Healthy vegetarian baby food doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. Just keep in mind to add different kinds of protein, such as beans, lentils, nut butters, seeds, quinoa, GMO-free tofu or eggs. (If you eat fish or meat, choose from organic grass-fed animals and fish with lowest toxin levels. 1-2 times a week is recommended) Different kinds of healthy fat such as avocado, coconut oil, organic butter, ghee or high quality cold-pressed oils (flaxseed, olive, almond, sunflower, hemp). Vitamins and minerals from different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Complex & gluten free carbohydrates from buckwheat, millet, rolled oat and whole grain rice. High quality supplements for babies & toddlers are important, ask for advice in health stores or natural pharmacies.
-Multi vitamin & mineral from Animal Parade (use liquid vitamin drops if your child can not chew the supplement).
-Pure omega 3 fish oil DHA, EPA. Very important essential fats for the brain, inflammation, skin and every cell in the body. (Choose a liquid product for adults, they doesn’t contain sweeteners).
-D-vitamin. Every cell in the body have vitamin D receptors, which means that D-vitamin is very important for optimal health and the immune system. Use a product with cold-pressed oil to prevent stomach ache. I recommend D-pearls 20 mcg from Pharmanord (for infants; cut a little hole in the pearl and press out the oil in baby’s mouth).
-Probiotic supplement with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. To prevent allergies and to build a strong immune system (new born can get baby probiotic drops from Biogaia or if the baby is nursing the mom can take probiotic supplement).
Read more: Our 10 tips how to give your children a healthy start in life here.
Prepare ahead
The easiest way is to cook a lot of everything one or two days a week, store it in big jars that you keep in the fridge or freezer (use ice cube molds), and when it’s time for dinner all you need to do is to take a spoonful from each jar or an ‘ice cube’, heat and serve! Don’t be afraid to use mild spices and fresh herbs, babies loves that too.
We have put together a few of Elsa’s favorites. She actually eats everything that we put in front of her (including the napkins), but these things make her extra giddy.
Her absolute favorite food is – believe it or not – Sprouts! They are easy for her to grab, put in her mouth and to play with. Even though most of them ends up on the floor they can keep her occupied during a whole meal. Which gives us time to feed her these other dishes (and to eat ourselves). If we don’t give her sprouts we make sure that she always has something to hold on to and play with while she eats, like this cucumber ring. Use the cucumber ring instead of teething biscuits, homeopath say cucumber has amazing ability to act as a pain reliever, so cool!
Aubergine & Sweet Potato Mash
1 aubergine or zucchini
1 sweet potato
3 tbsp cold.pressed olive oil or organic butter
Cut the vegetables in small peaces, boil them in water for 10-15 minutes, until soft.
Puree in a food processor or mash with a fork, let cool slightly. Add the olive oil or butter and stir.
Beans & Herbs
1 cup / 250 ml cooked beans or lentils
5 leaves of fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil…)
3 tbsp cold-pressed olive oil or organic butter
Cook any kind of beans according to the package or use canned cooked beans.
Puree beans and herbs in a food processor or mash with a fork. Add olive oil or butter and mix.
Lemon Quinoa
1/2 cup uncooked white or red quinoa
1 cup water
Rinse and drain the quinoa, place in a small saucepan with the water. Bring to the boil, lower the heat immediately and let gently simmer for 15 minutes. Drain any excess water. Set aside to cool. Mix with oil or butter and a squeeze of lemon or orange juice.
Dessert
We want to keep her off ice cream, candy and cookies as long as we can. Right now she is more than happy with a scoop of cinnamon applesauce, a coconut avocado mash and a slice of grapefruit to chew on.
Cinnamon Apple Sauce
1 bag organic apples
ground cinnamon
Cut the apples in small pieces and place in a sauce pan, add a splash of water and cook on low heat until they soften, it will take about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Add ground cinnamon and mash with a fork or use a blender. Remove any apple skin leftovers.
Coconut Avocado
1 ripe avocado
2 tbsp dried shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 tbsp cold-pressed flaxseed oil or any oil of choice
Mix avocado, coconut and oil with a fork.
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