HOMEMADE BABY FOOD AND PUREE.

HOMEMADE BABY FOOD AND PUREE.

❎Before going through the recipes, please take note of the following:

*Disclaimer:

Information and feedback on this page are personal opinions and are not intended to replace medical advice. If you have any concerns about your child’s health and feeding, please consult your doctor or health professional.

The recipes stated here are from six months and above. Consult your doctor before giving it to babies under six months.

You can either use breast milk or formula milk (for babies below one year) Or cow's milk for children above one year. Milk formula here means powered milk mixed with milk to form a liquid.

Salt and honey are to be given to babies over 1 year.

→ If you are just starting solids for your baby, please take note of the following:

Introduce one particular food at a time; do not give your baby different types of food at a time so as to watch out for allergies. Allergies are conditions that cause illness when someone eats certain foods or touches or breathes in certain substances. So watch out for signs like Tingling or itching in the mouth, hives, itching or eczema, nasal congestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, etc.

Your baby’s stomach is very small, so do not serve a lot of food at a time. For starters, you can serve 1-2 tablespoons of puree at a time.

There are no right or wrong foods as first foods for babies; the most important thing is to focus on naturally high iron, zinc, and fat foods when starting solids, e.g., meat, fatty fish like mackerel (Titus fish), chicken drumsticks, turkey, etc.

If your family has a history of food allergies, asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis, it is better and safer for you to work with a pediatric allergist before your baby starts solids to rule out and prevent problems.

*FRUIT PUREES(6months+)

Apple puree: steam the apple after peeling the Skin, then blend to a smooth texture and serve your baby.

Banana puree: Remove the banana skin and blend. You can add milk.

Cook or steam the carrot till it’s soft, then blend and serve. You can add milk to it.

Carrot and apple puree: Steam both carrot and apple, then blend and serve.

Potato puree: Cook potatoes (either Irish potato or sweet potato) till they're soft. Blend to the desired texture and serve with milk.

Mango puree: Peel the skin of the mango, remove the seed, then blend to desired texture.

Apple-banana puree: steam the apple for 3 minutes. Put in a blender, add banana and milk formula, and blend.Blend smoothly and serve. You can add milk to it.

Papaya or Pawpaw Puree: Peel the skin of papaya or Pawpaw and remove the seeds. Blend and serve your baby.

Papaya and banana puree: Wash and peel the skin of both, remove the pawpaw, and blend with the banana. You can add milk to make it creamy.

English pear + avocado pear: Steam the English pear for 3 minutes, scoop out the flesh from the avocado and mash, then blend the steamed pear with the mashed avocado pear. You can blend it with milk and serve it to your baby.

Avocado apple puree: steam the apple till it’s soft, then add mashed avocado pear. Blend both and serve. You can add milk.

Avocado yogurt puree: Cut your pear into two and scoop out the flesh. Put it on a plate and mash to the desired texture. Add yogurt, stir thoroughly, and serve.

Mango yogurt recipe: Peel and slice Mango in pieces; blend to desired texture. Add plain yogurt and stir. The meal is ready.

Banana yoghurt recipe: Chop the banana into pieces and transfer to a blender. Add plain yogurt and blend. Serve it to your little one.

Apple + yogurt: Peel and chop the apple into pieces; steam for 3-5 minutes. Put it in a blender, add full-fat plain yogurt, and blend.

Avocado Banana and Mango Puree Recipe: Peel the mango, cut it into chunks, and puree. Mash the avocado and banana and add them to the mango. Blend all very well and serve your baby.

NUTRITIOUS FOOD PUREES FOR YOUR BABY

As a mother of two, one of the struggles I had was what to feed my baby after 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. It was challenging, especially with the rate of increase in the prices of packaged Baby foods. Moreover, most of those already-prepared foods contain chemicals that are dangerous to your baby. Therefore, this recipe book was designed to help mothers worry less about what to feed their baby at 6 months.

1. Potato, carrot, and rice recipe

Chop the potato into small pieces, grate the carrot, wash the rice very well, and put it all in a pot on fire. Add a tablespoon of olive oil, add water, and cook till it's done. Put it on a plate and mash. Serve while it's hot. For babies below 10 months, blend the mixture to the desired texture.

2. Egg yolk plantain recipe:

Chop raw, ripe plantains into small bits and blend with water. Put in a cooking pot. Remove the egg yolk from the albumen (egg white) and put it in the plantains. Stir to remove lumps, then allow to cook for 5-7 minutes. Then add milk and serve.

3. Scrambled eggs for babies and toddlers:

Break an egg into a plate. Add milk formula. Put half a tablespoon of butter in a pan. Add the egg mixture, place on low heat, and turn continuously. Then serve your baby.

4. Carrot Plantain Recipe (6 months+);

Wash the plantains and carrots very well and chop them into bits. Put it in a pot and cook with water. When it’s cooled, blend into a fine texture and serve with milk.

5.Potato+Green peas(7months+):

Chop the potato into small bits. Wash thoroughly and put in a pot to boil. Add the washed peas and cook till it’s done. Blend the mixture when cooled, and add milk.

6. Chicken Rice Recipe (6 months+):

Cook chicken breast with onion and salt (salt for babies over 1 year). Cook halfway, add the washed rice, cook till it’s done, and serve. Blend the mixture for babies below 10 months.

7. Rice + apple (6 months+)

Peel, wash, and grate the apple. Then wash the rice thoroughly and put it in a pot; add water and a half teaspoon of butter; cook for 5 minutes; add the grated apple; and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Mash and serve with milk. You can blend it if your baby is under 10 months old.

8.Chicken thigh+maize+pear+carrot:

Cook chicken thigh and sweet corn together for 15 minutes, then add chopped English pear🍐 and carrot, blen,l and serve.

9. Irish potato, green peas, and English pear:

Cook all ingredients together; when cooled, Blend all and serve.

10. Plantains + 2 dates (soft) + 4 cashew nuts (8 months+):

Blend all three together (Raw plantains with soft dates and cashews) with water. Transfer the blended mixture to a cooking pan and stir continuously for 5-7 minutes. Then serve with milk.

Soften the dates by putting them in a bowl of hot water for 15–20 minutes.

Plantain is mostly ripe or half-ripe.

11. Broccoli chicken rice recipe (8+)

Chop broccoli and chicken breast into bits, blend raw rice into a fine powder, put in a pot, and add warm water. Stir to avoid lumps, add broccoli and chicken with a little ginger and garlic (optional), and cook for 10–15 minutes. Blend the mixture and serve.

12 potatoes and carrot puree (7+)

Wash both thoroughly. Steam and blend to the desired texture. You can add milk to it.

13. Beans and Cauliflower Recipe (8 months+):

Chop cauliflower into bits and wash thoroughly. Cook your beans half way and add the chopped cauliflower. Add a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook it till it’s done. Mash and blend to the desired texture.

14. Carrot, plantain, and egg (6 months+):

Cook plantains and carrots till they're soft. Put it in a blender. Add the cooked egg yolk and blend. Serve with milk.

15. Oats and egg breakfast (6 months+):

Blend boiled eggs with milk formula. Set aside. Blend oats to a fine powder, then put on fire with water, stir to remove lumps, then add the egg mixture to it and stir till it thickens. Remove from the fire and add milk and date syrup (optional).

16. Oats, apple, carrot, plain yogurt, or milk formula (6 months+):

Steam the carrot and apple for 3-5 minutes and blend. Blend your oats to a fine powder and put on fire. Add water and stir to remove lumps. Add the blended carrot and apple mixture to the oats. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove from fire and add plain yogurt or milk formula.

17. Oats, carrots, and milk (6 months+):

Steam the carrot till it’s soft, then blend it till it’s smooth. Blend oats to a fine powder, then put them in a cooking pan and stir to remove lumps. Add the carrot paste and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add milk and serve.

18.Potato+carrot+chicken(8months+):

Put chopped potatoes, carrots, and chicken breast in a pot and cook till it’s done. Then blend the mixture to form a paste and serve. You can add milk if you wish.

19. Egg potato recipe (6 months+):

Wash the potato and boil it till it’s soft. Boil the egg and scoop out the yolk, then mash the egg yolk and potatoes together or blend... Add milk and serve.

This recipe is one of my son’s favorites (it aids in weight gain).

20. Egg Rice Recipe (7 months+):

Blend raw rice coarsely or half way... Wash and put on fire with water. Take a raw egg and remove the yolk. Add the yolk to the rice on fire and stir to remove lumps. Cook for 15 minutes, add milk, and serve.

21. Mango oats recipe (8+):

Put oats in a pot containing water, stir continuously to avoid lumps, add a teaspoon of butter, and stir... Add milk formula to loosen it as it thickens. Serve on a plate. Chop mangoes into pieces and mash or blend till you get a creamy texture. Add the oats and stir. The meal is ready!

22. Rice and mango recipe (8+):

Pour blended rice (rice powder) in a pot of water and cook for 10–15 minutes. Add more water as it thickens. Scoop half a mango onto a plate and mash. Blend both rice and mango together and serve.

23. Mango date recipe (8+):

Remove the seeds from the dates and soak them for 1 hour with hot water. Transfer the chopped mangoes to a blender. Add the soaked dates and blend them together.

24. Semolina egg baby food (8+):

Break the egg on a plate and stir. Set aside. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to a cooking pan, add semolina, and fry for 2 minutes. Then add water. Stir continuously. Add the egg. Stir for 2 minutes, and then add milk formula. Cook for another 3–5 minutes. Once cooked, allow it to Cool and serve. You can add sugar for babies over 1 year.

25. Oats and peanut butter/groundnut paste recipe (10+):

Add a half teaspoon of unsalted butter to a pot; when it melts, add grated carrot (1 carrot) and stir fry, then Add milk formula and oats; stir continuously; you can add water to loosen the thickness; then add a little peanut butter or groundnut paste; stir for 2-3 minutes; and serve.

26. Potato Beef Recipe (7+):

Peel and chop the Irish potato into bits. Wash and put aside. Put a teaspoon of olive oil in a cooking pan, add a little ginger and garlic paste, stir, then add minced beef and stir fry for 3 minutes. Add the potato and water and cook till the potato softens. mash and serve

*If your baby is older than a year, you can add salt.

27.Apple+oats recipe:

Peel off the skin of your apple and grate it. Put oat powder in a pot. Add some milk and stir. Add grated apple and cook for 5 minutes. You can add more milk to loosen it. Serve on a plate. You can add dates to the syrup. The meal is ready.

28. Chicken recipe for babies (6+):

Chop half a bulb of white onions and set aside. Scrape carrots and slice them into tiny pieces. put a pan on fire. Add oil, then the onions and chicken breast. Cook for 3 minutes. Add sweet corn, carrots, and green peas. stir continuously. Add water and cook for 25–30 minutes. When cooled, Blend the mixture and serve.

29. Oats and banana porridge (7+):

Put oat powder in a pot with water and stir to remove lumps. Add milk formula and stir for 5 minutes. When it’s cooked, Put it on a plate. Mash bananas on a different plate and then mix them together. You can add date syrup and more milk.

30. Beans and sweet corn puree:

Peel the back of the beans (either brown or black-eyed), wash, and put them in a pot to boil. Add water, a little onion, and ground fish (make sure there are no bones). When it’s soft, add the sweet corn and red oil. Simmer for a few minutes and bring to a boil. When cooled, put it in a blender and blend to the desired texture. Then serve your baby.

31. Baby’s Pap & Egg Custard

*Ingredients:

1 egg yolk

34 to 1 cup milk

1-2 teaspoons of dry pap powder

a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg

Put all the ingredients into a bowl and mix together using a whisk.

Put it in a pot on medium heat and stir while cooking until it solidifies into a smooth custard.

Remove from heat and sweeten with fruit or date syrup, if desired.

32. Baby’s Nuts and Dates Oatmeal Recipe

*Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons of oat powder

4-6 pcs. cashew nuts

2 pitted dates,

1 teaspoon of peanut butter

Dissolve oats with a little cold water or milk first, then pour into a pot of about 1 cup hot water to cook.

Add the cashew nuts and dates, then cook for about 2–3 minutes.

Add the peanut butter, simmer, and serve.

33. Tasty Nigerian Yam and Pea Puree Recipe

*Ingredients:

Small slice of yam

A handful of peas

12 of a medium pear (peeled),

Water

Cut the yam and put it in a pot of just enough water to cook it. Bring to a boil until the yam is soft.

Chop the pear and add it to the pot to cook for about 3 minutes.

Add the peas last, simmer for a minute, and bring down.

Put everything in a blender and puree until smooth. Add cold water or milk to get a lighter consistency.

*Mash for older babies instead of blending so that they can chew.

34. Apple, beans, and potato:

*Ingredients:

1 small potato

½ apple

2 teaspoons of bean powder

1 teaspoon of oil

Wash, peel, and dice the potato and apple.

Cook the potatoes first for about 2–3 minutes with a cup of water.

Mix beans in a bowl with cold water to get a smooth mix. This helps it not form lumps when cooking.

Add the apple and the beans, then cook for 4-6 minutes or till the apple softens, stirring continuously.

Use a fork and gently mash some of the apple and potato. Simmer, bring down, and serve.

35. Plantain apple peas recipe:

Cut unripe plantains into cubes and put them on fire. After some minutes, add the chopped apple and peas to the pot and cook for another 5 minutes. Blend all together and serve.

36. Baby Rice Pudding Recipe

*Ingredients:

14 cup rice or already cooked

12 cups of milk or powdered milk dissolved in water plus a little more kept aside

14 tsp. vanilla flavors You can use other spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg.

A small knob of butter

Water.

If using raw rice, wash it and cook it in water till it is softened. If using already cooked rice, add a little water to heat it up and allow it to soften more.

Once softened, add the milk, butter, and vanilla flavor and cook for a further 2–3 minutes. Do not cover the pot, or it will overboil.

Remove from heat and, using a hand blender, purée the rice to the desired creamy or chunky consistency for your baby.

**I prefer using a hand blender and blending in the pot used in making it to avoid contamination and the mess of scooping in and out of a jug blender.

37. Chicken and Ugu Rice Recipe

*Ingredients:

12 cups cooked rice, cooked chicken (shredded well)

A little grated onion and garlic

A handful of ugu leaves (or any other green vegetable)

A tablespoon of oil

Add oil to a pan, then stir-fry the onion and garlic for a few seconds.

Add the rice and shredded chicken to cook and soften more.

Mash it up well as it simmers; add some more water or milk if needed.

Stir in the ugu or other green vegetable. Simmer for a few seconds and bring it down in order to retain the nutrients.

38.Pap Powder Pancake Recipe

*Ingredients:

3–4 tbsp. Dry Pap Powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon spice (nutmeg or cinnamon)

Sugar to taste or dry date powder

1 cup milk (you can mix powdered milk in water)

1-2 eggs

3–4 tbsp. oil or butter, Oil for brushing

Mix the dry ingredients (paprika powder, baking powder, spice, and sugar) together in a bowl.

Mix the wet ingredients (milk, eggs, and oil) in a separate bowl.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix together.

Brush oil in a pan and scoop pancakes in batches to cook on low-medium heat.

Flip to cook the other side.

39. Homemade Baby Brown Rice Cereal Recipe

*Ingredients:

3 tbsp. ground brown rice

15 tbsp. water

Breast or formula milk.

Put the water in a pot and bring it to a boil.

Add the rice powder, stirring constantly on low heat to avoid clumping and sticking to the pot. Simmer for about 8–10 minutes, then bring to a boil.

Add the breast or formula milk until you get the consistency your baby prefers. Preferably, introduce a lighter texture first before making it thicker.

40. Simple Mango Sauce Recipe

*Ingredients:

1 overripe mango

1-2 medium tomatoes

1 small onion

2 tsp curry powder

1 seasoning cube

1 cooking spoon of vegetable oil

Salt and pepper to taste Water or stock

Chop onions and tomatoes into small pieces, or alternatively, blend with a blender if you prefer a smooth one.

Cut the mango, scrape, and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash with a fork and set aside.

Pour oil into a pot, and once heated, fry the onions until tender, then add the tomatoes. If blended together, then just pour your blend into the oil and fry.

After a minute or two, add the curry powder, seasoning cube, and pepper (if using). Stir and simmer, adding a little scoop of water to prevent it from drying.

Add the mashed mango, stir, and check for taste. Remove from heat after a minute.

Serve with yam, rice, potatoes, or any food of choice.

Make this yummier with added protein like diced chicken breast, fish, or prawns.

41. Beef Puree Recipe

*Ingredients:

Fresh, clean chunks of red meat,

Vegetable or Olive Oil

Thyme

Onion

Water

Put oil in a pot, and once heated, fry the garlic, onions, and thyme.

Add the beef and allow it to brown a bit before adding water, enough to cook it.

Cook beef till soft, transfer to a blender, and puree until smooth.

42. Pear and Oat Creamy Porridge Recipe

*Ingredients:

12 cups porridge oats

1 big or 2 small pears

12 cups of coconut milk (about a small tin of 160 ml)

34 cup water

14 tsp grated nutmeg (or 1-2 finger pinches),

14 tsp. ground cloves (optional)

Pinch of salt

Peel the back of the pears if you want, cut into halves and remove the stalk in the middle, chop into small cubes, and put in a pot.

Add the water to a pot and bring it to a boil.

Add the oats, reduce to medium heat, and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring while it boils.

Slowly add the coconut milk, salt, and spices while stirring till you get the consistency you want. Cook for a further 2–3 minutes while stirring.

Remove from heat and serve.

*If making for babies, then puree to a smooth consistency, or you can use ground oats and pear puree, which you will add at the end of your cooking.

43: Fruity Veggie Chicken Puree

*Ingredients:

Small piece of Chicken Breast (You can cut out meat from chicken legs or wings.)

1 medium Carrot

1 small, ripe Mango or a slice of one big mango

1 small Onion

1 clove Garlic

A little thyme for seasoning

1/2 cup of water

Scrape the carrot, wash it, and cut it into small chunks.

chicken into chunks and cook with carrots and seasonings. Add 1/2 cup of water to cook, and add more water in little bits until the chicken is cooked. It wouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to cook, and you don’t want a lot of stock left.

Once done, remove the chicken and carrots, then strain out the stock into another bowl.

Cut out the mango flesh and add it to the chicken and carrot.

Pour all in a blender with a little of the stock added, and blend to desired consistency. Add more stock if you want it lighter, and serve.

44. Green bean puree with chicken

*Ingredients:

8–12 stalks of fresh green beans

2–5 pieces of small diced chicken breast

1 small chopped onion

1 clove of chopped garlic

12 small chopped tomatoes

1 tsp oil

1 tbsp couscous or rice

Water for cooking

Make couscous or rice in a bowl by pouring boiling water on it; cover and allow to soak well for about 3-5 minutes, or boil rice until done. Set aside.

Place chicken breasts in a pot. Add the onion, garlic, tomato, oil, and 1 cup of water, then cook for about 10–15 minutes until the chicken is cooked.

Cut the tips and ends of the green beans, wash, and chop into pieces. Add to the chicken and allow to cook for a further 2–3 minutes.

Remove from heat and puree with a hand blender with the couscous or rice until smooth.

45. Yummy Peas and Plantain Recipe

*Ingredients:

12 ripe Plantains

1 cup of peas

a knob of Butter or a teaspoon of palm oil.

Boil plantains with the back on till soft. Leaving the back on while cooking helps retain more nutrients.

the peas with a little water for about 2 minutes.

Mash the peas in a bowl first, then add the plantains and mash, leaving small lumps.

Add the butter or oil, mix, and serve.

46. Carrot and Pea Mashed Potato Recipe

*Ingredients:

4 small Irish potatoes

1 medium carrot,

12 cup peas

14 cup milk

1 tsp. butter

1 clove of garlic

1–2 cups of water

Cut potatoes and carrots into small chunks, wash, and put in a pot. Add one cup of water to the pot with crushed garlic and bring to a boil. Allow to cook till carrots and potatoes are tender.

Add the peas and allow them to cook for about a minute, then remove from the heat and drain off the remaining water in the pot.

Using a masher, mash the potatoes, carrots, and peas. Add the butter and slowly add the milk to get the desired consistency your baby will like.

Serve with mashed sardines for added calcium and protein.

47. Baby Beans and Potato Mash Recipe

*Ingredients:

12 cups cooked beans (you can use peeled beans to make it more digestible and possibly reduce gas).

1 small potato (cut into pieces)

14 small onions (minced or chopped thinly)

2 tsp. crayfish

1 tsp ground fish

1 tbsp. palm oil

Small piece of sardine (optional)

Water for cooking

Put the cooked beans in a pot with the diced potato, onions, and a half cup of water to cook.

Add water in bits, if necessary, until the potatoes are soft. Drain the little water that may be left and keep it aside.

Heat the oil in a small pot, and once hot, add the ground crayfish and ground fish. Stir to combine and cook for less than a minute until fragrant.

Mash the beans, potatoes, and sardines with a fork. Stir into the palm oil sauce and combine well.

Add the drained water that was kept aside to get the consistency you want for your child, and serve.

48. Fish and Pumpkin Creamy Spaghetti

*Ingredients:

Pasta of any kind

Mackerel Fish (cooked or grilled and very well deboned)

A little chopped onion

Whole Milk (mix the powdered one in water according to the packet instructions)

A few leaves of pumpkin (substitute with green or spinach)

1 teaspoon of vegetable or olive oil

Water for cooking

Cook spaghetti in boiling water till soft. Drain and set aside.

If your fish is uncooked, then put it in a pot with onions and garlic to cook for about 10–15 minutes. Allow it to cool before removing the bones.

Put a clean, dry pot on medium heat with the oil. Add the chopped onions and fry for a while. Add a tablespoon of water and the fish, then allow to simmer for about a minute or until the water is about to dry up.

Pour the milk into the pot and add the pasta. Allow to boil, then add the ugu leaves and simmer for a minute before bringing down.

Use a hand blender and purée to a chunky consistency before serving the baby.

49. Avocado Rice Recipe

*Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups rice

1 small tin of coconut milk

Chicken or Beef Stock for cooking

1 Seasoning cube or powder

1 small avocado

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon or lime

Parboil rice, wash, and drain. Set a pot on fire, adding your stock to the pot. Remember to strain the stock first to remove food particles, so it will be clear.

Once the stock boils, add the coconut water and seasonings, check for taste, and then add the rice to cook till done.

Cut and scoop out some avocado into a bowl, and mash well with a small squeeze of lemon or lime. It helps the avocado retain its color. Scoop some rice and mix it into the avocado. Serve plain if you like, as the rice is already tasty, or with stew.

50. Carrot Liver and Sweet Potato Puree Recipe

*Ingredients:

1-2 small-medium sweet potatoes

1 small onion (chopped)

1 medium carrot

A chunk of cow liver

1 tbsp. ground crayfish

2 tsp. red or vegetable oil

1 cup of water (plus more)

Peel potatoes and cut into small chunks. Do the same with the carrots.

Wash and cut the liver and put it in a pot. Add the potatoes, carrots, and other ingredients to the pot.

Simmer for about 20 minutes till all are cooked. Pour into a blender and puree or otherwise mash it up for bigger babies.

Steamed Egg with Sweetcorn and Peas Recipe

*Ingredients:

You will need small bpa-free plastic plates with covers, ceramic, silicone, or foil plates—anything you can make moimoi with.

2 eggs

A handful of sweetcorn and peas

A pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Seasoning of choice: thyme, ginger, cloves, scent leaves, nutmeg, etc. (optional)

Crack eggs into a bowl, add salt, pepper, and seasonings, then beat together. Meanwhile, oil the plates well to ensure that the eggs come out without sticking once done.

Fold in the vegetables, pour into the plastic plates, and cover.

Place in a pan of boiling water and steam for 15–20 minutes, or till the eggs are done.

Serve warm or cold, alone or with their favorite drink, porridge, or pap. You can equally make it a side dish to their main meal, like rice.

52. Yam, Sweet Potato, and Chicken Combo Recipe

*Ingredients:

14 of a slice or small slice of yam (cut into small cubes)

Equal size of sweet potato (cut into small cubes)

Shredded Chicken (about a handful)

1 small tomato (chopped into small cubes)

1 small onion (finely sliced)

1 medium carrot (cut into small cubes)

4 stalks of green beans (finely sliced)

1 clove of garlic (crushed or chopped finely)

1 tsp. thyme

1 tbsp. Vegetable oil

Chicken stock for cooking

A little pinch of salt or seasoning cube

Place all the ingredients except the green beans in a pot and put it on fire. Cook for about 20–25 minutes, or till the yam and potatoes are softened enough for the baby to chew.

Add the green beans and simmer for about 2 minutes. Ensure there is enough stock in the pot and add more if needed.

Put down and serve or purée in a hand blender.

53.Fruity Soya Porridge Recipe

*Ingredients:

1/3 cup ground porridge oats (e.g., Quaker Oats)

180 ml water + some extra (you can use milk if you want)

2 tbsp soyabean powder

2 tablespoons of fruit puree of your choice

Boil water and cook oats accordingly for about 2 minutes or until done.

Stir in the soybean powder and fruit puree. Add water if too thick or according to the baby’s desired consistency. Serve warm.

*Avocado recipes

Here are some recipe ideas you can try for your baby or toddler:

Creamy Avocado [6+ months]:

large or 1 small avocado and a little breast milk or baby formula

Peel the avocado and scoop out the flesh. Purée in a blender with the milk, and serve.

Avocado & Banana [6+ months]

1 small avocado, 1 small banana

Peel both fruits, blend or mash with a fork, and serve.

Avocado and Banana Delight; Porridge Oats or Pap

Make porridge or pap to a thick consistency. Mix in the puréed fruits and serve.

Vegetable Chicken & Avocado Puree [6+ months]

Chicken breast; 12 or small whole avocados; 1 small onion; 1 tsp vegetable oil; a small bunch of ugu, spinach, or green vegetables
Cook chicken breast with onions till done, leaving a little stock. Add oil to a pot and cook with the vegetables. Purée chicken and vegetables with avocado and serve.

Yolky Avocado Mash [6+ months]

small avocado; 1 boiled egg yolk; breast milk or baby milk

Mash avocado and egg together. Add milk if you want it creamier. You can also use the whole egg, so long as your baby has no allergies.

➡️ Delicious Fruity Yogurt (7+)

Small Banana; 14 avocado; 12 pear (cooked); 14 slice mango; 2 tbsp plain yogurt; 1 tsp honey (for babies older than one year)

Blend all the fruits together with the yogurt and honey. Scoop into small yogurt cups to serve.
Avocado + Sweet Potato:
Cook the sweet potato till it’s soft.
Wash and Mash avocado to a creamy texture.
Mix both together and blend. You can add milk after blending and serve your baby.
Rice, Banana, and Avocado:
Wash and Boil rice till it softens.
Mash the avocado and banana separately on a plate.
Put all in a blender and blend to a creamy texture. You can serve it with milk.

✔️ Other Potato recipes (Sweet or Irish potato);
Potato, melted butter, and milk
Potato, egg, and avocado
Potato, carrot, chicken, and peas
Potato + Apple +Avocado
Potato, broccoli, and Chicken
↪️ Potato, Carrot, and Apple
Potato + Sweet Corn
Other baby fruit and vegetable purees:
Banana, Strawberries, Yogurt, and Apple
Banana, yogurt, and Blueberries
Apple + Banana + Cooked + Yoghurt
Ripe plantains + Milk
Rice, Potato, and Milk
Potato, banana, and yogurt
Rice + Potato + Carrot
Kiwi + Banana
Potatoes, apples, and fresh tomatoes
Rice, almond, and Apple
Plantains, Carrots, and Dates
↪️Beetroot+ Potato
Apple, banana, and plain yogurt
Carrot, almond, and Dates

Foods TO Avoid Giving Your Baby
Once a baby turns six months old, it’s time to start trying solid foods, ranging from purees to mashes to soft-boiled finger foods. There are, however, some foods that we should avoid introducing to babies until after they turn one year old or more. This is because they either pose a health or choking hazard to babies.
Salty foods
This is not good for their kidneys, so too much salt should not be added to your baby’s food. If you are cooking for the whole family and plan to give your baby part of it, then it is worth scooping out the baby’s portion before adding salt. Stock and seasoning cubes contain a high number of salts and should be avoided too. It will be better to avoid it until after 12 months. You can use natural herbs and spices in baby’s food like nutmeg, dawadawa, okpeiscent leaf (nchuanwu/effirin), cinnamon, etc.

Honey
Some bacteria in honey can trigger some toxins that cause an illness called ‘infant botulism, which can be serious for your baby. This sickness may cause your baby to have constipation, a poor appetite, weakened sucking, and dehydration. Don’t be tempted to even use honey as a cough syrup until your baby is one year old.
Whole Nuts
Whole groundnuts or other types of nuts should not be given to your baby, as they can choke on them, which could be very dangerous or fatal. However, you can give your baby groundnuts or other nuts that are crushed or blended well, like peanut butter, as long as there is no history of allergies or eczema in your family.

Sugar and Fizzy Drinks
This includes sugary snacks and drinks too, like fruit juices, as they help trigger tooth decay. Instead of pure sugar, why not use fruits like banana and mango to sweeten your baby’s pap or cereal?

Raw and Undercooked Eggs
I am sure this cannot be an issue because we Nigerians are used to cooking our foods until they are done, eggs included. But it is worth mentioning that whole eggs can be given to your baby as early as six months just make surehey are cooked well whit and yolk are solid.

Cow Milk
Infant formula is the only suitable alternative to breast milk for babies under one year. The cow milk (powdered or liquid) that we take should not be used to replace infant formula or breast milk because it does not contain the nutritional components to sustain a growing baby. It is also difficult for babies to digest the proteins in it. Yogurts can, however, be offered to babies as they are cultured and more digestible. Choose natural yogurt and sweeten it with fruits like this.

Tea or Coffee
Tannin and caffeine, which are found in these two, are not suitable for babies and even children as they can inhibit their absorption of nutrients from the food they eat.


Low-fat foods
In this era of #fitfam, you may be tempted to give your baby low-fat foods that you have made for yourself. No, because fat is an important source of calories for babies until at least 2 years of age. They should generally get half of their daily calories from fat for the normal development of their body and brain.

Choking Hazards
There are foods that pose a choking hazard for babies, despite some of them being good for them. Just like whole nuts, foods that cannot dissolve or be easily mashed with baby’s gum and that they can easily suck into their windpipes should be avoided. Whole peas, raw carrots, hard apples or pears, grapes, popcorn, and chunks of beef or chicken should all be avoided unless they are mashed or pureed to make it easier for their gums.


I hope that the recipes and information will make the feeding journey for your little and big kids a lot more enjoyable.
Your comments and feedback on any of my recipes or topics will be much appreciated. If you’ve got any questions or tips about a recipe, then a comment under that recipe would definitely get my attention.