Kids' Food By Design

Sorry!

2012-11-26T18:05:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately... it's going to be the new norm for now. I don't have the usual access to a computer and the internet right now. But, I will do my best to keep things moving!

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-11-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

(sorry for the very bad picture)

Two yr. old's lunch.

Open faced pb sandwich, cheese slices, a clementine, an apple (half the apple remained),

and a cup of milk.

Recipe Review

2012-11-20T09:18:00.000-05:00

From The Joy of Cooking:

Basil Squash Puree (with summer squash)

Squash, chopped
Olive oil
1/2 t. salt
Garlic, opt.

1. Heat olive oil in pan, add chopped squash.

2. Season with 1/2 t salt and a sprinkle of garlic (optional)

3. Cook covered 6 minutes

4. Drain juices

5. Put back on stove, add basil if you want, and cook another 2-3 minutes or until tender.

6. Purée and enjoy.

My Review:
Easy to make, smells great, but took a bit longer than the recipe said. It's on my list to keep making, for sure.

Kids Review:

My 9 month old really really likes it. She gobbles it up. I'm making more today and going to have my 2 yr. old try it.

Equipment Needed

2012-11-16T08:18:00.000-05:00

I'm working a post on setting up your first few months of baby food. That is coming next week but in preparation for it, I wanted to do a post on what equipment is needed to make baby food at home.

You can have something that does the work for you like this (my sister has one and loves it) or this. But, it's not necessary.

To cook you need pans, most people have those already, and a steamer.
To puree you simply need a blender, food processor, or hand blender.
To store you need storage containers, baggies, or what I think is great - ice cube trays. I also know someone who likes to store what she makes in Ball Canning Jars.

Simple as that! See you next week...

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-11-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

Brinner (aka Breakfast for Dinner) for my 2 yr. old.

Homemade french toast with bananas and blueberries, and a cup of milk.

Fall Recipe: Pumpkin Muffins (chocolate optional)

2012-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Chocolate isn't optional in this house for anything, but they can be optional in this muffin for the kiddos.

Pumpkin Muffins
(Adapted from the Food Network)

1 1/2 c. white wheat flour
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 c. sucanant
1/4 c. applesauce
2 large eggs
15 oz. (1 can) pumpkin
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla
2/3 c. chocolate chips, optional

1. Whisk eggs and sugar
2. Add pumpkin, yogurt, butter, and vanilla. Stir until mixed.
3. Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and powder, and salt. Stir until mixed.
(4. Optional, fold in chocolate chips)

Bake at 375 for 10-20 mins. You can make these as mini muffins for little hands (10 mins.) or full size muffins (15-20 mins.).

Note: These are deliciously moist muffins so you'll need to either eat them quickly (no problems there!) or freeze some to prevent them from spoiling.

I'm Back...

2012-11-09T08:26:00.002-05:00

www.motherearthnews.com

An unintentional break happened for this blog for the past week and half. There were some things going on in life that needed my attention and so the blog fell to the side, but Monday we are back on track.

Some weekend reading/viewing for you. Whole Foods On A Budget posted today a helpful link for avoiding GMO's from Mother Earth News. Hop on over there and take a look at their helpful chart...

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

2 year olds lunch: peanut butter sandwich on homemade bread, apple slices, and a few veggie chips. (Veggie chips aren't a regular thing in our house, they were leftover from when we had some people over so I let her have some as a little treat.)

What is all this GMO stuff?

2012-10-29T12:27:00.001-04:00

There is a lot of news right now about Proposition 37 in California and so I thought it might be helpful to give you some resources so you can understand what is going on. Here is a helpful article by Mark Bittman (author of books like Food Matters and How to Cook Everything). Also great website with some helpful FAQ's: http://www.carighttoknow.org/.

Recipe Review

2012-10-26T13:34:00.002-04:00

From Weelicious.com, Veggie Heavy Pizza Sauce.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, diced
1 medium carrot
1 stalk celery
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes, drained

Preparation

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, carrots, celery, onions and garlic. Saute until veggies are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
Add the tomatoes, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, puree with an immersion hand blender (or in a regular blender) until almost smooth.
Return sauce to the heat and simmer until thick, 10-20 minutes. The longer you simmer this sauce the thicker and more flavorful it will become. You can simmer up to 2 hours.

My Review:
I loved the idea of having a lot of veggies in this sauce. But I tasted it and wasn't a fan at all, I just hoped the kids would be! Quite a strong taste of the bell pepper.

Kids Review:
My 2 yr. old hated it. One mouthful and she was done. I used it mixed in with other items for my 8 month and she ate it that way, but not on its own. I won't be making this one again with this exact recipe - perhaps without the bell pepper I might.

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-10-24T09:44:00.005-04:00

My 2 year olds meal: Banana Pancakes with banana slices and blueberries. And milk.

Fall Recipe: Apple Cider Pancakes

2012-10-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Apple Cider Pancakes

(I saw several recipes and adapted what
I found to come up with this)

2 cups white wheat flour
½ t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 eggs
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup apple cider

In a small bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into a bowl of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (not until smooth, lumps are good).

Vegetable Puree Recipe

2012-10-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

From Weelicious.com, Italian Green Vegetable Puree

Ingredients

1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 cup broccoli florets
1/4 cup tomato or marinara sauce
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Preparation

Place the zucchini and broccoli florets in a steamer pot over boiling water, steam for 5 minutes and allow to cool.
Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth.
Serve.

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

This delicious-looking (ha!) puree is what my 8 month old recently had to eat. It is a mixture of straight squash puree and an "Italian Green Vegetable puree" that I found from weelicious.com (There are several recipes I've recently tried from that site and I will be reviewing them for you soon.).

One of my 2 year olds lunches: toast with butter, apple slices, scrambled egg (it was going to be fried egg, but I messed up flipping it which is why it looks funny).

Recipe Review

2012-10-15T08:31:00.000-04:00

A new addition to this blog is going to be reviewing some of the recipes out there for babies and toddlers. To start, I'm going to review a few recipes from a website that I visit fairly often - weelicious.com - for which I have both positive and negative reviews. I'm going to include my review, as well as what my kids thought. To kick off these reviews...

From Weelicious.com, Broccoli, Potato, and Cheese Puree:

Ingredients

1 large potato, peeled and cubed
1 cup broccoli, chopped
2 tablespoons cheddar cheese (i used white cheddar cheese)

Preparation

Place the potato cubes in a steamer pot over boiling water and cook for 6 minutes.
Add the broccoli and steam for an additional 4 minutes or until vegetables are fork tender.
Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree.
Serve.

My Review: The picture that accompanied this recipe looked delicious, a puree of normal texture that had a light green tint to it. It's actually much thicker than a regular puree is, it is really just like thick mashed potatoes. You can taste the broccoli in it, but it's not an overpowering flavor. You cannot taste the cheese at all, so you could skip that completely. Next time I make it I am going to add in 1 c. cauliflower and see if changing the ratio of potato to veggie helps thin it out a bit, as well as add some more nutrition to it. I ate some with my leftovers for lunch and added some more cheese on top for a bit more flavor.

Kids Review: 2 year old did not like it. 7 month old ate it fine.

Fall Recipe: Sweet Potato Soup

2012-10-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

Sweet Potato Soup
(Slightly adapted from: Giada De Laurentiis' Weeknights with Giada)

3 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 T. olive oil
3 large or 6 small shallots, thinly sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
2 stems fresh rosemary
6 c. chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium)
1/2 c. (4oz.) marscarpone cheese, at room temperature
3 T. maple syrup or honey*

1. In a large stockpot, melt the butter and oil.
2. Add the shallots and garlic, season with 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper. Cook 3-4 mins. until soft.
3. Add sweet potatoes, rosemary, and chicken broth, season with 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t. pepper.
4. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer and cook 20-25 mins. until sweet potatoes are tender.
5. Turn off the heat, remove rosemary, and blend until smooth and thick.
6. Whisk in cheese and syrup until smooth.

*do not use honey if a child under the age of 1 will be eating the soup

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-10-10T07:36:00.000-04:00

My 2 year olds breakfast recently: a bowl of whole milk plain yogurt and blueberries, and some banana bread that we were given. Not pictured: a glass of milk.

Fall Recipes: Apple Quesadilla

2012-10-08T12:05:00.002-04:00

Apple Quesadilla

1 Tortilla
Freshly made applesauce (or apple slices*)
Cheese, grated

1. Spread some applesauce in a thin layer on the tortilla
2. Top with shredded cheese (cheddar is recommended)
3. Heat up on a griddle, skillet, or frying pan until cheese is melted

*You can use some thin apple slices for older toddlers instead of applesauce if you want.

Weekend Reading

2012-10-05T15:28:00.001-04:00

Here are some links to some interesting articles that I'll be reading this weekend, perhaps you'll find them interesting too!

Arsenic in Rice?! (and baby rice cereal)

Helpful information on shopping places other than just your local grocery store: Whole Foods on a Budget

A great website about GMO's (Genetically Modified) along with their petitions to fight for a healthier, better America: Food Democracy Now!

What We Eat Wednesdays

2012-10-03T09:25:00.002-04:00

Introducing: What We Eat Wednesdays!

Every Wednesday I'm going to try and show you what my kids eat (I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old) for a breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. I cannot promise the most amazing pictures, but I hope this little look into our food life might help you, inspire you, or encourage you with what you are already doing! To kick things off, I present to you last night's dinner (for my 2 yr. old) -

Before:
- 1/2 apple, sliced
- 1/2 banana bread cookie (I'm still working on adjusting the recipe, it's almost there!)
- Refried bean burrito (1/2 tortilla, refried beans, cheese, diced tomatoes, chopped up spinach)

After:
She ate the cookie right away, followed by the apple. She left about half the burrito (it's now todays lunch)

Not pictured: her drink. We give her a sippy cup of milk in the morning and when she's finished that, we give her water for the rest of the day.

The Truth About MSG

2012-10-02T08:05:00.001-04:00

By now most people know that MSG is bad and are avoiding it. But, what many people don't know is that the food companies have come up with many ways to list it in the ingredients without us, the consumer, knowing that it is in fact MSG or closely related and therefore probably contains MSG (this is due to the fact that so many people have put up a fight to keep this bad additive out of food).

Here is a link to a site that lists the names that are used for MSG, including yeast extract, soy protein, and more: http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html.

If you aren't aware about MSG, here is some basic information to help make you aware...

MSG, or Monosodium glutamate, can have a stronger affect on some people than others - if they have a higher sensitivity. MSG is "generally recognized as safe" by the FDA. There are many side affects associated with MSG, the most common being:

Headache
Flushing
Sweating
Facial pressure or tightness
Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
Chest pain
Nausea
Weakness

Children are more susceptible to the affects of MSG than adults. As MSG is a cheaper, very flavorful additive the food industry is putting a big fight for MSG - they claim it is fine for consumption and that very, very few people have reactions to it. Scientific studies have shown, however, that up to 40% of the population are having reactions to it. They are also starting to link MSG to other health problems and are doing studies on that now. Also, many countries have limited or have strict requirements concerning labeling with MSG. Recently, MSG has been approved for being sprayed on crops in California... no studies have been done yet related to this.

20 On-the-go Snacks For Your Baby/Toddler

2012-09-28T09:35:00.002-04:00

A reader was asking me the other day what snacks are good for on-the-go (other than crackers). Here are some on-the-go snack options for when you can't or don't want to sit down with a knife and fork to feed them. As always, some of these items are for older toddlers or babies with more teeth so make sure you know what your child can handle. *A couple of these ideas do require using a spoon to feed your child (or for them to use one, if they can) or might be a bit messier - but they can still work for on-the-go if you are stopping to eat too.

1. Crackers (they are a good option! :o)) or pretzels
2. Dry cereal
3. Dried fruit - raisins, banana chips, dried apricots, etc.
4. "Pouches" of applesauce or other mixed purees - go for something organic, no sugar added, like one of these: Happy Baby Organic, Ella's Kitchen, or Plum Organics
5. Homemade muffins, bars, breads, etc. (those recipes ARE coming, I promise!)
6. Homemade "trail mix" (ex. dry cereal, raisins, any other dried fruits baby likes/will eat, a few chocolate chips, pretzels)
7. Banana (for when your baby can take bites), blueberries, cut up grapes or other fruits that don't brown easily.
8. Frozen peas (they will defrost the longer you travel, but that doesn't matter!)
9. Peanut butter sandwich or cold grilled cheese (for when your baby can take bites)
10. Cooked pasta
11. Black beans
12. Healthy homemade pancakes (recipe coming soon)
13. Carrots, peppers, or other veggies (either soft cooked or if they can handle it, raw). You could bring a dip too, if you want*

If you want to take a cold pack:
14. Cheese
15. Yogurt*
16. Bagel & cream cheese
17. Hummus
18. Little meatballs
19. Leftovers*

20. Or, if your baby/toddler does well with drinks in the car you can make a smoothie for them like this one.

Fall Recipes: Banana Bread

2012-09-26T07:57:00.001-04:00

Banana Bread
Adapted from Cooking Light's Banana Bread Recipe.

1 c. all-purpose flour plus
1 c. wheat flour
(or 2 c. white wheat flour)
3/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. sucanant (or other sugar)
1/2 c. applesauce
1/4 c. butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c. mashed bananas (~3)
1/3 c. plain yogurt
1 t. vanilla

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
Place sugar, applesauce, and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute).
Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla; beat until blended.
Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist.
Pour batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Or divide into muffin pans or mini loaf pans.
Bake at 350° for 1 hour (for loaf, 20-30 mins. for muffins or mini loaves - check them often until you know how long they take in your pan & oven!) or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Fall Recipes: 14 Snacks Using Apples

2012-09-24T13:05:00.003-04:00

Apple bread

Applesauce
Apple slices and peanut butter
Soft-cooked apples and pears (really good with plain whole milk yogurt)
Oatmeal and soft-cooked apple chunks
Apple "sandwiches" (slices of apple with fillings inside - peanut butter, cream cheese, slices of cheese, etc. I first saw the idea here.)
Ants on a circle(?!) instead of ants on a log. The circle being apple, of course!
Apple and cheese slices
Apple chips
Apples and dips*
Cream cheese filled apple halves (cut an apple in half, scoop out the seeds in the middle and fill with some softened cream cheese)
Baked apples (I'm looking forward to trying out this recipe)
Apple bread*
Apple muffins*
Apple fruit salad (Apple being the star of the seasonal fruit salad. Or to make it more fun, take out the center of an apple and serve the fruit salad IN the apple. For older toddlers/kids, of course.)

As always, use discretion with the ideas - some are appropriate for babies, some for young toddlers, and some just for older toddlers.

*Apple bread and muffin recipes as well as dip ideas are coming soon!

Peanut Butter

2012-09-19T12:39:00.001-04:00

Peanut butter is a staple for children and adults alike, providing a delicious and nutritious option that very few people dislike. The nutritional value of peanut butter is great - it is a high in protein, contains "good" fats (aka no cholesterol - just healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. In fact, studies have been shown that peanut butter may in fact lower your bad cholesterol levels while maintaining your good cholesterol levels), and is high in fiber. Pb also has B vitamins and vitamin E, is high in antioxidants, and good news for adults - it is said that eating nuts in general (including pb) twice a week makes you less likely to gain weight than someone who doesn't eat them. There are many diseases that pb has been shown to help fight against such as - heart disease, Alzheimers, cardiovascular, and even cancers.

Although peanut butter has these great values to it, you need to be careful which peanut butter you get as there are many that have sugar, salt, and oils added, which negate its value and can be the catalyst for other problems. For example, partially hydrogenated oils are added to many peanut butters to prevent the natural separation of oils - partially hydrogenated oils are trans fats. Natural peanut butter is the way to go, it's worth that extra step of needing to stir it. (Tip: store your unopened pb jars upside down, it will help when you go to stir it.) Really, the only ingredient you want in peanut butter is peanuts.

Here are some facts/information on various brands of "natural" pb:

Skippy "Natural" PB:
Added Ingredients - sugar, oil, and salt

Jiff "Natural" PB:
Added Ingredients - sugar, oil, salt, and molasses

Peter Pan "Natural" PB:
Added Ingredients - sugar, oil, and salt

Look on labels to find a peanut butter whose only ingredient is peanuts or, if you need a bit more flavor those with only salt as the additional ingredient. (Ex. Trader Joes unsalted or salted peanut butter or Whole Foods 365 peanut butter) Or, if you feel adventurous you could make your own! Here is a tutorial on how to make your own pb from Joy the Baker - based on all the information above, I would recommend choosing roasted unsalted peanuts and salting to flavor, if needed.