Our 21 Week Old is finally old enough to start trying pureed foods AND i am excited to start preparing some. Last week i bought a heap of fruit and vegies and started the process of cooking these up. Using the tips from Nestle Baby and Me Page i have made the following.
Last week :
Strawberry Avocado
– Blended 1 Punnet of Strawberries until smooth.
– Half of an Avocado, which I have pressed through a sieve.
1 tablespoon of the Strawberry puree and 1 tablespoon of Avocado puree. Mix with 2 teaspoons of Rice Cereal and 1/2 tablespoon of preboiled Water.
Strawberry Banana
– Blended 1 Punnet of Strawberries until smooth.
– Blended 1 Banana until smooth
1 tablespoon of the Strawberry puree and 1 tablespoon of Banana puree. Mix with 3 teaspoons of Rice Cereal and 1 tablespoon of preboiled Water.
Bubs loved these, first meal wasn’t too sure, but devoured the rest. I have also added a small amount of Smooth Peanut Butter before feeding bubs to help with this introduction.
This Week :
Potato, Carrot and Broccoli
– Steamed 2 peeled and chopped Potatoes, 2 large Carrots and 1 whole Broccoli until tender. The individually blend until smooth.
1 tablespoon pureed Potato, 1 tablespoon of pureed Carrot and 2 teaspoon pureed Broccoli, combined with 2 teaspoons of Rice Cereal and 1 1/2 tablespoons preboiled Water.
Broccoli and Avocado
– Steamed whole head of Broccoli, then blended until smooth.
– Pushed 1/2 avocado through a sieve until smooth.
1 tablespoon pureed Broccoli and 1 tablespoon Avocado, combined with 2 teaspoons of Rice Cereal and 2 tablespoons of preboiled Water.
Apple and Pear
– 2 Pink Lady Apples, peeled and diced In a pot with water and brought to the boil until tender.
– 2 Pears, peeled and diced in a pot with water and brought to the boil until tender.
1 tablespoon each of pureed Pear and pureed Apple. Mixed together with 3 teaspoons Rice Cereal and 2 tablespoons preboiled Water.
The extras from what I haven’t mixed I have added to ice cube trays to freeze and use later. Of the ones I have prepared, I have made up 4 of each. The above only feeds one meal each. Plenty of extras in the freezer for when I have run out of the prepared stuff.
How To :
Fruits and vegetables that require cooking
Suitable fruit – apples, apricots, dates, peaches, pears, plums, rhubarb (leaves completely removed), nectarines
Suitable vegetables – beans, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, squash, potato, parsnip, sweet potato, turnip, pumpkin, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms
Wash, peel (if necessary) and chop fruits or vegetables.
Place in a small saucepan; pour over enough water to cover; bring to the boil, simmer until tender.
Drain, reserving some of the cooking liquid. For younger babies, push fruit or vegetables through a sieve or blend in a blender until smooth, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid until the required consistency is reached. For older babies, simply mash with a fork, adding some of the reserved cooking liquid for a smoother consistency if required.
Puree can now be frozen for use at a later date.
For convenient quantities, place puree into ice cube trays and freeze. Each cube is equal to about 1 tablespoonful, which is just right for babies starting out.
Fruits that don’t require cooking
Suitable fruits – avocados, bananas, melons, figs, mangos, pawpaw, strawberries, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries
Wash, peel (if necessary) and chop fruit, removing any seeds where needed.
For younger babies, push fruits though a sieve or blend in a blender until smooth, adding some cooled boiled water, until the required consistency is reached. For older babies, simply mash with a fork, adding some cooled boiled water for a smoother consistency, if required.
NOTE: when using a frozen puree, ensure any uneaten portion is discarded. It is not suitable for refrigeration or freezing. Preparation and Cooking times will vary according to the fruit or vegetable being prepared and cooked
Not all uncooked fruits are not suitable for freezing, but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.