Tis the Season for Cranberries!

Soft Cranberry Banana Cookies

Ingredients
1⁄2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
 (optional)
1 ripe medium banana, mashed
1⁄3 cup butter or margarine (see tip)
1⁄4 cup apple juice
1 egg
1⁄2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°F
Directions
1. In a bowl, stir together cranberries (if using), banana, butter, apple juice, egg and vanilla; mix until smooth. Stir in rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and baking soda;
blend well.
2. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking pans; flatten with a fork. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack before storing in a tightly closed container.
Makes 36 cookies

*Better Baby Food

Simple Signs

The best way to tell whether your baby is ready to start solids is to watch for cues. Here are some signals that show the time is right to begin offering food:

• Your baby is able to sit up well on his/her own, without your assistance.
• Your baby is able to turn his/her head away to refuse the food you are offering.
• Your baby develops a persistent pattern of remaining hungry after the usual feeding.
• Your baby stares at you when you eat or grabs for your food.
• Your baby can swallow pureed food, rather than reflexively spitting it out.

Starting Simple

Introducing solids to your baby is a slow process of building a repertoire with each new food you offer baby, you are shaping his/her taste and testing his/her tolerance. Some foods may not agree with your baby, causing a rash, constipation, or other side effects. For this reason, new foods should be introduced one at a time. If a food does not agree with your baby, it might take a day or two for this to become apparent. So when you introduce a new food, feed it to your baby for at least three days before you introduce another new food. This gradual approach to introducing new foods makes it easier to identify the culprit if there is any problem.

Allergenic Foods:

Cow's Milk
Egg White
Fish
Shellfish
Nuts
Peanuts
Soy
Strawberry
Wheat

In the Kitchen

When I am preparing meals, I cook using only the gentlest procedures. Majority of the fruits and vegetables I make are steamed. Steaming is an especially good method because the food does not come in direct contact with water, which can take away nutrients.

Roasting is another great method for baby's food. Most of the meats and root vegetables are prepared this way. Roasting ensures that the food can keep all of its natural flavors.

Homemade foods are more nutritious for a variety of reasons:

It is completely unadulterated. I never use any fillers or preservatives.

It's more versatile. You can add breast milk or formula for extra nutrition. As your baby grows, you can make his food just as thick as he can handle thus helping his eating skills progress.

Jarred baby food is heated to extremely high temperatures during processing, which destroys certain heat-sensitive vitamins.

Of course, jarred baby foods are more convenient but that's where I can help. I prepare the most nutritious foods for your baby and deliver them in a safe manner.

Pumpkin Season

Pumpkin has so many health benefits and they are a great food option for your little one. The next two months I will be making pumpkin oatcakes, pumpkin spice granola, pumpkin puree, and much more!

Here are healthy pumpkin facts:

Pumpkins contain some of the best nutritional compounds. They are highly loaded with Vitamin A and beta carotene. Beta Carotene is one of the plant carotenoids that when eaten and digested, turns into Vitamin A in the human body. Beta Carotene may reduce the risk of cancer as well as heart disease.

Pumpkins are also good sources of potassium, protein, and iron. Pumpkin seeds also contain a good amount of protein and iron so eating the seeds does provide some nutritive value. I don't recommend that you offer your baby or toddler pumpkin seeds however. Pumpkins are wonderfully low in fat, low in calories but high in fiber. 

Juicy Juice

Here is a list of juices I make as well:

• Banana
• Perfectly Pear
• Apple
• Mango (when in season)
• Orange
• Crazy about Carrots
• Berry-licious
• Peach

I can mix any of the juices together to make you a custom flavor. I can also hide veggies in them and your little one would never know!

Yummy in My Tummy

As your baby goes from infant to toddler his/her growth will slow considerably (this is normal). Trying to find healthy food options can be difficult, especially since your toddler is now exercising free will and may want to choose his own food. Try offering a variety of healthy foods at each snack or meal time. I have put together a list that may come in handy.

 PB&J Pinwheels


Substitute a wrap instead of bread and cut into slices

Veggie Fries
preheat oven to 500 degrees

Peel sweet potato and turnips and cut into slices. Spread veggies on a baking sheet and lightly coat with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Bake for 20-25 minutes turning occasionally with tongs.

Yogurt and Graham Dippers

1 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt. Mix in a tbsp of honey and serve with Graham crackers for dipping.

English Muffin Pizza
preheat broiler

Slice English muffin in half. Put one slice of tomato on each half and cover with cheese of your choice. Put under broiler until cheese is melted.

Apple Dippers

Slice apples. Put 1/2 cup of peanut butter and 1 tbsp. of syrup in a microwave safe bowl and nuke for 10 seconds. Mix and serve.

Fruit Skewers

Simply cut fruit of your choice and put on skewers. Who doesn't like food on a stick?!

Frozen Grapes
(just as it sounds)
Cut grapes into halves or quarters 


Banana Popsicles

Dip banana in yogurt, roll in crushed oats, and freeze


Please always keep in mind your child's allergies before offering snacks

Menu

4-6 Months

• Sweet Pea Puree
• Rice Cereal
• Zucchini Puree
• Carrot Puree
• Avocado Mousse
• Winter Squash Puree (butternut, acorn, and pumpkin too)
• Sweet Potato Puree (Yams for holidays!)
• Gala Apple Puree
• Banana Bo Bana

7-8 Months

• Green Beans with Olive Oil
• Turkey and Apricot
• Whipped Cauliflower
• Blueberry and Cherry Puree
• Peachy Puree
• Pear Compote
• Tarragon Turkey
• Rosemary Lamb
• Baby Soup (veggies and sweet potato)
• Split Pea Soup
• Quinoa and Pumpkin  

9-11 Months

• Baby Chicken or Beef
• Tomato Coulis
• Oatmeal
• Cheeky Cherry Crumble
• Fresh & Fruity Smoothie
• Hummus
• Edamame
• Pastina with Zucchini
• Root Veggie Medley
• Very Berry Parfait
• Macaroni Primavera
• Parmesan Polenta
• Pumpkin Soup
• Orzo and Peas

Sweets for Your Sweetie

12-18 Months

• Lemony Scones
• Peachy Keen Oatcakes
• Rice Pudding
• Carrot Cupcakes

Going Organic Facts

Did you know that if you're feeding your baby a non organic apple that you are also feeding him more than 25 pesticides?

In the past five years, eating organic has risen 30%. More stores are carrying a variety of organic products from fruit and veggies to milk and grains.

The health benefits of eating organic are vast. Eating an organic tomato for instance has 79% more quercetin, which is an antioxidant, than a tomato grown in chemical fertilizer.

Organic food is also fresher! Since organic farmers do not use pesticides they sell their produce locally. Therefore, it is fresher and the taste is believed to be better.