Alternatives to packaged food for babies

Any packaged food is not as healthy as the freshly  cooked food.

In India the culture  does not support  packaged food concept as our mothers and grandmothers and not to say our mother-in-laws would make a huge cry if packaged food is served to baby even if you can afford the higher prices . In case you decide to choose packed food over home made food you will be labelled as a lazy incompetent mother . Society would start gossiping around you like wild fire.


However the reason for choosing home made food are far stronger than this. Most of the packaged food contains harmful chemicals , preservatives , MSG and what not !!Things where are even bad for your own health . However there a few brands that are an exception more on that latter.


Thus if time permits food for babies should be cooked fresh served hot and the excess portion can be put in the freezer for further use.


Fruits to be freshly juiced and fed or vegetables to be pureed and that to served hot  for baby with slight spices like cardamom, fennel, few lentils etc.


From my own experience as my baby is a very fussy eater , I have to keep improvising  every day . I keep trying new tastes , spices , fruit mixes , and all that . Everyday a little bit different spice so my baby puree would make the great fussy eater like it  for sometime.


I tried the flavour of the pureed  packaged food but  only after few bottles she would reject it outright . So the bottles sat on the fridge shelf for few months as I did not have the heart to throw them . After expiry date I reluctantly  threw them.


Mix and match your own pureed food is a great start to offer variety and choice to baby.


Another added benefit of the leftover was I consumed it and my health was super fresh. Less salt, less oil, boiled vegetables and my weight was well maintained.


The added benefit was I  could save money on a food processor and buy stove pressure cooker which you could use even after your baby grows out of these pureed food.


Here are few simple recipe which my fussy eater  liked  and was easy and quick for me to make. However for everyone of us  and exceptionally for fussy eaters variety is spice of life . So join our community and share your own experience with your babies  :


1 )       Chicken pumpkin puree

• A slice of chicken breast(all 10 gms means thin slice)
  
  
• A slice of pumpkin cut and peeled (a  thin slice)
  
  
• One small piece garlic
  
  
• cilantro few leaves
  
  
• and no salt just very very little but optional if your child is happy without it.
  
  
• just boil it with water soft enough (or else use the stovetop pressure cooker)
  
  
• Just cool it and with hand blender blend it till it is soft and creamy.
  
  

2)       Brown rice and chicken.

• I brought good quality brown rice from super market.
  
  
• It's better not to buy the powder rice as there will definitely be a compromise of the quality .
  
  
• Then take around 100 gms of  brown rice and dry roast it on the stove for around 10 mins when you can feel the rice is a bit crispy. It adds the aroma to the rice.
  
  
• After that grind the rice and keep it in a airtight container.
  
  
• This is very useful and handy whenever you are travelling with the baby.
  
  
• the next step is to pressure cook say  1-2 tablespoon of rice powder, 10gms of chicken breast or leg piece and then you can debone it. A dash of cinnamon with  with around 1 cup of   water.
  
  
• you can add 1/2 tablespoon of oil extra virgin or butter  
  
  

When it is soft blend it .


As mentioned variety is the spice of life is so well  taught by my baby . gets bored easily with these again started with vegetarian recipe to help her to change her taste .


3)         Lentils , spinach and brown rice puree.

• One tablespoon of red lentil because it causes less gas than any other lentils. Please   wash the lentils and soak it around 20 mins.
  
  
• small baby  onions two or three
  
  
• if you one spinach just one leaf will do
  
  
• two small teaspoon of  brown rice
  
  
• ginger one strand
  
  
• for tangy flavour one small tomato piece.
  
  
• Indian could add asafoetida pinch for good digestion.
  
  

4)        Lentils and vegetable puree.

• If you have beans even broad beans will do just one would be enough. Deseed the broad beans for easy paste
  
  
• Table spoon of oatmeal (daliya)
  
  
• 1 tablespoon of red lentil
  
  
• 1 tablespoon of dill leaves( very good for colic and gas )
  
  
• 1 or 2 cubes of raw papaya very good for digestion if available
  
  
• pressure cook it for 15 min
  
  

Mash it or puree it with a blender.


That's all for today , join our mailing list for more recipes and we will keep you well supplied with recipes and other thoughts on this wonderful journey.

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