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.

Infant Weaning... First Food For Babies_Purees

Weaning is the process of gradually introducing the infant to solid diet and reducing the supply of mother’s milk. A fully weaned infant derives all its nutrition from solid foods and is off breast milk completely.

Today, most pediatricians advocate starting weaning only after the infant is six months old. Infants who are weaned too early may suffer dietary deficiencies as the milk is replaced by weaning foods.

Also, weaning around six months is easier and more enjoyable as the baby can sit up and take an active part in feeding. The tongue thrust reflex is settled by now (young babies will automatically push solids out of their mouth with their tongue).

Let's begin with some healthy and colorful purees. I am trying to help new mothers with some of the baby food recipes which are not just easy to make but also healthy to eat. I searched for these recipes at various places and with some edits, I am putting them here for you now -

• Avocado and kiwi purée : This refreshing combination of fruits is a great source of vitamin E and vitamin C

Ingredients:

    Half a ripe avocado
    1 ripe kiwi fruit

Method:

Mash the avocado well. Peel and mash the kiwi. Push the kiwi through a sieve to remove the pips, then mix with the avocado.

Note: If you prefer, offer individual fruit purées instead of a mixture of avocado and kiwi fruit. Do speak to your doctor before offering your baby any imported or exotic fruits.

• Broccoli and cauliflower purée : This combination of vegetables is a good source of iron and vitamin C.

Ingredients:

    1 large floret broccoli
    1 large floret cauliflower

Method:

Steam the vegetables until they are tender. Purée in a blender or mouli (food mill) and adjust the texture with boiled cooled water or baby's usual milk.

Note: If you wish you can opt to prepare a purée with only broccoli or only cauliflower.

• Pear and apple purée : This tasty mix of fruits is an excellent source of vitamin C

Ingredients:

    1 ripe pear, peeled and sliced
    1 apple, peeled and sliced

Method:

Place the pear and apple in a small saucepan with one tbsp of water and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until the fruit is tender. Purée in a blender or mouli (food mill).

• Musk melon purée : Musk melon is a good source of betacarotene and vitamin C

Ingredients:

    Large slice of musk melon (kharbooja) or any other melon like honey dew.

Method:

Peel and deseed the melon. Purée the melon and, if desired, add a little baby rice to thicken up.

• Lentils with pumpkin pur: This wholesome meal is a good source of iron, betacarotene and B vitamins.
  
  Ingredients:
  
      50g split red lentils (masoor dal)
      120g pumpkin(kaddu), peeled and diced
  
  Method:
  
  Boil the lentils in water until soft. Steam or microwave the pumpkin until tender. Drain the lentils in a sieve. Add the pumpkin to the sieve and place the sieve over a bowl. Using a wooden spoon, press through the mixture, stir and serve.