At almost eighteen months old, my daughter is still a fan of the homemade mashed baby food that I started making her when she first started eating solids at six months old. She can and does eat other solid foods such as Goldfish crackers, cheese, beans, and fruit and veggie slices. However, for one or two meals a day, I feed her homemade baby food. She likes the flavor and texture. I like that I can ensure that she gets all the nutrients she needs to keep her growing body healthy. One of my most recent homemade baby foods was peas and green beans.
Peas are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. The green vegetables is also a good source of protein, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, phosphorus, and copper and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, and manganese. Green beans are low in sodium and very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The green vegetable is also a good source of protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and copper and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and manganese. Peas and green beans taste good together.
To make my peas and green beans baby food, I started by washing some organic peas and green beans that I had purchased from my local Fresh Market. I left the peas whole but snapped off the ends of the green beans. I then placed the washed veggies in a microwave safe bowl with a little extra water for cooking. I then cooked the peas and green beans in the microwave for twenty minutes, checking on the progress after ten minutes.
Once the peas and green beans were cooked, I allowed the veggies to cool a bit. I then transferred the cooked food into my baby food processor and added a little more water. I then blended the peas and green beans into the consistency that my daughter prefers. I finally spooned the baby food into ice cube trays and froze the pea and green bean mixture. Once the food froze, I transferred the cubes into freezer bags for easier storage. As my daughter needs meals, I just thaw out the number of homemade baby food cubes that she usually eats.
Does your child like peas and green beans? What kind of baby food do you serve your child?
Image Credits
Green Beans and Peas © 2013 Heather Johnson
Washed Raw Green Beans and Peas © 2013 Heather Johnson
Cooked Green Beans and Peas © 2013 Heather Johnson
Mashing the Green Beans and Peas © 2013 Heather Johnson
Peas and Green Beans Baby Food Cubes © 2013 Heather Johnson