Healthy
recipes for toddlers 12-18 months are the best option when it comes to feeding
your baby.
Baby
food recipes are incredibly simple to prepare and far healthier than purchasing
jarred baby food.
Make
a large batch and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Things to consider when healthy recipes for
toddlers 12-18 months
Consult
your pediatrician before preparing food for your baby, especially if this is
the baby's first somewhat solid food.
Your
pediatrician will advise you on which foods to introduce to your baby and which
foods to avoid at certain ages or signs of maturation.
Your
pediatrician may recommend better alternatives for different age groups if you
choose fruits, vegetables, and meat that you enjoy.
Unless
your baby has a severe reaction to a particular food the first time they try
it, give the baby the same food four days in a row.
This
method gives time for a food allergy to develop and helps determine which foods
the baby likes and dislikes.
Read: Recipes For Toddlers 18 Months
Some
foods will be rejected by the baby due to their taste, texture, smell, or a
combination of the three.
It
is not necessary for a baby to like everything that is offered. It is critical
that the baby consumes appropriate nutrients.
It
is never a good idea to introduce a baby to more than one new food at a time to
test for allergies.
Preparing
the food ahead of time will save you a lot of time. For future use, a large
amount of food can be frozen in individual containers.
Food
can be frozen in ice cube trays, for example, and then transferred to another
container to continue freezing.
This
method provides baby food in convenient serving sizes. When frozen portions are
placed on the counter, microwaved, or submerged in a container of hot water,
they thaw quickly.
Read: What Fruits Are Good For Babies Under 1
Precautions to take when making healthy
recipes for toddlers 12-18 months
Always
keep your hands clean when preparing homemade baby food, as well as the food
preparation surface, pots or pans, and cooking utensils.
Wash
fruits and vegetables thoroughly before preparing baby food, and rinse the meat
with room temperature water if it is being prepared.
Always
keep baby food containers clean and sterilized for the sake of the baby's
safety.
Always
date homemade baby food containers and store them properly. After preparing the
baby food, refrigerate or freeze it for later use.
Freeze
the baby food in small amounts and thaw only one portion at a time. Any
leftover baby food should not be refrozen. Any food left in the dish after a
feeding session should be discarded.
When
serving baby food, keep it at room temperature or slightly warm. If the food is
heated in a microwave, thoroughly stir it to ensure there are no hot spots that
could burn your baby's mouth.
The Baby Food Process
Following
rice cereal, your baby will most likely progress to pureed fruits, vegetables,
and meat.
Read: Best First Vegetables For Baby
Unless
other family members consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, and meat, buy small
quantities of fruits, vegetables, and meat until you know what your baby will
like.
After
thoroughly washing the fruits and vegetables, cut them in half and either boil,
steam, or bake them.
If
you're baking them, put them in a baking dish with enough water to almost cover
the contents.
Fruit
and vegetables can be peeled before or after cooking.
Smaller
vegetables, such as corn, peas, and lima beans, do not require halving. Unless
you prefer, bananas can be simply mashed and not cooked at all.
Fresh
peas are much more difficult to prepare than frozen peas. When preparing meat,
ensure that all traces of fat are removed and that the meat is well done with
no trace of pink.
Bake
the fruits and vegetables at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour, or until
soft.
During
the cooking process, make sure there is enough water in the dish to prevent the
fruits and vegetables from burning, and add more if necessary.
When
the fruits and vegetables are done, remove the dish from the oven and set it
aside to cool.
After
the fruits and vegetables have cooled, peel them if they have not already been
peeled. Cook the meat until no pink remains visible.
Puree
the cooled fruit or vegetable in a food processor. Add water to the mixture
until it reaches the desired consistency.
Read: Breast Feeding Jaundice Treatment
If
you add too much water, you can thicken it with dry baby cereal. If a food
processor is not available, a hand mixer or a meat grinder will suffice, or
mash the fruits and vegetables with a fork until no lumps remain. That method
will take a long time.
For
babies who are just starting to eat solid food, the food should be very thin;
as they get older and have some solid food eating under their belts, the food
can be made a little thicker.
Fruits
and vegetables will only need to be chopped into small pieces as the baby
grows, rather than mashed or pureed.
Once
you've determined which fruits and vegetables your baby prefers, you can
combine flavors such as bananas and peaches or peas and squash.
Using Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Organic
fruits and vegetables are grown without or with a small amount of synthetic
material, such as pesticides or other chemicals.
Organic
food is grown in accordance with regulations and is certified and labeled as
such.
Food
grown organically develops antioxidants to protect itself against garden pests
and, as a result, develops into a vegetable or fruit with higher antioxidant
levels.
This
means that fruits and vegetables are higher in minerals, vitamins, and other
health-promoting nutrients.
Read: Hot Cocoa Mix {Big Batch}
Eating
organically benefits not only mom and dad, but also the baby. Making organic
baby food ensures that your baby is getting the real thing.
Who
is to say that a jar of organic baby food is truly organic? Organic fruits and
vegetables were previously only available in health food stores or were grown
at home.
Organic
food of all kinds is now available not only in specialty stores but also in
your average grocery store.
Organic
food is prepared in the same manner as conventional food. They can be mashed or
pureed after being steamed, boiled, or baked.
As
the baby grows older, food can be cut into small, bite-sized pieces, allowing
babies to eat finger food on their own.
The Benefits of Making Healthy Recipes For
Toddlers 12-18 Months
If
you've ever read the label of baby food from the grocery store, you'll notice
some ingredients you've never heard of before, as well as some you can't
pronounce.
I
enjoy preparing my own meals. It allows me to have complete control over the
ingredients and the quality of the food.
Another
advantage of making baby food is that it is less expensive. Making baby food is
far less expensive than buying it in jars, especially since the ingredients can
be purchased in bulk and in season.
Making
homemade baby food is even less expensive if the ingredients are grown in your
own garden.
Healthy Recipes For Toddlers 12-18 Months
Whatever
your reason for wanting to prepare your infant's food at home, take a look at
the recipes below. Try them out or create your own!
Read: How To Cook Scallops
WINTER SQUASH
One
squash should be cut in half. Place in a baking pan, face down, with 1 inch of
water. Bake for 40 minutes at 400°F, or until soft. Scoop the soft squash out
and combine it with the peaches, carrots, or chicken.
RICE WITH SQUASH AND APPLE
1 squash, baked
1-2 cups brown rice, cooked
½ cup applesauce
Combine all of the ingredients.
SWEET POTATOES
Cooked
sweet potatoes can be combined with baby cereal, applesauce, carrots, beans,
squash, rice, or chicken to make a tasty meal.
Read: Dig Inn Sweet Potato Recipe
BANANA
1 ripe small banana
breast milk or formula
Cut
the banana into pieces. Blend in a food processor or blender. Thin it out with
breast milk or formula.
CARROTS
12-pound
washed and peeled carrots breast milk or formula
Carrots
should be steamed until tender (10 minutes). Allow cooling for 10 minutes.
Blend. Thin it out with breast milk or formula.
MEAT/POULTRY
milk
or formula 2 oz cooked and chopped chicken, turkey, beef, or pork breast
Mix
the meat. Remove any chunks. Thin it out with breast milk or formula.
A Word From GetMe Treated
Homemade
healthy recipes for toddlers 12-18 months are far better for your baby. It's
nutritious, fresh, and incredibly simple to prepare.
Read: Can You Gain Weight From Healthy Food
When
it comes to making baby food, there are countless recipes to try. When your
baby is under a year old, most baby food recipes require only a few
ingredients.
As
your baby grows older, try more diverse dishes and expose him or her to as many
healthy, nutrient-dense foods as possible.
