HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS BABY FOOD FOR 12 TO 24 MONTH-OLD

Somewhere between 8 to 12 months, your baby will have gradually adjusted to solid foods in the form of single or perhaps even double ingredient purees. After your baby has become accustomed to easy-to-eat food purees, their little digestive systems are ready for the next challenge, and roaring to explore its culinary journey through multiple ingredient mashed foods! Post month 12 is when you can gradually start feeding your child table foods eaten by the rest of the family. You may need to continue some nutrient-dense chunky mashed meals during this weaning process, making it both satiating and nourishing for your baby’s essential development. By this gradual process of weaning away from purees and into solid regular baby food you are allowing your child to distinguish and develop the following:

FOOD SENSITIVITIES

With a steady introduction of new food groups and ingredient assortments, you not only familiarize yourself with your child’s preferences but also any potential food sensitivities or allergies.

TEXTURE ACCEPTANCE

Slowly increasing the consistency of your baby food from purees to mashes and eventually to regular grown-up healthy baby food will help your child learn and develop active chewing and swallowing abilities.

FLAVOUR ACCEPTANCE

The more they try the more they taste. An introduction of new flavours in the form of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy carefully cooked and mashed alongside one dominant ingredient that your baby already accepts will ease them into their newfound gastronomic adventure of various foods. And variety is truly the key to a wholesome balanced diet at every stage of life. This wisdom of baby food nutrition comes from a race that has the highest number of centennials. An official slogan was issued by the Japanese government in 1985 with the motivation of improving the nutrition of the Japanese population: “Consume Thirty Different Food Items Each Day.” Each ingredient contains its own nutritional properties, so following this slogan will help to create balanced meals.

Keeping in mind what your baby already likes to eat and incorporating at least one familiar ingredient as a leading vessel, here are 7 super-mash recipes for your baby’s growing stage. 

Feel free to start with fewer ingredients and slowly build-up to the full recipe if your child needs more time to ease into the new flavours. Add and remove ingredients base on what they adapt to, you know your baby best. 

THE APPLE OF MY EYE MASH 

Oatmeal, apple, apricot, banana, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder. 

INGREDIENTS:
1.¼ cup instant oatmeal, over-cooked

2. ¼ cup apple, peeled and chopped in small cubes

3. ¼ cup banana, sliced

4. 2 dried apricots, soaked in water for minimum 1 hour. Finely chopped.

5. ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder

6. Pinch of nutmeg powder

7. Pinch of salt

8. 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil
 

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil and oats in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl.

Add 1 cup filtered water.

Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked.

Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Mix in the fat of your choice along with the oatmeal and serve it fresh and warm to your baby.

GREEN MONSTER MASH

Brown rice, broccoli, peas, spinach, kale, fresh mint.

INGREDIENTS:

1.¼ cup brown rice, over-cooked 

2. ¼ cup broccoli, chopped

3. ¼ cup peas

4. ¼ cup kale, finely chopped 

5. ¼ cup spinach finely chopped

6. 1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped

7. Pinch of salt

8. 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil and rice in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl.

Add 1 cup filtered water. Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked.

Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Mix in the fat of your choice along with the rice, mash a little further and serve it fresh and warm to your baby. 

ME TARZAN MASH

Steamed fleshy white fish like Rawas / Surmai OR chicken breast, unprocessed cheddar cheese, carrot, fresh basil, garlic. 

INGREDIENTS: 

1.¼ cup white fish like Rawas / Surmai OR chicken, steamed

2. ¼ cup unprocessed cheddar cheese, shredded

3. 1 small clove garlic

4. ¼ cup fresh basil

5. ¼ cup carrot, peeled and finely chopped

6. Pinch of salt

7. 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl.

Add ½ cup filtered water.

Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked.

Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Mix in the fat of your choice and serve it fresh and warm to your baby.

SUPERMAN IMMUNITY MASH

Sweet potato, carrot, orange, lentil, turmeric, black pepper.

INGREDIENTS:

1.¼ cup sweet potato, cleaned, peeled and finely chopped

2. ¼ cup carrot, cleaned, peeled and finely chopped

3. ¼ cup orange juice

4. ¼ cup yellow moong dal, cooked

5. ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

6. Pinch of black pepper

7. Pinch of salt

8. 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil 

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl. Add ½ cup filtered water. Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked.

Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Mix in the fat of your choice and serve it fresh and warm to your baby.

ENERGY BOOSTING MASH

Ragi, Pumpkin, cauliflower, paneer, ginger.

INGREDIENTS:

1.¼ cup ragi, over-cooked

2. ¼ cup pumpkin, peeled and finely chopped

3. ¼ cup cauliflower, peeled and finely chopped

4. ¼ cup paneer, finely chopped

5. ¼ teaspoon ginger, peeled and grated

6. Pinch of salt

7. 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil 

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil and ragi in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl.

Add 1 cup filtered water.

Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked.

Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Mix in the fat of your choice along with the cooked ragi, mash a little further, and serve it fresh and warm to your baby.

VEG PROTEIN BOOST MASH

Chickpeas, mushroom, red bell pepper, sweet corn, cumin.

INGREDIENTS:

 ¼ cup chickpeas, over-cooked

 ¼ cup mushroom, cleaned and finely chopped

 ¼ cup red bell pepper, finely chopped

 ¼ cup sweet corn kernels

 ½ teaspoon cumin powder

 Pinch of salt

 1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil in a small to a medium-size food-grade metal bowl. Add 1 to 1 ½ cup filtered water. Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked. Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or fork and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky. Mix in the fat of your choice and serve it fresh and warm to your baby

PINK PANTHER MASH

Beet, pear, yogurt, flaxseed powder, date5. 

¼ cup beet, cleaned, peeled and finely chopped

¼ cup pear, cleaned, peeled and chopped

1 sulphur free soft date, deseeded and chopped

1 teaspoon flaxseed powder

1/2 cup yogurt/ curd

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon cold pressed coconut oil OR ghee OR avocado oil

METHOD:

Place all prepped ingredients except the oil and curd in a small to medium size food grade metal bowl. Add 1 cup filtered water. Place the bowl inside a larger pot or pressure cooker with a good lid. Pour water in the larger pot creating a double boiler. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 whistles or if on pot 10-15 minutes or until all ingredients are properly cooked. Set aside to cool. Use a potato masher or folk and gently mash all the ingredients till it is still chunky.

Once completely cool, mix in the fat of your choice along with the yogurt, and serve it fresh to your baby