Week 26: Tomatoes and Strawberries
Tomatoes
Tomatoes For Your Baby
Tomatoes are not a first baby food because of their high acidity content. Sometimes tomatoes can cause an uncomfortable rash around the lips. A fresh tomato is an incredibly delicious source of nutrition. Of course, the key to a great tomato is buying it in season, and that is usually from June through September. There are all sorts of varieties of tomatoes now including heirloom and green ones. Look for ones that are exceptionally sweet for baby's consumption.
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When is baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
For baby, use cherry tomatoes. These are easy to pack and take to the park.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Just wash and serve.
How to store
Tomatoes will keep for a week in your fridge.
Are there baby food jars?
Yes and No. You will not find pure tomatoes in a jar, but you will find pasta and tomato sauce in a jar.
Should I buy organic?
No. It is not on the list of the USDA's most contaminated fruits and vegetables.
Adult Recipe
One of the simplest and most elegant ways to serve tomatoes is a caprese salad. This recipe only works with the tastiest and freshest of tomatoes. If you can find heirloom tomatoes, they will usually be pretty expensive, but they taste heavenly.
Caprese Salad
1 heirloom tomato
fresh basil
fresh mozzarella
olive oil
salt and pepper
Slice tomato and mozzarella. Tear basil leaves into small pieces. Starting with the tomato, layer mozzarella, basil on top until you have used it all. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Strawberries
Strawberries For Your Baby
Strawberries are another food, like tomatoes, that are amazing fresh and taste like styrofoam when not in season. Both tomatoes and strawberries do not travel well, and do not ripen "on the road". So the best strawberry or tomato is one that is literally right off the vine. Now, most of us don't live with vines growing in our yard (if we are lucky enough to have a yard) so we must either trust the supermarket or find a farmer's market for truly great strawberries. In addition, you want to avoid strawberries that are not organic because they are heavily sprayed and soak up pesticides.
Recommended products for your baby:
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When is baby ready?
8 months old
How to buy
Look for organic strawberries starting in May and ending in August. Look up through the bottom of the package to ensure that none of the strawberries have started to rot.
Homemade Baby Food Recipe
Just rinse, cut up, and serve. Strawberries are a great finger food.
How to store
Keep in fridge for one week.
Are there baby food jars?
No.
Should i buy organic?
Yes. 90% of all strawberries sampled by the USDA contained pesticides.
Adult Recipe
How about just serving sliced strawberries with cream? Strawberries are so delicious plain, why do anything to them?
Eating tip of the week
You have done it! You have completed 26 weeks of feeding new and nutritious food to your baby. Now baby has lots to grow on!
Week #26 Shopping List
Baby Food
- cherry tomatoes
- strawberries
Adult Food
- heirloom tomatoes
- fresh basil
- fresh mozzarella
- olive oil
- cream (whipped or not)
