Starting solids: 4-6 months

MOONG DAL WATER



This is a nourishing food and an ideal one to start with as its texture is similar to that of breast milk. The water has been strained as babies cannot digest whole cereals and pulse before the age of 6 months. It is best to give it unstrained after your little one is 6 months old. To make it tastier, you can add a tadka of ghee, jeera and turmeric powder a couple of weeks after you start this.


Ingredients
2 tablespoons yellow moong dal (split yellow gram)

Method

1. Pressure cook the dal in 1/2 cup of water for 2 whistles.

2. Add an additional 1/2 cup of water to the cooked dal and liquidise it in
a blender.

3. Strain the cooked dal and serve lukewarm.

BARLEY WATER



Barley is a protein rich cereal and is very good for your baby when weaning begins. Flavour the barley water with jaggery which is a rich source of iron. Also squeeze some lemon juice into it to provide the much needed vitamin C that protects your baby from coughs and colds.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon barley (jav)
2 tablespoons jaggery (gur), grated
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method

1. Pressure cook the barley with 2 cups of water and the jaggery.

2. Wash, cool and liquidise it in a blender.

3. Strain and allow to cool completely.

4. Add the lemon juice. Mix well and serve lukewarm.

DAL AND VEGETABLE SOUP

This colourful soup is a good way to combine vegetables and dal, giving your baby fibre, protein and folic acid (from the tomato). Serve it with whole wheat bread sticks and watch your baby dip them into the soup and munch them with relish.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon moong dal (split yellow gram)
1 tablespoon cow pea (chawli) leaves, chopped
1/4 cup tomato, chopped
1/2 cup cabbage, chopped

Method

1. Wash the dal and combine all the ingredients in a pressure cooker with 1 cup of water.

2. Pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles.

3. When cooked, blend in a liquidiser. Serve lukewarm.

Sweet Potato
1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in
tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving. (you can also do this in
the microwave - only use plastic wrap and cook for 8 minutes on high or
until tender)
2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until soft
3. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks
4. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato
5. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.
6. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes
7. If you have baked your sweet potato, remove skins and use liquid from
your preferred source
8 Place sweet potato into your choice of appliance for pureeing and
begin pureeing.
9. Add the reserved water or other liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth,
thin consistency

Carrots


1. Peel carrots and cut into small chunks
2. Place chunks into a steamer pan with just enough water visible through
3. Steam until tender
4. Do not reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the carrots
may seep into the cooking water
5. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
6. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency

Fruits (As Weaning Food)

Mashed fruits are a good first weaning food. They are easy to digest and palatable to the baby.

Mashed bananas

Bananas should be mashed, and then given as such or mixed with malai (cream) or milk. First start with a quarter banana, and increase it every week until the baby accepts it.


Boiled and mashed apples

You can also offer apples instead of bananas to your baby. Take an apple and cut it into pieces, taking care to remove the center core. Boil it and then mash it either with a spoon or in a mixer. Start with half an apple and increase it to the limit accepted by the child. It has been observed that many babies get constipation with apple. In this case, try other fruits like papaya.


Other seasonal fruits

Other seasonal fruits like pears (to be prepared like apples), chikoo (simply mashed), papaya (simply mashed), mango (simply mashed) can also be given. It has been observed that papaya helps soften stools if the baby is constipated.

Rice Cereal

1. 1/4 c. rice powder (brown rice ground in blender or food processor)
2. 1 cup water
3. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly.
4. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
5. Serve warm.

Cooked Fruit Puree

Fresh, frozen or canned fruit(use apples, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, pineapple, or dried fruits)

Wash and peel fruit if necessary.
Steam over low heat with a small amount of water until tender.
Do not overcook.
Cool and press through the baby food grinder.
Serve.

Steamed Vegetables

1 cup fresh vegetables, diced (use carrots, squash, beets, beans, or peas)
1/4 cup water

Wash vegetables and peel only if necessary.
Steam over low heat until tender.
Keep saucepan tightly covered adding additional liquid if necessary.
Do not overcook.
Cool and press through a baby food grinder.
Discard any fibers that may stick o the bottom of the cutting blade.
If any liquid is left in the pan it may be used to thin the vegetable puree.
Add the liquid slowly until the right consistancy is reached.

dear friends,
i read all the baby food recipeies you all have posted but i just what to know out of all of them,what all can i give my 4&1/2 month baby?i have just now started him on some rice cereal 2 days back...just gave give 2-3 teaspoons.....all you experienced mothers pls tell me regarding this...