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| I make my daughter's baby food, and it's been pretty easy up until now. However, she's 9 months old now and is supposed to start eating meat. I was wondering if anyone had any recipes, tips or ideas to make this easier. I would much rather make her food than use the stuff in the jar because who knows what kind of meat it is! However, I'm in uncharted territory here and am not sure exactly what I'm doing. I know you guys will have some good suggestions. Thanks ladies! |
| Posted by Briana on 06/09/2007 05:26 PM
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Honestly that was a struggle for me too, so I opted to try and find other protein/iron sources. At first I was going to use tofu and upon mentioning it to my brother, who is a nutrionist, I decided not to. But only because I have a boy and in soy beans there is estrogen which has been said to cause sterility in men or feminize men, even tho it probably would have to be in large amounts, I chose not to. For a girl - I would probably use it. There are beans and grains you could use for complex proteins like lentils, black eyes peas, split peas, amongst many others. I use the Super Baby Food book - and those are used to make what they call Super Baby Porridge. (my son hated it - could've been how I made it ) If you could get your daughter to eat it - then that would be great for her. He is 18 months now and he probably didn't start eating much meat until a few months ago. One meat I use more often is chicken, I just boiled the heck out of it and shredded it and still cut it up really tiny and then usually mixed in a little applesauce or yogurt.
Hope this was helpful to you. I highly recommend the book I mentioned. It's by Ruth Yaron.
Good Luck! |
| posted by iluvmy3kidz on 06/09/2007 05:38 PM
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| Awesome! I requested it from my library, so I'll give it a shot. Thanks girl! |
| posted by Briana on 06/09/2007 06:22 PM
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HI Brianna,
I too made my own baby food and my daughter always did really well with it. I would recommend ground chicken, turkey, veal, pork or beef. All-natural low-sodium nitrate-free ham was always a hit too.
I usually just made our dinner, most often something like a soup or stew in the Crockpot, cooked until very tender and being careful not to use salt or make it highly spiced. Lot's of veggies, rice or noodles and broth. I tried to use organic produce as much as possible and all natural meats. Then I used my Braun hand blender to puree to a consistently appropriate for my daughter's stage. As baby matures you can leave more texture. She ate that until she moved to self-feeding. Now she eats just about anything and everything.
With the ham I would puree it separately and serve it to her with sweet potatoes and applesauce. That was one of her favorite. She also really liked a nice mild chili made with noodles. I keep the season light but she really enjoyed the combination of beans, noodles, tomatoes and turkey.
She was never a fan of just a meat, she always preferred it mixed with veggies and noodles or rice.
I hope those suggestions help. |
| posted by Stacy on 06/09/2007 06:24 PM
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No problem Briana! I just never liked the idea of pureed meats, so I chose not to do it :) Good luck - it's a great book - I see you buying it in your near future. It's for children up to 3, but I'm sure it'll last much longer than that!
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| posted by iluvmy3kidz on 06/09/2007 06:27 PM
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| Is it ok to give her all these new foods at once? You know how you are so careful in the beginning to give one new food every 5 days, blah blah blah...but then all of a sudden she's eating beans, pasta, rice, tomato, meat, etc.? I'm assuming its alright..she has tolerated everything up until now so I'm sure she'll be alright. I like the ground meat idea also--probably pretty easy to work with. My daughter won't even eat VEGEGABLES unless they are mixed with something so I'm sure I"ll have to mix this with fruits, vegetables, cereal, and whatever else I can find. Thanks again for all of your suggestions!! |
| posted by Briana on 06/09/2007 07:04 PM
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I would suggest you start with a combination of things she has already eaten.
So if she has had green beans and liked with no adverse reaction than mix them with another item you know she also likes. Then pick your meat, I think ground turkey is a good one to start with first. Mix the three together with a little broth from the cooked turkey. Remember they can eat things like garlic and onion too so flavor the medley lightly with that just no sodium or heavy spices.
I breastfed my daughter so she was used to tasting lots of things from my milk. I found that if it was too blah she didn't care for it. And don't give up, I read somewhere where it can take 10 tries before they will learn to like what you offer. But pretty much anything that you eat that is healthy she will probably like too.
One of the reasons I gave her the same as what we were having is that it makes it much easier on you.
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| posted by Stacy on 06/09/2007 07:12 PM
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| Great idea....I will do that! I'm excited! I feel much better about all of this! |
| posted by Briana on 06/09/2007 08:19 PM
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| Hi I just wanted to add that there is a great book called Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann. I loved the recipes for this book because she does them for all ages up to preschool and there are some great recipes that include meat. I also have the Super Baby Food book as well but my son hated the porridge so I used this book instead. My son loves his food...his favorite is pasta with tomato and basil sauce. Good Luck! |
| posted by Lori P. on 06/10/2007 12:46 AM
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| Lori - I just purchased this off ebay yesterday - I'm so glad to hear from someone that it's a great book. I can't wait to get it now!! |
| posted by iluvmy3kidz on 06/10/2007 10:05 AM
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I found this one in " Feed me I'm Yours" by Vicki Lansky
You can use any meat you have cooked for your family, or cook up to a month's supply of meat for your baby at a time, and puree it. If you want a smoother consistency, mix meat with a small, cooked serving of cream of wheat rice and some milk and butter. Even a little water or juice will help pureeing in a blender. Combine chicken with a banana and milk to get a smoother textured meal. Meats cooked in a crock pot (minus seasonings) are tender and easy to puree.
All Purpose Meat Stew
1/3 cup Flour
1-1/2 pounds stew meat in 1 inch cubes
2 tablespoons oil
3 cups water
4 meduim potatoes
5 meduim carrots
1 package (10 ounce) Frozen peas
Coat Meat with flour and brown in oil. Add water and cover pan tightly. Simmer 1-1/2 hours. Srub, peel,and cube potatoes and carrots , add to meat. Simmer 15 minutes. Add peas and simmer 5 minutes. Take out Serving for adults and puree the balance. Makes 4 to 5 cups.
Variation: Use any vegetable or 1/2 cup rice as a substitute for the potatoes.
Pineapple Chicken
Combine boiled or baked chicken meat in a blender with canned, drained pineapple that was packed with it's own juice. For a snack drink , strain the drained juice, mix it with water and serve as well.
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| posted by Chrissy on 06/13/2007 04:17 PM
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also here is some great links I found with ideas:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babymenub.htm
Beef, Pork or Veal Purée (Basic)
1 cup cold and cooked boneless beef, pork or veal - chopped into chunks no bigger than 1 inch
1/4 c cooking juice or plain water
Place meat chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby! You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
Chicken Purée (Basic)
1 cup cold and cooked boneless chicken - chopped into no bigger than 1 inch pieces
1/4 c cooking juice or plain water
Place chicken chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created.
Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby! You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
Egg Yolks Read our Egg Allergy Information for more information about egg allergies and using eggs in baked or other foods.
1. Hard-boil an egg
2. Peel shell away and cut in half
3. Scrape or pop out the yolk
4. Mash the yolk and mix in formula, breastmilk, yogurt, applesauce or whatever you choose that is appropriate for your baby.
OR
1. Crack an egg and separate the white from the yolk (you may use the shell for this or use an egg-separator)
2. Warm olive oil or butter in a frying pan
3. Scramble the yolk in a bowl with formula, breastmilk, juice or whole milk and transfer to frying pan
4. Cook over medium heat, scrambling constantly, until thoroughly cooked
** You may also add items such as pureed (or small diced & soft cooked) broccoli, carrots, peas etc...makes great finger food!
Fish Purée (Basic)
Read our Introducing Fish Article here
1 cup cooked boneless white fish -
1/4 c or plain water
Place fish in blender or food processor and slowly add liquid while puréeing until a smooth consistency is created.
Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby!
Turkey Purée (Basic)
1 c cold and cooked boneless turkey - chopped into no bigger than 1 inch pieces
1/4 c cooking juice or plain water
Place turkey chunks in blender or food processor and puree until a powdery mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree further until a smooth consistency is created. Add as much liquid as needed to make a consistency appropriate for your baby!
You may add veggies or fruits to this puree as you like.
FREEZING TIMES FOR HOMEMADE BABY PURÉE MEAT CUBES
Baby Food Cubes May Be Safely Kept in the Freezer for 3 Months. It is preferable, but not an absolute must, to use the cubes within 1 month however. Meats are more unstable when frozen so it is best to use Meat Purées as soon as possible!
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| posted by Chrissy on 06/13/2007 04:19 PM
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| Thanks for the tips on baby foods...I have tried pureed home made chicken soup w/ vegies and noodles, she loved it! I just stay away from spices, herbs okay but spices are put in after I serve hers... |
| posted by tara on 06/13/2007 08:28 PM
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| I would seriously consider looking at the "superbabyfood" book by ruth yaron before purchasing as it is overflowing with some of the most absurd and pointless banter i have ever come across. In one recipe she actually says" first start by explaining to your toddler that we don't eat wilbur from charlottes web"..... anyway, that point aside, all you really have to do is take the meat of your choice and steam, bake or poach it (without using any oils or spices at this point) then take the cooked meat and some water and puree, cut, grind or whatever until it is the texture that you need.I add it to whatever the veggie/starch is for that meal and voila! It's super simple. Just remember to try one type of meat at a time for a few days like anything else..... |
| posted by kelly on 06/30/2007 07:15 PM
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| I loved the Super Baby Food book - Yes packed for of information. I would assume everyone would take it differently - as to their own perception. But as far as what foods to introduce when, how to cook and prepare them and store and serve them, it's very infomative. If we all chose one comment out of a book we disagreed with, no one would be reading! |
| posted by iluvmy3kidz on 07/01/2007 09:05 AM
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| So true Julie! I have kind of been just giving her stuff that is soft to see if she likes it. I feel like I was so crazy about introducing stuff for a week at a time and then she started eating finger foods and I went crazy. I just give her bites of our food and see what she does--I should probably be more careful! However, she's been fine so far, even with lightly seasoned foods so I'm assuming I'll be alright. She really skipped the meat baby foods and went straight to finger foods. I am going to check that book out at the library--thanks for the suggestions! |
| posted by Briana on 07/01/2007 10:53 AM
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| Have you heard of the magic bullet? My mother purchased this from some informercial, but I do know it's been in Costco and Walmart...It is wonderful for baby food. I try to feed my daughter whatever we are eating, I just think this makes things easier later on....for example if we are having steak, potatoes and vigies...I will take some potatoes and steamed vegies (cooked a bit longer) and throw those into the bullet...voila! You do have to add a bit of water to get to the correct consistency but it's worked great! I stay away from red meats for the babies as well as eggs, honey, seafood and nuts, but this bullet is super easy...raw fruits are super easy...peel apples, dried unseetened prunes, or try some fresh blueberries...puree and you have such a wonderfully healthy meal for baby...steamed spinach (a tiny dab of butter) and some potatoes...it's simple and endless... |
| posted by tara on 07/01/2007 03:12 PM
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I've seen the infomercial for the magic bullet! It's awesome. I already had a kitchenaid food processor and it works great so I just used that. But the magic bullet space wise would've been better!
Best thing you can do is use your best judgement for your child :) |
| posted by iluvmy3kidz on 07/01/2007 03:31 PM
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| I read the whole book from cover to cover, not just one page, so my personal opinion of the book is infact an informed one, but thanks for the vote of underacheivers confidence julie. I just know that from my experience, sifting through 500 pages of extremely wordy banter trying to find a recipe can be difficult and exhausting, especially when you have to go through repeated ignorant statements and opinions just to find out that all you have to do is steam and puree something. It's all relative I guess, but I found that books that get to the point without the excess, were easier to use. That's all. |
| posted by kelly on 07/01/2007 04:33 PM
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Kelly, I can totally relate to what your saying about Ruth Yaron's book. I felt daunted by all the information and I felt the book was organized in a way that was difficult for me to make meal time for my baby easier. I basically took only a few things out of her book as far as the veggie preparations and freezing instructions and went on my own. Also, as I mentioned earlier the organic cookbook that I bought after was much more to the point.
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| posted by Lori P. on 07/02/2007 06:17 PM
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Wow! This thread it's so interesting. And honestly, I was giving my son mostly jarred food plus some frozen stuff called Happy Baby which is supposed to be organic. But after reading I got kind of an idea and cooked something for him and he seems to like it. So guess will start cooking more, though for outings jars are still the best in my opinion.
Bu the way, I just cooked together some carrots, parsley, potatoes, zuccini and spinach with a little bit of olive oil and basil, to softness, and mixed it well, though it has a little texture. Than I just mixed it with some cereal and milk and he ate whole bowl. |
| posted by Sylwia on 07/03/2007 09:11 PM
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Hi,
I just got this cookbook for kids from my mom. It's called "FamilyFun. Cooking with Kids" its put out by Disney editions. It's for kids of all ages. My son is 16 mos old and has loved everything I have made from it. All fresh ingredients. One of his favorites is their Shepherds Pie. When I told my husband i was making it he was like ughhh. But he even loved it. Here it is:
Potato Topping:
6 cups peeled potatoes
2 tsp salt, more to taste
4 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
paprika
Or if your pressed for time just do the instant potatoes
Filling
2 tbsp butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 1/4 pounds ground beef ( I use the lean stuff)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp flour
1 cup beef broth (or if you only have chicken broth
that works to)
1 cup diced tomatoes canned or puree
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (I use a little less as these usually come out the same way the went in)
1 1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
Cook the potatoes
drain and mix all the ingredients
melt the butter in a pan and satue the onion, celery for about 5 minutes then add the ground beef, break it up with a wooden spoon.
lower the heat then stir in garlic and flour into the drained beef. then stir in the beef broth, canned tomatoes then the herbs, corn and worcestershire sauce
gently simmer the mixture for several minutes partially covered then add salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer the mixture into a large buttered casserole dish.
Heat the oven to 400
Drain the potatoes and spread evenly over mixture. Sprinkle the cheese over the top then sprinkle on the paprika (i have never put that on) Bake in the center rack for about 20 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cool and Serve.
My son is a very good eater and I think it is because he has tried so many flavors. He will eat anything. When we go to restaurants he will eat stuffed mushrooms, french onion soup, tomatoe bisque, any vegtable almost. I would not try to cover things up to much, let them experience all the different flavors. |
| posted by amy on 07/03/2007 09:27 PM
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