Baby Food: First soup

While I was weaning Neil, I came across these first soups which are not just yummy and healthy but also very easy to make. I'm sure all new mommies will love to give them to their infants....

Lentil soup (dal ka paani)

This watery lentil soup is a good source of protein, B vitamins, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup filtered water
• 2 tbsps split yellow gram (moong dal) or split red lentils(masoor dal)
• Pinch of turmeric (haldi)
• Pinch of salt (optional)

Method:

Boil the lentils in half a cup of water with a pinch of turmeric (haldi) until it is completely cooked and soft. Mash the dal and add the remaining water. Boil again for a few minutes and strain through a wire-meshed sieve to get a clear dal soup.

You can gradually reduce the quantity of water to the mashed dal to make it thicker and a more wholesome meal for your baby.

Watery rice gruel (chawal ka paani)

A staple in many Indian homes, this soup is a good source of protein, vitamins, calcium and starch.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of filtered water
• 2 tbsps rice

Method:

Boil rice in water until it is completely cooked and soft. Mash it a bit and strain through a wire meshed sieve 0to get a thin watery rice soup.

Initially offer your baby the water alone, gradually you could include the mashed rice as well. You could add some mashed dal and vegetable stock. Besides the added nutrition your baby may find it tasty.

Barley water

Barley water is believed to be a good source of iron, calcium, vitamin C and protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsps barley (jau)
• 1 tbsp ISI marked freshly packed jaggery gur
• 3 cups of filtered water
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice

Method:

Pressure cook the jaggery and barley in 3 cups of water for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid and add some lemon juice. Mix well and serve.

Carrot and beetroot soup

This vegetable soup is a good source of Vitamin A & C, calcium, iron, folic acid and protein.

Ingredients:

• ¼ of a beetroot, peeled and chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups filtered water
• A slice of lemon

Method:

Add the water to the chopped beetroot and carrot. Pressure cook till the vegetables are completely cooked and soft. Mash the mixture. Strain through a wire-meshed sieve to get a clear vegetable soup.

Initially offer your baby the water alone, gradually you could include the mashed vegetables as well. You can also add potatoes for an interesting variation in taste as well as to make the soup thicker.

Note: Ensure your baby is wearing a bib as beetroot may stain her clothes.

Apple and carrot soup

This soup is a good source of Vitamin A & C, calcium, iron, folic acid and protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, peeled and chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups filtered water

Method:

Add water to the chopped apple and carrot. Pressure cook till it is completely cooked and soft. Mash the mixture. Strain through a wire-meshed sieve to get a clear soup.

Mixed vegetable soup

This vegetable soup can be included in your baby's diet once you've introduced a couple of vegetables to her. You can make the soup thick or watery. It is a rich source of vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 piece of a medium-sized carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 piece of a medium-sized potato, peeled and chopped
• a small piece of bottle gourd (lauki or doodhi), peeled and chopped
• 1/4 piece of medium-sized tomato, peeled and chopped
• small part of a medium-sized cabbage (patta gobhi), chopped
• 3 cups of filtered water

Method:

Cook all the vegetables in the water till they are soft. Mash the mixture and strain through a wire-meshed sieve to get a thick soup or strain only the water to get a clear soup.

You can use the clear soup as a base for the baby's rice cereal mix as well.

Lentil and sweet potato soup

This hearty soup is an excellent source of iron, B vitamins, Vitamin A and potassium.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp pigeon peas (arhar dal or toor dal)
• 1/2 of a medium-sized sweet potato (shakarkandi), peeled and chopped
• 2 cups filtered water
• Pinch of dry roasted cumin (jeera)

Method:

Cook all the ingredients in the water till the dal and the sweet potato are soft. Mash the mixture and strain through a wire-meshed sieve to get a thick soup or strain only the water to get a clear soup.

Breakfast Recipes and Ideas for Kids

I was looking for some new and healthy recipes for my son, Neil. While I came across many of them, sharing what I tried and liked out of all I found.

Try some of the following healthy different ideas for breakfast for your kids that require very less preparation time, yet appeal to your kids because of their unique appeal.

Cinnamon Biscuits

1 packet flaky biscuits
Castor sugar
1 1/2 tea spoon Cinnamon
3 tbsp melted butter or margarine

Heat oven to 450 degree. Separate biscuits and divide into halves. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each piece into melted butter and then roll in the sugar mixture. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown.

Potato Dippy Dip

1 medium-sized sweet potato (raw) peeled and grated
1 egg slightly beaten
1/4th cup flour

Mix ingredients. Heat approximately one tablespoon of oil. Drop spoonfuls into the pan. Cook for about two minutes on each side, until turns golden brown. Serve with applesauce. Children love to dip it in applesauce.

Apple Sauce

5-6 medium size apples
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Wash apples and cut into quarters and place them in a saucepan. Add water and cook them covered until the apples become soft. Put the apple mixture through a sieve. Transfer back the syrup into the saucepan. Add sugar and let the juice simmer. 

Glazed Bananas

1/3rd cup frozen orange juice concentrate
6 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced in 1 inch pieces
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
1/2 cup ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped nuts
Chocolate syrup

Heat orange juice. Add banana pieces and cook for three minutes. Add vanilla and cinnamon and stir for another 2 to 3 minutes until the moisture is absorbed. Serve warm. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with nuts before serving.

Orange Crispies

3 small oranges
1 tbsp Wheat germ
1 tsp Peanut butter
1 1/2 tbsp honey / sugar syrup

Peel and cut orange pieces into halves. Cook wheat germ in oil until brown. Add peanut butter and stir until melted. Add sugar syrup or honey. Stir until wheat germ gets coated completely. Place it on a small plate and cool the preparation. Sprinkle over orange slices and serve.

Frozen Shake

1 cup milk
1 cup frozen banana chunks
Chocolate syrup

Place all the ingredients in a blender and make it a smooth paste. Add chocolate syrup to taste.

Novel Toasts

You can even make simple toast more healthy and exciting for your kids by preparing the following healthy toppings:

Cinnamon Toast

Make a mixture of two teaspoons of cinnamon and half cup of sugar. Sprinkle over a buttered toast.

Orange Toast

Combine one tablespoon of orange juice, one tablespoon of orange rind and half-cup of sugar, put this on a half-baked toast and return to the oven. It will become a chewy topping.

Lemon Toast

Combine one tablespoon of lemon juice, one tablespoon of lemon rind (The natural outer covering of food) and 2/3rd cup of sugar and put on a toast and bake.