A Family Meal - Teriyaki Salmon with Veggies and Quinoa

I love cooking once and feeding everyone.  Who has time to make 2-3 different dinners?  I just made this the other night and it was a big hit all the way down the line from my husband Alex, to 5 year old Royce, 3 year old Brendan and Miss Hayden who just turned 1.  The beauty of this family meal is that you can take some aside and puree for your baby (10 months and up).  If you have a younger baby (7-9 months), leave out the salmon and puree the asparagus and quinoa.

                                         

This meal looks fancy, but couldn't be easier.  It can be prepared in under 30 minutes and is loaded with nutrients.  The salmon is a wonderful natural source of brain healthy DHA and protein. The quinoa is packed with protein, folate, and complex carbohydrates for energy, while the asparagus provides your family with a good source of vitamin A, vitamin K, fiber, and iron.  If possible, buy wild caught Alaskan salmon, it is the lowest in Mercury.

Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle.

What you'll need:

Serves 2 adults, 2 children and 1 infant

1 lb-1.5 lbs of wild Alaskan salmon with the skin removed, cut into desired size filets.

1/2 cup of teriyaki sauce/marinade

1 bunch of fresh asparagus - washed and trimmed of the rough ends (frozen asparagus is ok too)

1 cup of quinoa - rinse well in a strainer under cold running water (I used tri-color, but you can use any kind of quinoa, substitute brown rice if desired)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

*Pour the teriyaki marinade into a glass, porcelain or stainless steel dish or pan.  Place the salmon into the dish and turn to coat with the marinade.  Cover and put in the refrigerator.  Leave a small portion of the salmon out of the marinade for the baby.

*Pour 2 cups of purified water, low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock into a small/medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil over high heat and add the quinoa.  Cover and let cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is cooked through.  Add extra water or stock while cooking if neccessary.

*Take the salmon out of the refrigerator.  Pour the olive oil into a large skillet and heat over high.  When the skillet is hot, add the salmon filets, reduce heat to medium/medium-high and cook for about 4 minutes on each side.

*While the salmon is cooking, pour purified water into a pot until it is about 1" deep.  Place the asparagus into a steamer basket then place the steamer basket into the pot.  Be sure the water does not touch the asparagus.  Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam for about 5 minutes.

* Serve the salmon filets on a plate with the asparagus and quinoa.  For a baby 10 months a up, place a little of the meal into a food processor and pulse until the desired consistency is achieved.  For a baby 7-9 months, puree the quinoa and asparagus together and serve.

*When stored in an air tight container, this meal will stay fresh in the refirgerator for up to 3 days and up to 3 months in the freezer.

I hope your family enjoys this meal as much as mine!

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Sweet Potato Beets, Stage 3 Meals

I absolutely love the combination of sweet potato and beet. It is easy to prepare, delicious, visually appealing and loaded with nutrients. The sweet potato gives your baby an excellent dose of Vitamin A and antioxidants while the beets provide folate, manganese, fiber, potassium and even more disease-fighting antioxidants. This also makes a fabulous side dish for the rest of your family. All you have to do is blend in extra sweet potato so the mixture is nice and thick like mashed potatoes.

This recipe is suitable for babies 10-12 months and up. Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one she can handle. Before combining foods, be sure your baby has tried each one individually first.

What you'll need:
1 small/medium sweet potato - washed, peeled, chopped
1 medium/large beet - washed, peeled, chopped

*Pour purified water into a pot until it is about 1.5" deep and bring to a boil over high heat.
*Place the sweet potato and beet into a steamer basket and place the basket into the pot.  Make sure the water does not touch the food.  Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid.
*Steam for 10-12 minutes, until the sweet potato and beet are cooked all the way through.
*Place into a food processor with a few tablespoons of purified water, breast milk or formula and pulse until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, place the sweet potato and beets into a large mixing bowl and blend with an immersion blender.
*Serve or store.
*This puree will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer when stored in an airtight container.
*Enjoy!


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Food Allergies & Intolerances, Knowing the Difference - Knowing the Signs

The good news is that the overwhelming majority of children do not have food allergies or intolerances and have a smooth journey into solid food.  However, food allergies can be life threatening, so it is critically important to know the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy as well as what to look for and what to do if your baby has an adverse reaction to a certain food.

Before starting your baby on solids, discuss any family history of allergies or food intolerances with your child’s pediatrician.  It is important to note that your baby can have an allergic reaction to a food even if there is no family history.  Introduce foods one at a time for about 3 days each so if your baby has an adverse reaction, you will know what caused it.  Before combining foods, make sure your baby has tried each one individually.

If you suspect your baby is having an adverse reaction to a certain food, discontinue the food immediately and call your child’s pediatrician

Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is a digestive system issue.  It happens when the digestive system can’t break down the food properly because of a reaction to a naturally occurring chemical in the food, a lack of the proper digestive enzymes or if your baby’s body has an adverse reaction to a certain food additive.   Food intolerances are not life threatening, but they should be brought to your pediatrician’s attention for further guidance.  You will most likely be able to reintroduce the food when your baby is older.  Signs your baby could be suffering from food intolerance:

Irritability

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Gas

Cramps

Bloating

Food Allergy

Food allergies are an immune system issue.  When the immune system reacts negatively to a certain food protein, it produces antibodies called immunoglobulins and an allergic reaction occurs.  Roughly 6% of children in the United States have diagnosed food allergies. 

If your child does have a food allergy, it is very important to advise caregivers, friends, family, daycare and anyone who will be caring for your child.  Be sure they are aware of the allergy and how to handle a reaction should one occur.  If your child would require an EpiPen or Twinject, make sure the caregiver knows how to use it.

An allergic reaction may occur within a few minutes or may take a few hours.  Food allergies can range from mild to very serious, even life threatening.  Signs of a possible food allergy include:

Pale Skin

Loss of Energy

Rash, Hives or Itchy Skin

Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea

Sneezing

Coughing or Wheezing

Difficulty Breathing

*Anaphylaxis          
                  

*If you notice that your baby is having difficulty breathing, hoarseness, swelling of the tongue or mouth or has a sudden loss of energy call 911 immediately because it could be anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis is a life threatening reaction to a food that requires immediate medical attention including the administering of an EpiPen or Twinject.
  

The foods listed below account for 90% of food allergies:

Cow’s Milk

Soy

Egg Whites

Peanuts

Tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc)

Fish

Shellfish

*Wheat

*A wheat allergy is not the same as actual gluten intolerance.  A child can outgrow a wheat allergy, whereas gluten intolerance lasts a lifetime and needs to be carefully managed. 

The majority of children with cow’s milk, soy, wheat or egg allergies will eventually outgrow them. You will most likely be able to reintroduce these foods with a pediatrician’s guidance when the time is right. However, some allergies, like peanut, tree nut and shellfish may last a lifetime.

The subject of children’s food allergies is one of great importance. Currently, there are no conclusive answers as to why the percentage of American children with food allergies is on the rise. I recommend discussing the introduction of these foods with your pediatrician to decide what is right for your baby.

For more information on food allergies and intolerances:

www.Foodallergy.org, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

www.AAP.org, American Academy of Pediatrics

www.AAAAI.org, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology  

www.celiac.org, Celiac Disease Foundation

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How Much, How Often?

Starting your baby on solids is an exciting journey for both you and your baby, but it is also a journey full of questions.  One of the main questions asked is, "How much solid food do I give my baby and how often?" 

When you first introduce your baby to solids, between 4 and 6 months, there is no need to worry about how much solid food your baby is eating.  Right now, the idea is to get him used to swallowing food from a spoon and excited about mealtime by feeding him a variety of yummy purees.

   

For that first meal, start with a teaspoon or two of a single grain baby cereal or a fruit or vegetable from the approved 4-6 month food list, like pear, banana, peas or sweet potato.  As your baby gets used to the idea of swallowing food from a spoon, you can introduce new foods and larger portions, before you know it, those teaspoons will turn into tablespoons and then into ounces!  In the beginning, it’s a good idea to demonstrate how to eat from a spoon so your baby can see what he is supposed to do.

Offer a solid meal once a day for about 2-4 weeks, then, if your baby is ready, you can bump it to 2 solid meals per day.  The rest of your baby’s feedings will remain the same, either breast milk or formula.  The size of the solid meal will depend on your baby.  He may only take a few bites or he may devour the whole thing and want more.

The first year, your baby’s primary source of nutrition is breast milk or formula so be sure to offer a bottle at mealtime (roughly 32 ozs of breast milk or formula daily at this stage).  However, don’t wait for her to finish the entire bottle before offering some puree, because she will be full.   Let her take a few sips and then offer the first bite.

Keep in mind that it’s not about “cleaning your plate” it’s about enjoying the new experience of eating food.  Follow your baby’s cues, he is finished when he turns his head away, starts spitting the food out or swats at the spoon.  Just like us, sometimes babies are really hungry and sometimes they aren’t.  Never try to force feed, mealtime is supposed to be an enjoyable experience and you don't want your baby to attach any negative feelings towards eating.  However, if your baby shows signs of a serious decrease in appetite, consult his pediatrician.

This is an exciting time - enjoy the journey!

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Raspberry Pear Oatmeal, Stage 3 Meals

Raspberry Pear Oatmeal is so easy to make and has a sweet, bright flavor - a great way to start the day! Not only is this breakfast easy to make and completely delicious, it is full of nutrients, antioxidants and complex carbohydrates for energy.

This recipe is suitable for babies 10-12 months, toddlers, big kids and adults.  Always make sure the consistency of your baby's food is one he can handle. 

What you'll need:
1/4 cup of old fashioned rolled oats
1 soft, ripe Bartlett, Bosc or Anjou pear - washed, peeled and chopped
Handful of organic raspberries - washed
Makes 1-2 baby sized portions

*Bring 3/4 cup of purified water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat and add the oats.
*Lower the heat to medium and let the oats cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until all the water is absorbed.
*While the oatmeal is cooking, place the pear and raspberries into a food processor or blender.  Blend until smooth.
*Combine cooked oats and raspberry pear puree in a bowl and serve.
*Raspberry Pear Oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container, like our Sage Spoonfuls jars, for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

*For a baby 7-9 months, substitute blueberries for the raspberries and pulverize the oats in a blender or food processor before cooking.
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Feel Better Popsicles

Royce was up all night with a fever, coughing and feeling really yucky.   We went to the doctor and thankfully he doesn't have the flu or an ear infection, just a bug.  On the way home from the doctor he asked if we could make some popsicles and I thought that was a great idea.   He didn't want anything fancy, just oj popsicles.

Here's what we did:

*Place a slice of banana on the bottom of your Sage Spoonfuls jar or whatever jar, cup or mold you wish to use.

*Place a wooden popsicle stick in the middle of the banana slice.  This will keep the stick in place.

*Pour organic orange juice into the cup, jar or mold and let freeze for 2-4 hours.

*Once frozen, run the mold under hot water for a few seconds to release the popsicle and enjoy!

The coolness of the popsicle felt really good on his throat and also made him feel better because he felt so hot.  I was happy, because he got an extra boost of vitamin C and goodness from the oranges.  I love that something so very simple really made him feel better and put a smile on his face.

What are some of your child's favorite things when he or she isn't feeling well?

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Fabulous Finger Foods!

Roasted Parsnips and Sweet Potato make a healthy and delicious finger food for your baby once he is about 9 months old.  Roasting veggies really brings out the flavor and makes them taste extra delicious.  These veggies become very soft when roasted and your baby will be able to practice his gumming and chewing of food.  Every baby is different so make sure your baby is ready for bite sized pieces of roasted veggies before serving. 

What you'll need:

1 medium Parsnip

1 small/medium Sweet Potato

*Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees

*Wash, peel and chop the parsnip and sweet potato.

*Place about 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into an oven safe roasting pan or dish.  I used a glass Pyrex pie dish for this recipe.  Place the veggies into the pan and toss in the olive oil so they are evenly coated.

*Roast in the oven for 15 minutes, then move veggies around with a wooden spoon to make sure they roast evenly and return to oven for another 15 minutes, until they are cooked all the way through and are very soft.

*Place the roasted parsnips and sweet potato on a plate and let cool for about 5 minutes.  Cut into small, soft, bite-sized pieces and serve. Make sure there are no pieces of skin or any hard pieces that your baby could possibly choke on.  All pieces need to be soft.

*You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Yummy, yummy finger food.

I'd like some more, please.

Yay, I ate it all!



  Ahhhh, time to relax.

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