Chard
Chard For Your Baby
Chard takes a little more work than other leafy greens such as spinach. Chard is not as well known as spinach, but it is one of those dark leafy greens that our doctors keep telling us about. It is a powerhouse of nutrients and can be found fresh all year round, so if you like it, eat it often. The problem with preparing chard is that it takes time to separate the leaves from the stem, chop the stem, and chop the leaves. But, after you do all of this you will have a delicious side dish.
Chard is in Week 21 of Babyfood101's Course - Please Join Us
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When is baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
Look for red chard because it is sweeter than green chard. It's stem is red in color.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
First, you strip the leaves from the stem if the stem is very woody. If the leaves are small then the stems can be just chopped with the leaves. If the stems are woody then you need to strip the leaves from the stem and chop the stem into small pieces - and then chop the leaves. The toughness of chard can really vary. This means that you will have to use your own judgment on the cooking time and best method for cooking. We find that it is best to use the stove versus the microwave because it is easier to add more water and adjust the cooking time.
Cooking directions
Fill a large pot about 1/3 deep with water and get it boiling. Add the chard and cook until tender.
How to store
Store loosely wrapped in the vegetable bin and use as soon as possible.
Are there baby food jars?
No.
Should I buy organic?
Yes. Spinach and chard are very similar. Spinach was found to contain pesticides
Adult Recipe
Use the above baby food recipe to get the chard to be tender enough to stir fry with a couple of tablespoons olive oil and a few other ingredients such as: raisins
toasted almonds or pine nuts
slivered garlic
bell peppers
If you find that you don't like chard, try adding more good quality olive oil. A little bit more fat can mean the difference between eating a healthy vegetable and avoiding it..
Chard is in Week 21 of Babyfood101's Course - Please Join Us
