Week 5: Peas and Apples
Peas
Peas For Your Baby
Peas are a vegetable that babies tend to like because of its sweetness. It is a good one always to have on hand when you run out of fresh vegetables, because it stores well in the freezer. The taste of frozen peas is very comparable to fresh peas and there is very little nutrient loss in the freezing process, so don't feel bad if you don't have time to shell peas (who does?). Keep in mind that peas are a choking risk until 3 years old or until your child has the chompers to handle them, so mash them well.
Recommended products for your baby:
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When is baby ready?
6 months old
How to buy
Frozen peas are convenient and quite tasty. Look for the baby ones because those are the sweetest, and since you are feeding a baby so that is easy to remember. We don't know many first time parents who have time to shell fresh peas so we will leave out instructions for this tedious task.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Thaw in microwave with a little water or heat on stove. Follow the directions on the package. Mash or blend with for or hand mixer.
How to store
Store in freezer for up to 4 months.
Are there baby food jars?
Yes. May be found mixed with rice - but that is fine since you already introduced rice.
Should I buy organic?
No. Outer shell provides protection from pesticides.
Adult Recipe
This is a good way to dress up frozen peas.
Peas and Red Onion
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 red onion - thinly sliced
1 10 oz package peas
Melt butter in saute pan on medium. When melted add onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook stirring occasionally until softened 2 to 3 minutes. Add peas, cover pan, and cook stirring occasionally until heated through.
Apples
Apples For Your Baby
Apples are one of those foods you want your child to love. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" has a nice marketing ring to it - and it may be true! There are lots of varieties of apples to choose from and it will be fun to introduce your baby to them all. We believe it would be best to stay away from the sour apple varieties such as Granny Smith (green apples) to start. Try a Gala apple or another sweet variety to ensure your baby has a great first experience.
Recommended products for your baby:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
When is baby ready?
6 Months Old
How to buy
Look for apples that are firm and without any visible bruising. There are also many commercial applesauces available. Read the label to ensure that there is no added sugar to their mix. Ascorbic acid is one added ingredient to apple sauce that should cause no concern. It is Vitamin C and it is used as a preservative just like you were to squeeze lemon juice on an apple.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Unfortunately, you are going to have to peel the apple for your baby since it is really hard to chew and most of the nutrients are in the peel, but it is still a good first food. Also, you should cook the apple to make it soft enough for baby to eat.
- Peel apple
- Slice and core
- Cover with water and heat on stove or in microwave until soft - maybe 3 minutes depending on how thin you sliced it
- Puree
How to store
Put in lowest refrigerator drawer where they will keep for about 2 weeks.
Are there baby food jars?
Yes. There is also apple sauce which is chunkier than baby food jars so keep in mind your babies' swallowing proficiency.
Should I buy organic? how we decide
Yes. 91% of apples tested by the USDA were found to contain pesticides.
Adult Recipe
Here is a lovely side dish that uses up that 1/2 of red onion that was left over from the peas.
Roasted Apple with Red Onion
3 medium apples cored and cut into 8 chunks
1/2 red onion cut into 1 inch slices
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 400 F and mix apples and onion with extra virgin olive oil salt and pepper. Spread out apple mixture on baking sheet and bake until apples are soft about 15 minutes.
Eating tip of the week
Mix it up for baby! Sometimes a new food will just taste too strong for baby so mix it with rice cereal or with another food that baby likes. This also provides some variety as well for baby. Jars of baby food may be premixed for you already (for example peas and rice).
Week #5 Shopping List
Baby Food
- frozen baby peas
- sweet apples (such as Gala)
Adult Food
- butter
- red onion
- olive oil
