Moms and Baby Zone

Having a significant nutritious value, carrots are definitely a must in your diet. Because they are sweeter and easier to work with than full-grown carrots, baby carrots are the perfect choice for your family. Using them for cooking or just for a fun snack, they are healthier than many other delicious but dangerous treats. On the following, you will find some useful hints about homemade carrot baby food.

There are plenty of carrot baby food combinations but to make it easier for you, we selected three easy recipes for the whole family:

[su_highlight background=”#eef7db”]1.How to Make Carrot Puree for Babies[/su_highlight]

Procedure:

For this basic puree, you can use any amount of fresh baby carrots you desire and suits your baby.

-> First you have to wash, peel and dice the carrots into small pieces.

->Place the carrots into a steamer set over boiling water and cook them until tender (about 15-20 minutes).

->Drain the carrots and rinse them with cold water for a few minutes so you can stop the cooking process.

->Puree the cooked carrots using a blender and add water or some of the cooking liquid to achieve desired consistency.

The amount of liquid you add depends on your baby’s preferences.

[su_highlight background=”#eef7db”]2. Roasted Baby Carrots with Ginger and Honey[/su_highlight]

This is a simple and tasty dish that will be ready in 55 minutes. You will need honey roasted carrots :

Ingredients:

-> 2 lbs baby carrots (cut 1 inch x 1/4 inch)

-> 1/4 cup butter

-> 1/4 cup honey

-> 1/2 tbsp ginger (crushed)

-> 1 tbsp lemon juice

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet or cast iron pan and pour in the carrots. Melt the butter in a bowl and stir in the honey, ginger and lemon juice. Pour the sauce that you obtained over carrots and stir to mix them together. Roast for 40-50 minutes until tender and golden brown. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.

[su_highlight background=”#eef7db”]3. Honey Glazed Baby Carrots with Parsnip[/su_highlight]

 

Ingredients:

-> 2 pounds carrots (1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter)

-> peeled, halved lengthwise

-> 2 pounds parsnips (1 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter)

-> peeled, halved lengthwise; 6 tablespoons olive oil

-> 1 1/2 tablespoons butter

-> 1 1/2 tablespoons honey

-> 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar.

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil and divide the carrots and the parsnips between prepared sheets. Sprinkle with the salt and the pepper then add 3 tablespoons of oil over the vegetables on each sheet. Roast the vegetables 20 minutes stirring after the first 10 minutes and reverse sheets. Continue to roast until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes longer. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in honey and vinegar. Drizzle the honey glaze over vegetables and serve. I am sure you will enjoy this delicious and easy to cook recipe.

[su_highlight background=”#eef7db”]Many People Are Wondering If We Can Freeze Baby Carrots.[/su_highlight]

The answer is yes, we can. Here is the best way on how to freeze carrots for baby carrot food. Before you put them in the freezer, you have to plunge them into boiling water for 2 minutes and chill them quickly in ice-cold water. Drain off excess moisture, package in freezer bags or airtight containers, and freeze immediately. If they will be properly restored, baby carrots will maintain the best quality for about 12 to 18 months. If mold appears or they have a bad appearance or smell, discard the baby carrots.

After I mentioned that raw carrots have a lot of vitamins and nutrients you may ask yourself, what about the cooked carrots nutrition? Maybe you will be surprised to find out that cooked carrots are more nutritious than the raw ones. The vitamin content of vegetables is reduced after cooking them, especially after boiling. But carotenoids such as beta-carotene in carrots are more available when vegetables are cooked or processed. These processes help them release the carotenoids which are bound to the “heart” cell of the vegetables.

There are 82 calories in 1 cup of sliced cooked carrots, Vitamin A 504%, Vitamin C 9%, Calcium 4%, Iron 3%.

All these being said, I hope you feel more confident and you learned something new about carrot baby food. You don’t have to think twice before choosing this delicious and essential vegetable as part of your alimentation. I am sure your family will be thankful for the new recipes that you will try for them. You can never fail with the 3 easy recipes above and now you know more about how to make carrot baby food. Just enjoy it and you will have a lot of fun.

When you are a mom of one-and-a-half- to two-year-olds you have to pay more attention to their food and nutrition, offering the right kind of nutrients will help the power your child’s growth and development. With a little planning, you can ensure that your child is getting healthy and the best breakfast on a regular basis.

The bellow healthy baby breakfast recipes will help to provide your child’s a well-balanced diet and a happy breakfast.

[su_box title=”1. Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″ title_color=”#0b0c0b”]

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Required Ingredients:

• Wheat sandwich bread – 3 pieces
• Apple – 1 ( cut into long, thin sticks)
• Peanut butter
• Cinnamon -1/4 teaspoons

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Preparation:

• Cut all edges of each bread slice, make it thin as possible with a rolling pin.
• Place Peanut butter on the bread slice and spread it.
• Then add the sliced apple in two columns with a little cinnamon.
• Complete rolling the bread and finally cut into 3-4 pieces as you like.
• Serve

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[su_box title=”2. Brainy Breakfast” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″ title_color=”#0b0c0b”]

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Required Ingredients:

• Greek yogurt – 1 cup
• Honey – 1 tablespoon
• 1 small apple, cored and chopped
• Mixed berries – 1/2 cup
• Chopped walnuts – 2 tablespoons
• Flax seeds (ground or whole) -2 tablespoons
• Ground cinnamon -1/2 teaspoon

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Preparation:

• Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
• Now ready to serve

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[su_box title=”3. Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″ title_color=”#0b0c0b”]

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Required Ingredients:

• Bread slice – 4
• Cheeses cream – 2 tablespoons
• Grated cucumber – 1 tablespoon
• Grated carrot – 1 tablespoon
• Grated ginger – ¼ tablespoon (as my 2 years baby does not refuse it –2 Years Old Baby Food Menu )
• Salt to taste
• Chopped coriander leaves – 1 tablespoon

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Preparation:

•  Remove excess water from grated cucumber using a tissue. Then add all ingredients (without bread) in a mixing bowl and mixed them properly.
• Take around 1 tablespoon of the cheese, mix on 1 bread slice, spread them properly.
• Close with another slice of bread.
• Finally, trim the edges of the bread, cut diagonally, and serve.

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[su_box title=”4.Green Veggie Pancakes” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″ title_color=”#0b0c0b”]

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Required Ingredients:

• Zucchini, broccoli/cauliflower -1 cup
• Flour- 1/4 cup
• Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
• Egg – 1
• Dry basil – 1/2 teaspoon
• Garlic powder – 1/4 teaspoon
• Oil

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Preparation:

•  Chop the vegetables properly.
• Add the chopped vegetables into a mixing bowl and mix with the flour, salt, egg, basil, garlic powder.
• Place 1 tbsp of the oil into the pan, remain it in medium heat. And make pancakes one by one.
• Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side.
• Finally, serve with marinara sauce.

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[su_box title=”5. Overnight Oatmeal With Greek Yogurt and Fruit” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″ title_color=”#0b0c0b”]

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Required Ingredients:

• Oats ( instant or old fashioned ) – 1 cup
• Plain greek yogurt -1 cup
• Milk – ½ cup
• Almond milk – 2 tablespoons
• Fresh or frozen berries – ½ cup
• Honey – 3 tablespoons
• Optional add-ins – chopped nuts and dried fruit.

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Preparation:

•  Take a mixing bowl, add all ingredients (milk, yogurt, oats, honey, and berries ) and stir them properly.
• Pour the mixer in a Mason jar.
• Cover the jar tightly ( Mason Jars available here) and refrigerate it for a minimum of 6 hrs to overnight.
• In the morning, open jar and ready for breakfast (to reduce more cold keep in room temperature for 15 -20 minutes)
• Take amazing taste !!!

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You may also try this food at another mealtime.

After you prepare homemade baby food, you wonder how to freeze it. Preparing your homemade baby food into little-frozen cubes needs safety steps. It is important to follow food hygiene because the baby is more sensitive to have food poison. Nonetheless, you can’t avoid freezing your baby food as this can a later date.

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You may wonder if it has the second side effect or will trouble your baby’s health. The bacteria won’t be killed during the freezing process. You may wonder how to thaw frozen baby food and how to store frozen baby food. To help you taking care of baby’s food and to ensure the safety of this food, you should follow some steps. This article will help you to thaw homemade frozen baby food and to give some tips to store them safely. 

Best Way to Thaw Frozen Baby Food :

1. Thaw Frozen Baby Food Using Water:

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As already mentioned above, it is important to make your baby homemade food. Mind that preserving the taste and the texture of the nutrients is so important.

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• To thaw frozen baby food, place them into your baby plate, and put those in the refrigerator overnight.
• Secondly, you can put the frozen bags in warm water.
• For example, you can prepare a bowl of warm water and then you put the frozen bag. You can replace the water if it is getting cold. Once it is getting defrosted, cut the food into bowls, and continue to refrigerate.

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2. Thaw Frozen Baby Food Using Microwave Method?

Here are other methods that will help to thaw frozen homemade baby food. All parents should consider the importance of their babies’ health. You can defrost the food by using the microwave method.

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• The first step that you should follow is to place your frozen food into a microwave dish.

• Note that, the dish must have been cleaned. Then, you cook it by using the defrost setting on the microwave.

• Don’t stop rotating the puree till it is becoming totally smooth.

• Once you see that it is ready, serve it to your baby.

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You should consider when you use a microwave to thaw your frozen baby food:

Caution of using the microwave –

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• The food container must be safe and should be used in the microwave.

• Avoid plastic containers as they can produce harmful chemicals in baby food. There are some plastics that can resist to the microwave. You should always check if this plastic has any direct contact with the food.

• Also, avoid using the aluminum container in the microwave.

• Apart from these, make sure that your microwave temperature is lower than 165-degree Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to observe the baby food in the microwave for precaution.

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How Long to Freeze Baby Food :

There are some steps that you should follow when you want to store frozen baby food. Before following these steps, you should know the baby food storage. It is important to know the duration of baby food in the freezer and refrigerator.

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• The fruits and vegetables must be only forty-eight hours in the refrigerator.
• However, the meats either white, red should be only twenty-four hours in the refrigerator.
• Besides, frozen baby food is between three and six months. Nonetheless, it is better if you freeze your baby food between one and three months.
• To keep the nutriment’s quality, you ought to freeze three months maximum. However, when you put baby food in cubes in the freezer it is safe to remain it between three and six months. Frozen baby food needs real surveillance

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Benefits for Freezing Homemade Baby Food in Ice Cube:

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• A new mother may wonder why she must use ice cubes when wants to store baby’s food. By using ice cube, you can estimate baby’s amount of food. How many cubes your baby should consume per day. So, using an ice cube will facilitate your task.
• Additionally, it is a good idea if you use freezer bags. It will ensure the date storage and the food’s type. Besides, you will know the duration of the food that has been frozen. Thus, you don’t need to guess what type of food is it. In fact, it will facilitate your daily life. When your food is complete you must freeze it to avoid bacterial contamination.
• Lastly, using an ice cube method allows you to store your homemade baby food. Thus, you don’t need to spend time preparing your baby food. You just take your frozen baby food and thaw it. Instead of preparing food, you can spend your time playing with your baby.

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Best Way to Store Homemade Baby Food:

Parents have to prepare homemade food for their babies as they are tasty and safe. There are various safe ways to store your homemade baby food. Here are some best tips that you should know to store your baby food.

First of all, you must store it in the safest place. Use ice cubes and put them in the refrigerator or use wax papered cookie sheets when you freeze it. By using the ice method, pour your food in a regular ice cube. You can use a spoon. Once it is finished, you can cover it with plastic wrap.

Moreover, you can use a glass baby food jar to store your homemade baby food. Many people freeze their baby food in a glass baby food jar. Although some of us think that using it is harmful to the baby’s health. Mind that today, there are glass jars on the market which are specified to freeze food. They are manufactured for freezing food. Hence when you would like to store your homemade baby food, check if it is good for freezing or not.

Toddlers have different personalities, and those personalities can carry over into food consumption. Some toddlers will eat anything with very little encouragement required, while others will be reluctant to try new foods regardless of how much hope you give. That is just the way it goes, but there are some things you can do about it. In case you have a picky eater on your hands, the best thing you can do is not push too hard. Otherwise, your toddler may resist even further, and you might wind up with a toddler who will not want to try new foods for an even more extended period. That said, what can you do? One thing you can do is try to find healthy foods that the toddler enjoys.  Here are 2 years old baby food menu that has been known to work.

Toddler Food Idea:

String Cheese

String cheese is made up of mozzarella cheese and packaged into strips. The strip of cheese can be broken down further by peeling off a piece of the strip. The slices of cheese you pull off look like a string, hence the name. Many toddlers have been known to enjoy eating string cheese, even the picky eaters. It has something to do with the fact that you can pull the strips of cheese off. The same kids may not eat regular mozzarella cut into pieces.

Yogurt

Another healthy food that some picky eaters enjoy is yogurt. The major yogurt manufacturers have picked up on this and are now packaging yogurt in kids packaging. You can find Scooby-Doo yogurt in most grocery stores with flavors such as strawberry.

Soup

One more somewhat healthy food is soup. It is debatable if one would classify soup as incredibly fit or even food for that matter, but it is better than cookies and crackers. Picky eaters are known to like various types of soups. Give it a try next time your picky eater has a difficult time finding something to eat. You might be surprised.

Meal Plan for Two Years Old:

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a breakfast of an egg or iron-fortified grain for 2-year-old with a half cup of fresh juice. On top of that half, a slice of toast spread with butter and finish with a 3/4 cup of milk.

It sounds as if it is a lot of food, but it is not as the portions are in small quantities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises a lunch as manageable as one slice of whole-wheat bread, half sandwich along with 1 ounce of meat, and a teaspoon full of butter.

Encourage your kid to attempt new meals and extend his tastes, especially when preparing dinner for the whole family. A toddler’s healthy food for dinner comprises starch, e.g., rice, pasta, potato, 2 ounces of meat, veggies, and half a cup of milk not more than 2 percent.

2 Years Old Baby Food Menu:

[su_box title=”Avocado and Banana Mix” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″]

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• Peel and take out the pit of ripe avocado and banana- do not cook.
• Cut meat out and mash with a fork. No need to use a blender as they are nice and soft.
• Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal to thicken up.
• Banana, steamed carrot, turnip, potato, yamRipe pear, peach, melon, plum Cooked squash, hard-cooked egg yolks avoiding the white. Some of these meals could be served uncooked while others are mildly steamed (steaming retains more nutrients) to make them softer for baby.

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[su_box title=”Wheat Fruit Pancakes” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″]

Ingredients:

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• Wheat Flour
• Sugar
• Milk
• Seasonal Fruits
• Butter
• Honey

Procedure:

• Chop the dry fruits into small portions. Mix milk, ragi powder, and sugar in a jar and let it hold for 5-10 minutes.
• Cover the pan with butter and pour half a pat of butter on the pan. Cook it suitably from both the sides. Set it apart to cool it down. Spread it with banana slices and drizzle honey on the pancake.

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[su_box title=”Chapati Roll/Pizza Roll” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″]

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Ingredients

• Mayonnaise
• Chapatti
• Tomato sauce
• Onion
• Tomato
• Boiled potato
• Beans
• Cabbage
• Salt
• Carrot
• Capsicum

Procedure

• Wash, and chop all veggies into tiny portions.
• Sautee the veggies with a little salt in a pan and on another one smear with little ghee.
• Toast chapatti and put on a plate, cover with mayonnaise and on top of it the sautéed veggies and spread a little tomato sauce on it.

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Note: You are recommended to read more about baby breakfast recipes here.

Two Years Old Refuses to Eat:

Food denial is a regular thing to most toddlers goes through. The anxiety of new foods at the age of two might be a mechanism of survival from poisoning themselves. Toddlers for some time may restrict the type of foods they consume. This stage passes typically without any difficulties, but it is more visible in some kids than in other kids. Kids may refuse meals if new to him or her.

They have to taste it a few times to learn and like it. The refusal also occurs when the kid has had enough food. Kids also tend to lose appetite if not feeling well, tired, shouted at, pressured to eat foods they dislike or more food when they have had enough.

[su_box title=”Two year old food menu” style=”soft” box_color=”#FDB402″]

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• Breakfast:

Half- cup full cream milk, oats porridge plus some honey, 40 ml fresh fruit juice.

• Mid-Morning Bite:

Half- cup yogurt, half smashed, ripened banana

• Lunch:

One cooked egg, half slice whole-wheat bread spread with, polyunsaturated margarine, half rasped apple, a half-cup full, cream milk.

• Mid-Afternoon Bite:

Sweet fresh milk or Gouda cheese, half slice whole-wheat bread, with polyunsaturated margarine, 40 ml fruit juice.

• Supper:

Minced meat adequately cooked, mashed potato

• Bed-Time Bite:

A cup full of milk cream with Ovaltine
By the time your kid is two years old, cooking special meals for the kid and nursing during the night days are ordinarily over.

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Incorporating some or all of the recommendations below would not only give your child sweet, diverse meals but guarantee decent weight gain, healthy maturity, and growth.

Milk Cream:

Milk is an excellent essential source of protein and carbs, not to name other essential nutrients completely. Ensure your child takes milk at least two glasses a day, in various forms, e.g., cereals, smoothies or milkshakes. Supplement wholesome cream, prepared from whole milk to your child’s corn or berry salad.

Chicken:

Protein is necessary when it gets to building tissue, and is the sole reason why chicken is an excellent option for skinny kids. Readily convenient and pocket-friendly than other kinds of meat, chicken is so versatile and tasty and can be added to soups, stews, rice. Check out for recipes on the internet and whip up instantaneous chicken-based meals for your child.

Potatoes:

If you’re venturing to obtain weight, the diet must comprise about 40% carbs; there could be no more reliable source of this nutrient than potatoes. Potatoes carry amino acids e,g glutamine, and arginine that make them a healthy weight gaining meals for kids. Ensure to add potato to your child’s everyday foods.

Two Years Baby Weight:

A two-year-old boy weighs an aggregate of 28 pounds or rather about 12.7kgs which according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the kid is in the 50th percentile.

On the other hand, a girl weighs an aggregate of 26.5 pounds (12.02kgs). Whether a two-year-old falls below or above the percentile, he/ she is still considered normal and very healthy.

Final Verdict

This article hopes to provide a brief overview of some of the 2 years old baby food menu, you can try if you have a picket eater on your hands. Some would argue over the health benefits of these foods, but rest assured that these foods are much more healthy for your toddler.