Week 12: Cheese and Asparagus
Cheese
Cheese For Your Baby
Here's a favorite kid food that is a great help to all caregivers. Usually if you add cheese to something - kids like it! There are so many different cheeses it can be difficult to know where to start. We suggest starting with a soft cheese such as fresh mozzarella and then moving on to harder bland cheese, such as Monterey Jack. Do not buy processed cheese. How do you know it is processed? This cheese, such as the brand "Velveeta," has been altered to increase storage life and contains preservatives and artificial colors. It is really easy to avoid processed cheese, and the difference in taste and consistency (as well as health) is worth it.
If your baby is at risk for food allergies, (for example: if they have eczema, asthma, allergies or if they have other family members with these conditions) then you should avoid all dairy products until your baby is at least one year old.
Recommended products for your baby:
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When is my baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
Fresh mozzarella can be found packaged in salted water, but can be difficult to find. If no fresh mozzarella is available, there is mozzarella which is round in shape and wrapped in plastic. You want something as soft as possible but easy for your baby to pick up.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Just cut into small pieces and put on baby's tray.
How to store
If you get the mozzarella in water - store it there. If not, just wrap back up in plastic. It should last 1 week.
Are there baby food jars
No.
Should I buy organic?
Yes. If you can find it.
Adult Recipe
This recipe only works if you can get really good tomatoes. Unripe supermarket tomatoes will simply taste awful.
Mozzarella, Basil and Tomato Salad
fresh mozzarella
fresh basil
tomatoes
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
Thinly slice mozzarella and tomatoes. Lay the mozzarella on a plate, then a leaf of fresh basil, then a slice of tomato. Layer until you run out of ingredients. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and dust with salt and pepper to taste.
Asparagus
Asparagus For Your Baby
Here is a food that really is best when it is in season. Frozen or canned just doesn't taste very good. The younger and fresher the asparagus - the better it tastes for adults and babies alike. In North America, Spring is the season for fresh asparagus. You can find it year round in the produce section of the store because it is grown in South America.
Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium. The amino acid asparagine gets its name from asparagus, the asparagus plant being rich in this compound.
Recommended products for your baby:
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When is baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
Look for local asparagus in the spring and buy thin stalks if you don't want to peel them. They all taste great as long as they are fresh, which means firm and not shriveled.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Simmering or microwaving asparagus are the easiest ways to prepare them. First determine if you need to peel the rough skin from the stem - peel from the base from the beginning of the flower. Snap off the rough end. If your asparagus is thin then you only need to snap off the end.
- Simmering - lay them down in a skillet that can hold the spears without crowding, cover with salted water, and cook on high until the thick part of the stalks can be pierced with a fork (about 8 minutes).
- Microwaving - put them in a shallow bowl with 2 tablespoons water. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, shake the container, and microwave at 1 minute intervals until the stalks are tender.
Cut up the tenderest pieces for your little one and just place on her tray.
How to store
Put fresh asparagus in refrigerator wrapped loosely in plastic and eat as soon as possible. After it is cooked, it will stay fresh in the fridge for longer, so cook it as soon as you have time and then eat it whenever.
Are there baby food jars?
No.
Should I buy organic?
No. Asparagus is found by the USDA to contain the least amount of pesticides.
Adult Recipe
Steam or microwave the asparagus as above and if it is fresh it needs absolutely nothing to be delicious. But if you want to dress it up - add:
- Melted butter
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
Eating tip of the week
There are lots of cheese out there to try for your baby. Introduce him to swiss, Havarti, parmesan, cheddar, etc. Even if you don't like a certain cheese - your child might! Cheese is a great finger food - and is easy to take for snack. There are packages of "string" cheese - which is mozzarella - which can easily be put in your diaper bag for a nutritious snack when baby is hungry at the park. Also, you can just chop cheese into cubes and bring along (the less expensive option).
Week #12 Shopping List
Baby Food
- mozzarella cheese
- fresh asparagus
Adult Food
- fresh basil
- fresh tomatoes
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- butter
