When your baby is ready for their first solids, start by puréeing just one type of fruit or vegetable and then gradually try introducing new fruits and vegetables.
Most fruits or vegetables can be prepared in the same basic way. Great foods to start off with are peaches, apples, pears, pumpkin, cauliflower or broccoli. Usually one piece of fruit makes one serving.
Ingredients
1 apple
1 pear
Makes 2 servings.
Other great combinations are banana and apricot, or peach and plum. Method
Peel apple and pear
Remove core and chop
Add 10 tablespoons of water in a small pan
Cook apple and pear at a low temperature until tender
Your child is growing quickly and needs lots of nutrients and energy-rich foods. Fruit and vegetables remain an important staple, but from 6 months onwards, you should be including meat, fish, eggs or pulses at the two main meals. Pasta, rice, potatoes or another starchy food should also be included.
Use herbs and mild spices for flavoring but don’t add salt.
eggplant delish
Ingredients
1 tomato, skinned, seeds removed and chopped
1/3 eggplant, peeled and sliced
1 Tbsp raisins
2 Tbsp cooked rice
Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Method
Put eggplant and tomato in a pan with some water
Bring to boil
Add raisins. Go easy on the raisins as their taste can dominate
Cook until tender (approx 15 minutes)
Add cinnamon to taste
Drain, saving some cooking water to thin food if necessary
Add rice and purée all ingredients
Serve a portion and refrigerate or freeze the rest
From 6 to 7 months onwards you can start giving your child chunkier food to eat – small, soft pieces of food stimulate chewing practice.
Vegetable medley
Ingredients
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 zucchini, washed and chopped
1 eggplant, washed and chopped
5oz mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
1 onion, peeled and sliced
Several cloves of garlic
Fresh sprigs of rosemary
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
Mild olive oil
Serves two adults and one baby. Ready in 60 minutes.
Method
Preheat oven to 200°C
Grease an oven dish with olive oil
Put potatoes and vegetables in the dish
Slide several cloves of garlic and sprigs of rosemary in between
Reserve a portion without garlic, onion, herbs and spices for the baby
Sprinkle with olive oil
Cook in the center of the oven for 45 minutes, covered in aluminium foil for the first 30 minutes
2oz broccoli, washed and finely chopped
½ nectarine, peeled, stone removed and sliced
30g chicken breast, chopped
Mild olive oil or vegetable-based margarine
1.5oz rice
Method
Heat about 3floz water in a saucepan
Add rice and boil gently until cooked
Add broccoli and nectarine for last 6-8 minutes
Most of the cooking water will evaporate
Fry chicken in olive oil or margarine until well done (approx. 10 minutes)
One year olds can eat a greater variety of foods and are ready to join in the family meal time routine. You can start adding a little salt to your child’s food but herbs and spices are better for flavor. Be sure to give your child time to get used to any new tastes and textures.
Couscous with vegetable mash
Ingredients
4oz couscous
1 tomato, skinned, seeds removed and chopped
¼ onion, peeled and finely chopped
½ red or yellow pepper, peeled and finely chopped
¼ zucchini, washed and diced
Mild olive oil or vegetable-based margarine
3.5oz ground beef
dried herbs
Method
Cook couscous according to instructions on the packet
Heat olive oil or margarine in a frying pan
Fry ground beef until well browned
Add onion, pepper, zucchini and tomato
Add dried herbs to taste
Boil gently until vegetables are tender (approx 10 minutes)
Serve a portion and refrigerate or freeze remainder
Please be aware that the information given in these articles is only intended as general advice and should in no way be taken as a substitute for professional medical
advice. If you or your family or your child is suffering from symptoms or conditions which are severe or persistent or you need specific medical advice, please seek professional medical assistance.
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