Prepare baby food

The introduction of complementary foods is an exciting time. For your child, because they are now trying something different from their usual milk and gaining numerous new taste impressions. For you, because you can observe this next developmental step as your baby slowly becomes a toddler. In this article, you will find three varied porridge recipes to accompany you through this exciting time.

Why porridge at all?

The introduction of complementary foods, usually in the form of baby puree, is an important part of a balanced diet. It ensures that your baby's increasing nutritional needs are met optimally, even as they grow and their previous milk diet alone gradually becomes insufficient. Experts recommend starting with complementary foods at the earliest in the fifth month and at the latest in the seventh month to begin. When the right time for your baby comes is, however, very individual and can be determined by the so-called Signs of readiness for solid foods recognize. Which ones they are and how the introduction of complementary foods works exactly, you will find out in our article „ Introducing solid foods step by step ".
Since the digestive system of babies and toddlers is even more sensitive than that of adults, it is important to introduce your little explorer to new foods gradually and give them time to get used to them. Especially in the first year of life, you should also avoid salt, sugar, and unnecessary additives such as colorings and preservatives during your little one's meals. Once your child has gotten used to eating porridge, you can gradually introduce firmer foods as well. As an alternative to traditional complementary foods, many parents give their child solid foods from the beginning or in addition to porridge, which they can suck on or chew with their jaws. You can find out more about the nutrition concept in the article "". Baby-led Weaning ".

Baby Food Recipes

Grains contain a lot of iron as well as plant-based protein and can be easily incorporated into your daily diet.

Ingredients

• 200 ml whole milk / breast milk / infant formula / oat milk
  

• 20 g whole grain semolina
  

• 20 g fruit purée (sugar-free)
  

• sliced fruit such as banana, apple, pear
  

Preparation

Step 1: If you use whole milk, pour it into a small pot and bring it to a boil.

Step 2: Stir the semolina into the boiling milk and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes until it has thickened slightly.

Step 3: Mix the semolina porridge with the fruit puree. You can use pre-made, sugar-free fruit puree or make it yourself from cooked fruit. Finally, add the sliced fruit.

For babies under one year, cow's milk is difficult to digest and should therefore be avoided as much as possible. During the transitional phase for children over one year, you can use a mixture of 100 ml water, 100 ml whole milk, and 1 tsp rapeseed oil. As alternatives to pasteurized whole milk, breast milk or infant formula can be used. However, you should ensure not to boil them, but only warm them before stirring the semolina into it. Oat milk is also a good alternative and provides your baby with nutrients.

Sweet potato mash with peas from 8 months

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A, while green peas contain a lot of vitamin B1. This recipe is therefore not only delicious but also healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 medium-sized sweet potato
  

• 450 g peas
  

• 30 ml water
  

• 1 ml plant oil (for example, linseed oil)
  

Preparation

Step 1: Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes.

Step 2: Steam them (in a pot using a steaming insert or, if you have one, in a pressure cooker) until they are soft.

Step 3: Add the frozen peas to boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Mix peas and sweet potatoes together with the 30 ml of water and mash everything with a fork or an immersion blender. Add a little more water if needed, so that the puree doesn't become too thick.

Step 5: Now stir the vegetable oil into the mixture.

Porridge with pears from 12 months

Oats are rich in fiber and promote digestion. Therefore, the recipe is especially suitable for weaning professionals from one year old onwards, who are gradually eating more solid food.

Ingredients

• 200 ml pasteurized whole milk or plant-based milk
  

• 20 g oats or semolina
  

• 1 pear
  

• 5 g butter or vegetable margarine
  

Preparation

Step 1: Heat the milk in a pot and stir in the oats.

Step 2: Let it briefly come to a boil first, then turn down the heat and let it soak for a few minutes.

Step 3: Wash and peel the pear in the meantime.

Step 4: Grate the pear with a fine grater and mix it together with the butter or margarine into the oatmeal.

Step 5: Let the oatmeal cool to room temperature before serving it to your baby.

You can see how varied and easy it is to prepare delicious porridge meals for your baby. We hope to accompany you and your baby with these three tasty porridge recipes on your exciting journey, and above all, we wish you: Bon appétit!