not need to be cooked first. Ones baby’s adjusted to one fruit for at least four days a new food can be introduced. Also, mild herbs and spices, say mint, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc., can also be added to enhance the flavor of a fruit if you wish. When it came to choose the first fruit, we choose apples for our daughter.

 

 

 

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Age Group: 6 months +                                                       

Recipe : Baby food – Fruit Puree
Ingredients:

3-4 Apples

Cinnamon powder (Optional)

Steps:

1. Wash and cut apples into quarters. Remove the core.
2. Simmer apple quarters in VERY little water until tender.
3. Let cool the apples, peel and either mash or puree depending on the age of your child.
4. Offer as is, or add to yogurt and/or oatmeal.

Notes : 

i.  Instead of simmering, the apples can be baked in 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes depending on size and oven temperature.
ii.  Apple belongs to the “dirty dozen” family, so I would recommend peeling them before simmering if not using organic apples. I use all organic produce for the baby and peel the apple skin after cooking to retain more nutrition.
iii.   Following the same process, other fruits such as pears, plums, peaches, etc. can be puree.
iv.   I do not add additional water in the food processor, but can be added if necessary.
v.   Apple puree freezes very well.

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