AVOCADO AND CARROT PURÉE RECIPE
03 Aug
Features, Recipes

Homemade Puree for Baby

Why Choose Homemade Purees?

Homemade baby purees offer several advantages over store-bought options. Here’s why they’re a fantastic choice:

Quality Control: When you make your own baby food, you have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring that your baby gets the freshest and healthiest options.

Variety: Homemade purees allow you to introduce a wide variety of flavors and textures to your baby’s palate, helping them develop a taste for diverse foods.

Cost-Effective: Making baby food at home can be more budget-friendly in the long run, especially when you buy ingredients in bulk and freeze portions.

Reduced Preservatives: Homemade purees typically contain fewer additives and preservatives than store-bought alternatives.

The Efficient Way: Homemade Baby Purees

Now, let’s dive into the steps for making efficient and nutritious homemade baby purees:

Ingredients:

  • Fresh fruits or vegetables (e.g., carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, apples, pears)
  • Water or breast milk for thinning, if needed

Equipment:

Steps:

Prepare Your Ingredients: Wash and peel (if necessary) the fruits or vegetables. Cut them into small, uniform pieces for even cooking.

Steam or Microwave: Steam the fruits or vegetables until they’re soft and easily mashable. Alternatively, you can microwave them with a small amount of water. Steaming is preferred because it retains more nutrients.

Blend: Transfer the cooked ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until you achieve the desired consistency. You can adjust the thickness by adding breast milk or water if needed.

Cool: Allow the puree to cool to room temperature.

Portion and Freeze: The magic touch for efficiency lies in freezing the purees. Use ice cube trays or baby food storage trays to portion out the puree. Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store them in a labeled freezer bag. This method ensures easy access to small, single-serving portions whenever you need them.

Why Use a Puree Tray for Freezing and Storing?

Puree trays are a game-changer for busy parents. Here’s why they’re an excellent addition to your baby food-making arsenal:

Convenient Portions: Each cube typically holds around 2.5 ounces of puree, making it a perfect serving size for your baby.

Less Waste: With individual portions, you can defrost only what you need, reducing waste.

Organization: The trays come with lids, so you can stack and store them neatly in your freezer, keeping your purees fresh and preventing freezer burn.

Easy Removal: The flexibility of silicone trays makes it a breeze to pop out the frozen cubes.

Making homemade baby purees is not only efficient but also a labor of love. It ensures your baby gets the best start in their culinary journey while saving you time and money. Plus, those adorable baby food mustaches are an added bonus! 🍎🥕🍐

So, roll up your sleeves, stock up on fresh produce, and get ready to create delicious and nutritious homemade purees for your little one. Your baby’s taste buds and your wallet will thank you!

08 Aug
4-6 months (Stage 1), Feeding, Recipes, Weaning Zone

Butternut Squash and Pear Puree

Butternut squash offers a good supply of vitamin A, potassium and fiber; making it a wonderful and nutritious food to include in baby’s new diet. Pears are rich in essential antioxidants, plant compounds, and dietary fiber. They are fat free and cholesterol free. Pears could help weight loss and reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Butternut Squash and Pear are a good and healthy combination for your baby’s first foods.

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash (about 450g)
1 ripe, juicy pear

Instructions:
  • Peel the butternut squash, cut into two halves, remove the seeds and chop into pieces.
  • Steam for about 10-12 minutes.
  • Peel, core and chop the pear
  • Add it to the steaming butternut squash and continue to cook until the butternut squash is tender.
  • Puree in a blender.
  • Add water or baby milk for desired consistency.
Please Note
  • Store your pureed butternut squash and peer in an airtight plastic and freeze. We recommend using Moobi Food Pot or Moobi Freezer Tray, for best results.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
  • In the absence of a blender, Moobi Food Masher can be used to mash the steamed Butternut squash and pear.
AVOCADO AND CARROT PURÉE RECIPE
10 Jul
4-6 months (Stage 1), Feeding, Recipes, Weaning Zone

AVOCADO AND CARROT PURÉE RECIPE

Avocado and carrot together make a lovely, creamy and sweet purée that babies love. This also makes a yummy sandwich spread for older babies and toddlers. This recipe is an excellent source of the essential fatty acids that your baby needs for healthy brain development and Vitamin C and A.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped.
  • 1/2 ripe avocado, scooped out of skin.

Instructions

  • Steam the carrot for about 20 minutes, until carrots are easily pierced with a fork.
  • Place the carrots and avocado in a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. You can also mash purée in Moobi Baby Food Masher.
  • Add breast milk, formula or a little of the cooking water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency.
  • Store left over Purée in an air tight container and store in the freezer… we recommend storing in Moobi Food Pot or Moobi Freezer Tray for best storing results.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator over night.
Sweet Potato Puree Recipe.
26 Jun
4-6 months (Stage 1), Feeding, Recipes, Weaning Zone

Sweet Potato Puree Recipe.

The nutritional value and delicious taste of sweet potatoes make them another wonderful choice for a first food for babies. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A and Beta-carotene, as well as potassium. sweet potatoes also contain a good amount of Vitamin E, calcium and folate. The fiber and antioxidants in sweet potatoes help to promote gut health. They also; have Cancer-Fighting Properties, support healthy vision, enhance brain function and support the immune system. Sweet potato is a good first food, because it’s a single ingredient puree, which is a building block for all other ingredients; which means that you can do sweet potato and a more bitter ingredient that your babies might not like on their own- like spinach.

The best way to cook Sweet potatoes.

Baking sweet potatoes is the best way to cook them, especially for baby food. It brings out their natural sweetness and good flavor while retaining the most nutrients. You may also peel, dice and then steam or boil sweet potatoes if you prefer.

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 Sweet potato.
Baking Sweet Potatoes for Baby Food:
  • Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork.
  • Wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil (do not peel for baking/microwaving).
  • Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30-60 minutes or until soft
  • Remove the skin by slitting the sweet potato lengthwise.
  • When cooled, scoop out the “meat”.
  • Puree potatoes with a blender or mash, (we recommend using our Baby Food Masher).
  • Add baby’s milk, formula or water, for desired consistency.
Boiling/Steaming Sweet Potatoes for Baby Food:
  • Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small pieces.
  • Place the diced pieces into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover the potatoes.
  • “Steam” boil until tender, making sure to check on the water level.
  • Puree potatoes with a blender or mash, (we recommend using our Baby Food Masher).
  • Add baby’s milk, formula or left over water from steaming, for desired consistency.
Microwaving Sweet Potatoes: (we prefer to not use a microwave for cooking)
  • Wet Sweet Potatoes; (You can wrap sweet potatoes with microwave safe plastic wrap).
  • Poke holes in the wrap with a fork and microwave for 10 minutes or until done.
  • Remove skins by slitting the sweet potato lengthwise.
  • When cooled, scoop out the “meat”.
  • Puree potatoes with a blender or mash, (we recommend using our Baby Food Masher).
  • Add baby’s milk, formula or reserved water from steaming,as necessary, for desired consistency.

Sweet Potato Apple Mash 4-6 months +

  • Steam or bake apples and sweet potatoes together until tender.
  • Puree as needed, adding water, baby’s preferred milk or formula to thin if required.
  • You may also chop or dice for a finger food salad.
STORING
  • Put the potato puree in an air tight bowl (we suggest storing in our Moobi food pot or Moobi Freezer Tray) and into the freezer, to be frozen.
  • Sweet potato puree can be stored by freezing, for as long as two (2) months.
PLEASE NOTE:

Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A and Beta-carotene , which the body stores; therefore, excess consumption of sweet potatoes can make your skin and nails to appear a little orange.

Banana Puree Recipe
12 Jun
Recipes, Weaning Zone

Banana Puree Recipe

Banana is one of every baby’s favorite fruit and is a perfect first food when weaning. Banana Puree is easy to make and doesn’t need cooking. Bananas are one of the best fruit sources of vitamin B6 which helps your body produce red blood cells and removes unwanted chemicals from your liver and kidneys. Vitamin C in bananas protect your body against cell and tissue damage and helps your body absorb iron better. Manganese in banana helps your body make collagen and protects your skin against free radical damage. potassium in banana is good for your heart rate and blood pressure. Bananas also aid digestion and gives you energy without the fats and cholesterol.

INGREDIENTS:

1 ripe banana.

DIRECTIONS:
  • Peel the banana, removing all strings
  • Mash the banana until very smooth. (We recommend using our Moobi Food Masher
  • Add baby’s usual milk for extra creaminess, or water for desired consistency and serve.
STORING:
  • Bananas can be frozen and stored for up to three (3) monthsAfter pureeing your bananas, place leftover puree into airtight storage containers (we recommend using Moobi Food Pot or Moobi freezer tray for best results.
  • Place storage container with puree in the freezer to freeze.
  • Thaw overnight in the fridge.
PLEASE NOTE:
  • Bananas oxidize when exposed to air
  • To help prevent the puree from browning, you can add a few drops of an acid such as pineapple juice, fresh lemon or orange juice .
  • Some babies react to the acid in citrus fruits, so you may want to check with your doctor first before adding lemon or orange to their puree.
Carrot Puree Recipe.
05 Jun
4-6 months (Stage 1), Feeding, Recipes

Carrot Puree Recipe.

Carrot puree is another good option for firsts solids introduced to a baby. carrots are delicious, highly nutritious and necessary in the development of a baby. Carrots are a good source of Fiber, potassium, Vitamin K, Carotene; which is a natural pigment that is used by the body to make Vitamin A. All these nutrients contained in carrots, aid to boost immunity, to boost skin health, to lower blood pressure. Carrots also help to maintain healthy cholesterol and boost heart rate, to ensure bowel regularity and help in digestion, and to boost the eye health.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sized carrots.

Directions

  • Peel the carrot and chop them into bits.
  • Put the carrots into a steamer, set over boiling water and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until it’s tender. Another steaming method would be to put the carrots in a pan, add enough boiling water and cover with a lid. Then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until it is soft.
  • Drain the carrots,place in a blender and puree until it is very smooth.
  • You can add some of the cooking liquid or your baby’s usual milk to get desired consistency; depending on your baby.
  • Spoon some of the puree into your baby’s bowl and serve lukewarm.

Storing

  • Carrots can either be stored before or after pureeing.
  • Put the Carrot puree in an air tight bowl (we suggest storing in our Moobi food pot or Moobi Freezer Tray) and into the freezer, to be frozen.
  • Thaw in the fridge the night before use, or by putting the ice molds in a bowl, over hot water, on the counter to defrost.
  • Non-pureed carrot can be put in a bowl filled with clean water, covered with plastic wrap or it’s seal-able lead and then refrigerated. The water should be changed once a day.
  • To prevent condensation from forming, Wrap the carrots in a paper towel and place them in a bag in the refrigerator.
  • Perforated plastic bags can also be used.

Please Note:

  • Excess moisture causes carrots to rot.
  • Carrots are full of vitamins that are good for your health, but eating too many carrots can bring in too much beta-carotene to the body. Beta-Carotene is the molecule responsible for carrots bright orange hue and a precursor of Vitamin A. This can lead to excess blood carotene which can discolor the skin.
  • For best storing results, we highly recommend using our Moobi Food Pot and our Moobi Freezer Tray, as seen below.
Avocado Puree Recipe
22 May
4-6 months (Stage 1), Recipes

Avocado Puree Recipe

Avocado Puree, known for it’s creamy texture, is a perfect first food for babies being introduced to solid; Usually from 4 to 6 months. It is highly nutritious and usually the easiest to make. 1/5th of an avocado has only 50 calories, but about 20 vitamins and minerals including; Folate, Potassium, Iron, Fiber, Vitamin E…etc, which aid in regulation of blood, oxygen, and in building a stronger immune system. Avocado is also a great source of saturated fat, which is needed for proper brain and nervous system development.

Ingredients

  • 1 Organic Avocado

Directions

  • Cut a ripe avocado into two halves. Twist the halves apart and scoop out a few spoonfuls.
  • Mash the avocado on a bowl. (We recommend using our Moobi food masher for easier and more effective mashing).
  • Mix with your baby’s usual milk, formula or water for desired consistency.
  • Feed immediately.

Storing

Avocados oxidize (turn black) quickly, so its not a very convenient food to prepare in advance. But there are simply times when you need to; and for these times, we suggest using this storing method;

  • After the avocado has been mashed, scoop into an airtight container (we recommend using our Moobi Food Pot), cover properly and store in the freezer.
  • Thaw in the fridge the night before use, or by putting the ice molds in a bowl, over hot water, on the counter to defrost.
  • Once defrosted, mix with your baby’s usual milk, formula or water for desired consistency.
  • another option would be to dice your avocado after taking out the peel, put the cubes in an airtight storage bag (I recommend our Moobi Food Storage Bag) and freeze.

Please note:

  • Do not mix your puree with water, milk or formula before freezing, but instead, after thawing, right before you serve; because the ice from freezing melts into the mixture and affects the consistency.
  • You can also mix your puree with a little bit of lemon juice or lime juice before freezing, to help with the oxidation.
  • If puree is slightly brown, it is still good enough to be eaten, but if it is a darker brown or black… therefore, it is too oxidized and should be thrown out.
  • for more effective mashing and airtight storing, use our Moobi food masher and Moobi food pot, respectively.
Did you know, You could add other fruits to your Avocado Recipe? Here are some delicious options;
Banana-cado baby food:
  • Peel and de-pit an avocado.
  • Cut out the fleshy part in a bowl.
  • Add in a ripe banana.
  • Mash the two together and serve.
Creamy fruit mash:
  • Peel and de-pit an avocado.
  • Cut out the fleshy part in a bowl.
  • Add steamed pears or steamed apples.
  • mash together
  • Mix in a little amount of yogurt to give a smooth creamy texture.
  • Your creamy fruit mash is ready to serve.
Collaboration with Baby Chef
10 Oct
Collaboration, Feeding, Plate it series, Recipes, Resources, Weaning Zone

Collaboration with Baby Chef

We are so delighted to announce our official collaboration with @babychefng . Gear up for meal prep tips, baby/toddler recipes, techniques for making yummy African food and so much more

_

BabyChef ng has become part of the moobi tribe. Join @moobibaby newsletter for loads of free material @babychefng will be giving our moobi mums and dads

_

They will also give 5% off all moobi products and the BabyChef meal planning system template with your purchase.

Amazing first weaning food
10 Oct
Collaboration, Feeding, Plate it series, Recipes, Resources, Weaning Zone

Amazing first weaning food – Avocado

Avocado is known for its creamy texture. It’s great for your baby’s first food

🥑 BENEFITS OF AVOCADO

  • build intelligence
  • Flushes out toxins
  • Nutrient packed
  • Promotes baby’s health
  • Contains Anti inflammatory properties

🥑 WHEN CAN I INTRODUCE AVOCADOS TO MY BABY’S DIET?

  • 4-6 months

🥑 What are some of the ways to introduce avocados to my baby’s diet?

Some easy avocado recipes are:

1) Mashed avocado:

  • Peel and de-pit an avocado.
  • Cut out the fleshy part and mash using a fork.

2) Banana-cado baby food:

  • Peel and de-pit an avocado.
  • Cut out the fleshy part in a bowl.
  • Add in a ripe banana.
  • Mash the two together with a fork and serve.

3) Creamy fruit mash:

  • Peel and de-pit an avocado.
  • Cut out the fleshy part in a bowl.
  • Add steamed pears or steamed apples.
  • Mix in a little amount of yogurt to give a smooth creamy texture.
  • Your creamy fruit mash is ready to serve.

Did you know

Avocados promote baby’s health and wellness. They heal wounds, scratches and rashes faster than any antibiotic.

Baby food and Eczema
10 Oct
Collaboration, Feeding, Plate it series, Recipes, Resources, Weaning Zone

Baby food and Eczema. Is there a link?

Could diet be to blame for your child’s eczema?

It’s possible.

Up to 1 in 3 kids with eczema has a food allergy that could make symptoms worse. If you remove some choices, it could make a big difference.

But since finding food triggers is tricky — and eczema can have lots of other causes — don’t jump to conclusions. Work closely with an allergist.

Which Foods May Trigger Eczema?

When you have a food allergy, your body reacts to a harmless treat as if it’s a dangerous germ and attacks. Symptoms — like swelling — are side effects of your body’s defenses..

Eczema doesn’t seem to be an allergic condition, but reactions from food can make it worse in some kids. It’s more likely in babies and young children.

Some foods are more likely to bring symptoms. The common offenders are:

  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts
  • Wheat
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Soy

While trigger foods can make eczema worse, experts don’t think they’re really the original cause. Instead, it seems to result from “leakiness” in the outer layer of skin that lets in irritants, germs, and allergens.

How to Find a Food Trigger

Some are obvious. If your child eats lobster for the first time and breaks out in hives 15 minutes later, it’s probably not hard to figure out.

But with eczema, it’s often tougher. Symptoms may not show up for days after you eat something. If you do find a trigger food and get rid of it, that may help. Still, it may not make the eczema go away. Remember, 2 out of 3 kids with eczema don’t have a food allergy at all.

That’s why working with a doctor is so important. He can guide you toward the real cause through tests like:

Elimination diets. If your doctor thinks a food may be harmful, he may ask you not to give it to your kid for 10 to 14 days. Watch to see if it makes a difference.

Food challenges. After you’ve taken a food out of your child’s diet, your pediatrician might want you to add a small amount back in to see if it causes symptoms. He may want to do this in the office, just in case your child has a reaction.

Skin testing. A doctor can take an extract of the food and use it to scratch the skin lightly. If the area swells up, that could be an allergic reaction. However, it’s not always accurate.

Blood tests. RAST — a radioallergosorbent test — can check for special cells in the blood that signal specific food allergies. Again, it’s not always accurate. Other lab tests can check for cells that trigger swelling.

Tracking down a food trigger can take patience and detective work.

Be methodical. Only eliminate one food at a time. If you ban dairy and gluten at the same time and symptoms get better, you won’t know which one made the difference. Use a food diary to keep track of what you get rid of, and the changes that brings.

Move slowly. A positive skin test isn’t reason enough to cut out a food. Lots of kids test positive for foods that don’t really cause symptoms. Plus, if you get rid of too many foods, you could cut out nutrients your child needs to grow and develop. So for his sake and yours, be sure before you take a food from your child’s diet permanently. Work with your doctor.

Keep using other treatments. Even if you find a trigger food, getting rid of it may not make the rash disappear. Stick with the other things your doctor recommends — like skin ointments, lotions, and medicines. Continue to steer clear other allergens like dust mites, pollen, or pet dander, too.