Tuesday 30 November 2010

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The “No No No” phase of toddlerhood – How to get your toddler to cooperate without resorting to Time-Out?

J is at the "No No No" stage. Here is a summary of 10 ways to deal with it from http://www.babycenter.com/:

1. Make animal sound

For example, J refuses to brush teeth. Tell him to open his mouth and roar like a lion. He may not mind that you slip in the toothbrush and give his teeth a good brush while he roars.

2. Adult modeling

Without asking him to brush his teeth, just start brushing your teeth in front of him. He might just want to join in the crowd.

3. Fly him in

For example, J refuses to go to the bathroom, make it fun by “flying” him in.

4. Musical box

For example, if J refuses to go upstairs to bed, Daddy would put a musical box up there, and ask him to climb up and find it.

5. Give him a "carrot"

For example, when J says no to pick up his toys, ask “J, do you want to go out?” (He loves to go out). Then say: “Then you need to pick up your toys first”.

6. Give him a "stick" i.e. another choice that is less attractive than the one requested

For example, if the problem is taking a bath, tell J either he choose to take his bath and play with his toys, or go to bed. Usually the toddler would choose to take the bath.

7. Challenge him

For example, say “J, show mommy that J can do (xxx) all by himself”

8. Help him set a good example

For example, say "J, can you show your Teddy bear how you can set the table?" or "J, I need you to teach Teddy Bear the rules about mealtime." Or say, "J, let's team up with Teddy bear and help teddy bear to complete the task together!"

9. Count to 10

So that J is prepared and knows how much time he has. Make it fun by speeding up the count toward the end, and tell him that he did it in 8 seconds and encourage him to beat his record. If he still doesn’t move, either leave him, tell him he is missing his reward (example his favourite dessert) or tell him it is your turn to do it and that he has missed his chance.

10. Don’t bother to fight it

For example, J refuses to get dressed, say “Ok, then mommy will go and wash the dishes” and leave the room. Usually, the toddler would return and be ready for what it was asked of him.

References:
- http://www.babycenter.com/0_parents-say-getting-past-no_11981.bc?scid=momstodd_20101130:4&pe=2UyYa5h

Sunday 28 November 2010

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Mussel Soup/Muslingesuppe/贻贝汤 [yí bèi tāng]


Adapted from Tue Mantoni's Recipe

Serves 4

Preparation & Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:
- 1kg mussels
- 3-4 cloves garlic chopped
- 3-4 onions chopped
- 1 cup white wine
- 250ml or 1 cup coffee cream (kaffe fløde)
- Sprinkling of dried oregano or Herbs de Provence
- 250ml or 1 cup low fat milk
- 250ml or 1 cup water
- 1/2 squeezed lime or lemon
- Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Wash and scrub mussels clean.

2. Fry 3-4 cloves of chopped garlic until golden brown

3. Add 3-4 chopped onions and continue frying until golden brown

4. Sprinkle in oregano or Herbs de Provence and continue frying until golden brown

5. Add 1kg mussels (pre-clean and brush the shells of the mussels) and fry for 2 mins or so (it should not be fully cooked)

6. Add 1 cup of white wine

7. Add 250ml coffee cream (kaffe fløde)

8. Add 1/2 - 1 cup milk or 1 cup water or both, depending on preference

9. Add 1/2 squeezed lime or lemon

10. Add salt to taste

11. Medium heat for 3 mins until it starts to boil

12. Immediately turn to low heat (so as not to overcook the mussels)

13. Simmer and serve with sprinkled basil leaves (optional)

Saturday 27 November 2010

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The Beneficial Buckwheat/Boghvede/荞麦籽[qiáo mài zǐ]


For babies from 8 months.

Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of grinded buckwheat
- 2 cups of water or milk (more or less as you see fit)

Directions:
1. In a pot, place 1-2 cups of water or milk on the stove to a boil.

2. While water is heating, grind ¼ cup of buckwheat into powder for 2 minutes or less.

3. Whisk the buckwheat powder into the boiling water and let it sit over low heat for 10 minutes. (Whisk frequently to prevent burning and lumps).

4. Add 3 teaspoons of olive oil and 3 teaspoons of formula milk powder (optional).

For Adults:
1. Add 1 part buckwheat to 2 parts boiling water or broth.

2. After the liquid has returned to a boil, turn down the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Tips:
1. Add some yogurt to make a creamy cereal.

2. Combine buckwheat flour with whole wheat flour to make delicious breads, muffins and pancakes.

3. Cook up a pot of buckwheat for a change from hot oatmeal as a delicious hearty breakfast cereal.

4. Add cooked buckwheat to soups or stews to give them a hardier flavour and deeper texture.

5. Add chopped chicken, garden peas, pumpkin seeds and scallions to cooked and cooled buckwheat for a delightful lunch or dinner salad.

Storage:
Buckwheat, in the form of the whole grain, and in the form of flour, may be stored for several months in a cool dry place. If the temperature becomes extremely warm in your home, you may wish to store the grain/flour in the refrigerator. If you grind Buckwheat into a flour for cereal, it should be stored in an air tight container and preferably in your refrigerator.

Nutritional Value:
Buckwheat is high in fiber and contains Iron, Niacin, Folate and even Vitamin K. Buckwheat is a very good source of manganese and a good source of magnesium and dietary fiber. Buckwheat contains two flavonoids with significant health-promoting actions: rutin and quercitin. The protein in buckwheat is a high quality protein, containing all eight essential amino acids, including lysine.

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Additional Information:
Buckwheat is not related to wheat nor is it a grain. It is actually a seed however it is tossed into the whole grain category. Buckwheat is gluten free and makes a wonderful choice as baby's first food. 

Buckwheat is native to Northern Europe as well as Asia. From the 10th through the 13th century, it was widely cultivated in China. From there, it spread to Europe and Russia in the 14th and 15th centuries, and was introduced in the United States by the Dutch during the 17th century.

Diets that contain buckwheat have been linked to lowered risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The Yi people of China consume a diet high in buckwheat (100 grams per day, about 3.5 ounces). When researchers tested blood lipids of 805 Yi Chinese, they found that buckwheat intake was associated with lower total serum cholesterol, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-the form linked to cardiovascular disease), and a high ratio of HDL (health-promoting cholesterol) to total cholesterol.

The nutrients in buckwheat may contribute to blood sugar control and a lower rish of diabetes. Buckwheat's health-Promoting potential is equal to or even higher than that of vegetables and fruits.

Buckwheat's beneficial effects are due in part to its rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin. Flavonoids are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and acting as antioxidants. Buckwheat's lipid-lowering activity is largely due to rutin and other flavonoid compounds. These compounds help maintain blood flow, keep platelets from clotting excessively (platelets are compounds in blood that, when triggered, clump together, thus preventing excessive blood loss, and protect LDL from free radical oxidation into potentially harmful cholesterol oxides. All these actions help to protect against heart disease. The nutrients in buckwheat may contribute to blood sugar control.

Buckwheat also contains almost 86 milligrams of magnesium in a one-cup serving. Magnesium relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and nutrient delivery while lowering blood pressure-the perfect combination for a healthy cardiovascular system.

Buckwheat is widely produced in Russia and Poland, where it plays an important role in their traditional cuisines. Other countries where buckwheat is cultivated commercially include the United States, Canada, and France, the country famous for its buckwheat crepes.

Buckwheat can be safely eaten by people who have celiac disease as it does not contain gluten. Buckwheat can be a good substitute for wheat, oats, rye and barley in a gluten-free diet.


References:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/buckwheatbabyfood.htm

Updates 25 October 2016

Whole organic buckwheat from Urterhuset approx. 38 DKK

Add 1 teaspoon of buckwheat, rinse and pat-dry

Grind it with a baby blender. 

Transfer to pot

Add 80ml of breast milk/ formula milk

Bring to boil

Cover and simmer until low heat for 20 minutes or until cooked

Now it's done :-)

Transfer to a saucer and serve :-)

24 October 2016 (5M1W2D) Baby C loved it.

She finished the whole saucer :-)
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The Exceptional Egg-yolk/Æggeblomme/蛋黃[dàn huáng]


Some sources say egg yolk can be served from 6 months, some say from 8 months, but I served it J just before he turns 8 months old.

Directions:
1. Hard-boil an egg by placing it in a pot filled with about 1 inch of cold water over the top of the egg. Cover pot with lid and bring to a boil over medium heat. As soon as the water comes to a full boil, remove from heat and let stand in hot water 15 to 17 minutes.

2. Peel shell away, cut in half and scrape or pop out the yolk

3. Mash the yolk and mix in formula (1 teaspoon) and serve

Tips:
1. Hard-boiled eggs are fun to eat and easy to pack for on-the-go lunches for older babies.

2. You can make a healthy egg salad by mixing chopped up hard-boiled eggs with fresh lemon juice and olive oil, leeks and dill.

3. You can mixed mashed egg yolk with yogurt, or whatever food you are serving to baby

Nutritional Value:
Egg contains carbohydrates (approx. 60), protein and is a very good source of selenium, iodine, and vitamin B2 and a good source of protein, molybdenum, phosphorus, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, folate and zinc.

The egg yolk contains all of an egg’s vitamin A, D, and E; almost all the vitamin B12, choline, folic acid and vitamin B3; 76% of the biotin, 73% of the inositol, 50% of the niacin, 93% of the vitamin B6, 42% of the riboflavin, 90% of the thiamin and 44% of the protein.

Of the mere 5 grams of fat in an egg yolk, only 1.5 grams (31%) are saturated fat. Monounsaturated fats total 1.9 grams (38%) and polyunsaturated0.68 grams (14%). The ratio of an egg’s fat content comes close to meeting the dietary proportions currently recommended as: -1/3 saturated, 1/3 monounsaturated and 1/3 polyunsaturated.

One of the most striking features of an egg’s nutrient content is the quality of egg protein. Egg protein quality is so high that scientists often use eggs as a standard for measuring the protein quality of other foods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations lists whole eggs as having a biological value of 93.7%. (Biological value is a measurement of protein quality expressing the rate of efficiency with which protein is used for growth.) This rating places eggs above milk (84.5%), fish (76%), beef (74.3%), soybeans (72.8%) and dry beans (58%). Due to their high-quality protein, eggs are classified with meat in the food categories with 1 egg equal to 1 ounce of lean meat, fish or poultry.

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Additional information:
How many eggs a week should baby eat? I serve an egg yolk once a week to J. Eggs are considered high on the potential allegens list, thus I am a little in doubt when I should introduce it to J. But I have decided to introduce it to him just about when he turns 8 months od.

References:
http://wholesomebabyfood.com/eggsbabyfoodrecipes.html

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/when-can-my-baby-eat-eggs.html

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=92#descr
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The Amazing Apple/Æble/苹果[píng guǒ]


For babies from 4 months. Apples are very sweet, thus, I prefer to serve it towards the end of 7 months, after all the other vegetables are introduced.

Directions:
1. Grate ½ - 1 apple and serve (I use a baby-friendly glass grater which my friend got from Czech Republic – see picture)

Tips:
1. To prevent browning when slicing apples for a recipe, simply put the slices in a bowl of cold water to which a spoonful of lemon juice has been added.
2. You can mix apples with cereals, veggie purees, with meat purees and use them in teething biscuit recipes, in healthy cake recipes, in yogurt and mixed with other fruits also.

Nutritional Value:
Apples are a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Apples contain a long list of phytonutrients that function as antioxidants and support our heart health. Included in this list are quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. Apples also contain flavonoids, which have repeatedly been shown to help lower risk of heart disease, and also to improve problems with heart disease once it has occurred.

Apples may help maintain good healthy by promoting cardiovascular health by lowering LDL cholesterol and inhibiting LDL oxidation, and reducing the risk of certain types of stroke; maintaining a healthy weight, as part of a low-fat, fiber-rich diet; promoting lung health, by countering the effects of oxidative damage; promoting prostate, liver and colon health, by inhibiting the growth of related cancer tumors; and promoting bone health, by providing a good source of the dietary mineral boron

IMPORTANT note:
If you wish to serve to babies younger than 6 months, you need to cook the apples by boiling or steaming before mashing or blending it. I am lazy, and thus I prefer to serve it after 6 months.

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Additional Comments:
For some reasons, most baby recipes from books or internet talk about cooking an apple before serving it to babies. My friend Ilona and I do not think that it is good advice. Firstly, it adds additional work. Secondly, cooking apple destroys the vitamin C considerably. As far as possible, we go for raw fruits. Our preference is to grate raw apple to provide a mashy consistency suitable for babies 6 months and older.

Most of the vitamin C resides in the skin of the apple. If I am using an organic apple, I prefer to grate it after washing it thoroughly without peeling off the skin. If I am not using an organic apple, I prefer to peel off the apple skin first before grating it. My friend, Ilona, from my mother’s group taught me how to prepare apples for baby.
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The Terrific Organic Yogurt (Low Fat)/Økologisk Naturel Skummet Yogurt/有机低脂酸奶[yǒu jī dī zhī suān nǎi]


Danish equivalent A38 0.5% fats (for babies from 6 months, but I was a little late in introducing it to J at 7.5 months.

If there is only one single dairy product I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the Natural Yogurt for its health benefits.

Directions:

Option 1 (Main Course):
1. Peel 1/2 banana, 1/2 avocado and 1/2 very ripe and soft pear. Remove the core are from the bulb of the pear and cut into small pieces.

2. Puree with a blender or mash with fork (for older babies)

3. Mix with 2 tablespoons of low fat natural yogurt.

4. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vegetable fats (as babies need fats for brain and visual development) such as corn oil, flaxseed oil (recommended by my friend Karen) and 1 teaspoon of formula milk powder (optional) to increase the fat content of the low fat yogurt.

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Option 2 (Desert):
1. Peel 1/4 banana and 1/4 very ripe and soft pear. Remove the core are from the bulb of the pear and cut into small pieces.

2. Mash with fork

3. Stir in 1 tablespoons of low fat natural yogurt and 1/ teaspoon of formula milk powder.

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Option 3 (Desert):
1. Peel 1/4 banana and 1/4 grated apple.

2. Mash with fork

3. Stir in 1 tablespoons of low fat natural yogurt and 1/2 teaspoon of formula milk powder.

Tips:
1. Can also serve yogurt with a dash of cinnamon, other fruits and veggies - sounds yucky to grown-ups but many babies love yogurt mixed with a veggie!

2. You can up the proportions proportionately, add real chunks of banana and other fruit to the mash fruit, and serve to adults! Daddy loves it!

Nutritional Value:
Natural yogurt provides an excellent good source of protein, calcium, phosphorus (works with calcium to help with bone strength and growth), potassium (a nutrient that helps to keep your muscles working correctly), zinc (important for cell growth and repair), riboflavin (vit B2) - crucial for converting energy in the body, as well as for general growth, thiamin (vit B1), folate (vit B8), pantothenic acid (vit B5).

Packed with gut-friendly bacteria, yogurt is an excellent aid to digestion and - in the long term - helps guard against colon cancer. Yogurt is also an excellent source of calcium for your baby - the 'live' bacteria it contains actually help your baby's body absorb the calcium very efficiently. Yogurt is also an excellent source of calcium for your baby - the 'live' bacteria it contains actually help your baby's body absorb the calcium very efficiently.

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Additional Comments:
Yogurt is a staple diet for the Danes, especially for breakfast, but the Danes also use it to make dip for chips, salad sauce, etc. However, Chinese traditionally do not eat yogurt. In fact, yogurt is not an ingredient heard of in Chinese cooking. This is an excellent Danish tradition that I would like to pass on to J, but only the healthy yogurt, i.e. natural yogurt and not store-bought fruit-flavoured yogurt, as they are filled with sugars.

However, natural, plain yogurt on its own may not be very appetising. Adding pears provide a natural and healthy way of sweetening it.
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The Humble Pear/Pære/梨[Lí]


For babies from 4 months, but I prefer to serve it from 7.5 months, after all the other vegetables are introduced.

If there is only one single sweet thing I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the pear.

A very ripe pear is very soft (thus reducing choking risk), very sweet (especially the Dutch species) and can be eaten raw without cooking by babies more than 6 months old. For babies with a sweet tooth, it is a perfect natural sweetener to dessert for babies, when pears are blended in.

Directions:
1. Mash ½ ripe and soft pear with fork and serve

Nutritional Value:
Pears are a good source of vitamin C and copper. Both of these nutrients can be thought of as antioxidant nutrients that help protect cells in the body from oxygen-related damage due to free radicals.

Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant in all water-soluble areas of the body, and in addition to its antioxidant activity, is critical for good immune function. Vitamin C stimulates white cells to fight infection, directly kills many bacteria and viruses, and regenerates Vitamin E (an antioxidant that protects fat-soluble areas of the body) after it has been inactivated by disarming free radicals.

Copper helps protect the body from free radical damage as a necessary component of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a copper-dependent enzyme that eliminates superoxide radicals. Superoxide radicals are a type of free radical generated during normal metabolism, as well as when white blood cells attack invading bacteria and viruses. If not eliminated quickly, superoxide radicals damage cell membranes.

IMPORTANT Note:
If you choose to wean your baby before 6 months of age, and wish to serve pears, you need to cook the pears by boiling or steaming before mashing it. I am lazy, and thus I prefer to serve it after 6 months.

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Additional Comments:
The pear on the left is a Chinese pear. It is rounder and shorter. The pear on the right is an European pear. It is taller and slimmer. Chinese pears tend to be harder, and European pears tend to be softer and sweeter.

References:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=28
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The Superb Salmon/Laks/鲑鱼[guī yú]


Can be served to babues from 6 months, but i serve it to J from 7+ months.

If there is only one single non-white fish that I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the Superb Salmon.

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degree celsius.

2. Place the salmon fillet (75-100g) on a piece of baking-paper and brush with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

3. Pack the fish with the baking-paper so that air cannot penetrate.

4. Put the package in an ovenproof dish and bake for 10-15 mins. depending on the thickness of fish (the fish should feel firm and the meat should easily be separated with a fork).

5. Mash fish with a fork or puree through a blender or a sieve.

6. Cool down and serve.

Tips:
1. Also ideal to serve mix with mash potato or carrot puree.

2. If you find it too troublesome to make such small portion for baby, you can increase the portion proportionately and eat it yourself for lunch. Just don't blend your own portion. Very often, when i don't have time to take lunch, i will feed myself while feeding J.

Nutritional Value:
Salmon is high in protein, heme iron, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, niacin, phosphorous, potassium, copper and Omega-3s. There are three kinds of Omega-3s in salmon--docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and alpha-linoleic acid (ALA). Like most fish, there are no carbohydrates in salmon.
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The Mighty Ginger/Ingefær/姜[jiāng]


For babies from 6 or 8 months. I started J from 7.5 months.

If there is only one single spice that I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the Mighty Ginger due to its medicinal goodness. Ginger should not be used as a main food, but a good accompaniment as a dash of spice to food such as fish (please refer to the recipe on steaming cod fish for usage of ginger), chicken and pork, and even fruit smoothies!

Nutritional Value:
Ginger is both a spice as well as a herb that boasts of a number of medicinal properties. It contains lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, Calcium, Fietary Fiber, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Protein, riboflavin, Selenium, phosphorous, Vitamin C, E and B6, and trace nutrients. It is also an antioxidant. The nutrients present inside ginger, especially its volatile oils - gingerols and shogaols, accord a number of health benefits to its users. The Chinese believe that ginger stimulates gastric juices, provides warming and soothing effects for colds and coughs, relieves nausea, expels wind in the stomach, protects the body against bad bacteria and prevents and fights against cancer.

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Additional Comments:
Ginger is a major ingredient in Chinese cooking, while it is popular for Danes to add a dash of ginger in their fruit smoothies for a spicy refreshing taste. Although I am a born Chinese, ironically I hated it as a kid and also as an adult, as my mother did not start me young as a baby.... I only found my love for ginger after I came to Denmark, as I began to be homesick and missing food from home. Many Danes, though did not grow up with ginger, surprising are very fond of ginger. Daddy loves it. An early introduction to J hopefully will cultivate his taste for ginger, so that he does not end up like mommy when she was a kid. Using spices and herbs such as ginger is a good way to offer interesting flavors to babies without having to use sugar or salt. Early introduction may help to raise a child that is not reliant on salt or sugar to entice the appetite. (Ginger can also be boiled, with its stock added with honey to relieve nasty coughs for kids and adults, but not for babies!)

Ginger is believed to originate in China and later, spread to India, Southeast Asia, West Africa and the Caribbean. Ginger was one of the first Asian spices carried to the Western world by camel caravans. The herb arrived in England during the Middle Ages by way of explorers and trade. One pound was considered equal in value to that of one sheep, making it affordable only to upperclass English society. Queen Elizabeth I of England is credited with the invention of the gingerbread man, which became a popular Christmas treat. Ginger is quite popular in the Caribbean Islands, where it grows wild in lush tropical settings.


References:

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/can-babies-eat-spicy-food.html

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyfoodexotics.htm
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The Excellent Cod Fish/Torsk fisk/鳕鱼[xuě yú]


The Danish authorities say from 6 months, www.babycenter.co.uk say 7 months, some others say from 12 months.

If there is only one single white fish that I could choose to introduce to J, it would be the Cod Fish due to its high nutritional value.

Directions:
1. Steam the cod fish fillet (75-100g) together with a teaspoon of chopped leek - white portion (optional), 2 slices of chopped up ginger (optional, it reduces the fishy smell of fish) and 1 teaspoon of olive oil for 6 minutes or until fish is cooked

2. Drain fish (together with leek and ginger) and puree with blender with a little of the stock left from the pot (to get a powdery texture)* or mince it with a knife and fork (to retain the fish texture for older babies)

3. Cool down and serve (Note: For fish, since J only eats it 2 times a week, I prefer to make it fresh just before meal time than freezing it. )

Tips:
1. Also ideal to serve mix with carrot puree.

2. If you find it too troublesome to make such small portion for baby, you can increase the portion proportionately and eat it yourself for lunch. Just don't blend your own portion. Very often, when i don't have time to take lunch, i will feed myself while feeding J.

Nutritional Value:
Fish are high in protein, heme iron, vitamin D (an important vitamin for strong bones), low in "bad" fats and contain Essential Fatty Acid (EFA's) - Omega-3 fatty acids. The Omega 3 fatty acids from fish are EPA and DHA, which are not found in any other protein source, not even in meat or plants. EFA's found in fish and fish oil products help fight off both physical and mental diseases. Eating fish 2 times a week is recommended for both adults and children by the US FDA.

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Additional Comments:
The Danes think that fish is good, and the Chinese believe that it can increase the intelligence of children. Cod fish brings back a lot of childhood memories… When I was young, we were poor, and cod fish was (and still is) expensive in Singapore. My mother would save and pinch to buy cod fish and cod liver oil to feed us, she herself eating almost only plain porridge. I seem to be walking in my mother’s footsteps… I am now saving the organic food for J. (OK, You may be wondering why my IQ is not any higher given that my mother had been feeding me cod fish and cod liver oil. My answer is that I could have been even dumber, if my mother hadn’t fed me fish :-)

Looking at the Japanese, I believe my mother must be right. The Japanese are known to have the highest average IQ among human beings, with one of the highest life expectancy rate and with the highest number of centurions. Looking at their diet, fish constitutes a major part. In fact, a large part of it is eaten raw. Thus, in this matter, I will be taking a leaf from the Japanese, and my mother :-)

Some say that it is important to select the "white flesh" fish types, because they are most easily digestible and lowest on the allergen list. Cod fish is considered among one of the safest to introduce. But some say salmon is also a good choice, which contrary to popular belief, has lower levels of mercury than one thinks. Cold water fish have lower levels of mercury and also contain higher levels of Omega 3's.

Due to the concern of mercury-tainted fish and fish being a high allergen food, I am a little bit in doubt of when fish should be introduced to J. Thus I have waited until now… but I intend to introduce it to J in the coming weeks (7+ months old), since both Daddy and I are not allergic to fish, and I guess everything in moderation should be ok.

Given so much conflicting advice surrounding fish, in order to maximize the benefit of fish and to minimize the risk, here is my action plan:

- Until J is introduced to fish and continuing on, I will take my omega-3 fish oil supplements daily and religious as the nutrients are passed on from breast milk

- I intend to start with cod fish for baby between 7 months, and 1 week later followed by salmon, once cod fish is established.

- I plan to give a small portion to J - meaning only 1 serving a day

- I will monitor to give only one time cod fish and one time salmon each week, together making up serving fish twice a week and not more

- I will be avoiding fish species such as swordfish, king mackerel, tuna, shark and tilefish known to contain a high level of mercury

- I will only be buying fish from reputable fish handler in Lyngby (although he is super arrogant and I dislike buying fish from him) and IRMA supermaket... no more money left for shopping... which means that I will be saying bye-bye to my dream Mulberry bag :-(

References:
http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-eat-fish_1368510.bc

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/introducingfishtobaby.htm

http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Health/Should-Babies-Eat-Fish

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/2006111w.html
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The Incredible Chicken Oatmeal Porridge/Kylling/鸡肉粥[jī ròu zhōu]


Some sources say to serve from 6 months, some say form 7 months, still others say from 8 months, I prefer to serve it to J after the other vegetables, grains and beans have been established, which is from around 7+ months.

If there is only one single meat I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the Incredible Chicken due to its affordability, high nourishing and tonic attributes believed by the Chinese.

Directions:
1. Cut 75g of boneless chicken thigh or half chicken breast into small pieces

2. Boil chicken in a pot with a scant amount of boiling water enough to cover chicken (or approx. 150ml) under medium heat for 5 minutes or until chicken is tender

3. Sprinkle of chopped leek - white portion (optional, it enhances the savory taste of the chicken porridge)

4. Drain chicken and leek, and puree with blender with a little of the stock left from the pot (to get a powdery texture)* or mince it with a knife and fork (my friend Lan from my mother's group taught me this to retain the chicken texture for older babies)

* Recent research has shown that the iron from very finely ground meat is much more readily absorbed by your baby's body. I use a small mini Korean brand blender named Shimono, to minimize wastage, plus this blender is incredibly cheap. My mum bought it from Singapore and gave it to me.

5. Add chicken and leek back to the pot and add 2 tablespoons of oatmeal

6. Stir for 2 minutes or until oatmeal are cooked under low fire

7. Add in 2 teaspoons of olive oil (for baby's brain development)

Overall cooking time including preparation time: 10 - 15 mins.

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (make up to 1 ice cube tray, can store up to 8 weeks, however, it is preferable to use the cubes within 1 month. Meats are more unstable when frozen so it is best to use meat purées as soon as possible.)

Tip: Also ideal to mix with carrot puree.

Nutritional Value:
Chicken is rich in protein, heme iron, calcium, potassium, niacin and phosphorus (which help release the energy from protein, fats and carbohydrates during the process of metabolism), vitamin B6 and selenium, a powerful anti-oxidant.

IMPORTANT note:
1. Meat is a high protein food - and very large amounts of protein may put a lot of strain on your baby's immature kidneys. Therefore, it is best to offer regular, small quantities of meat mixed into another food (pureed vegetables, for example).

2. Buying organic, free range chicken or the Malaysia kampong chicken (no more kampong left in Singapore :-() for use if possible as free range chickens are allowed to roam outside and are raised without hormones or antibiotics. In addition, their feed is organically grown.

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Additional Comments:
When I first came to Denmark, I found it strange that the Danes eat their porridge sweet with butter, cinnamon and sugar. However, my hubby found it strange that I eat savory porridge with chicken, pork and vegetables! Interesting cultural differences! So I am determined to teach J to appreciate both sweet and savory porridge (you never know who he is going to marry when he grows up!).

The Chinese love their porridge or congee with chicken, fish, pork or century eyes. The Chinese porridge/congee is made of white rice, which is not so healthy or nutritious compared to brown rice or oatmeal. However, to make congee with brown rice would take too long a time, and furthermore brown rice doesn’t achieve the same consistency like congee made from white rice. Then my mother discovered the oatmeal – it achieves the same consistency in much lesser time than Chinese congee made from white rice and tastes as good as the Chinese congee too! She serves it to my father. You can make this for adults too. I love oatmeal porridge and I eat it myself. J already loves oatmeal with banana or corn (sweet), and he is now starting oatmeal with chicken.

References:
www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/introducing-chicken-to-baby.html#ixzz0Tq5USwPP
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The Extraordinary Black Beans/Sorte bønner/黑豆[hēi dòu]


Some books say 6 months, some say 10 months, but I prefer to serve it from 7 months, because the window of introducing new food is a short one, and I would like to do it before J gets choosy about his food.

The darker the bean, the more nutritious it is. This makes black beans the most nutritious among beans.

Directions:
1. Soak 1 cup of black beans with water and a few drops of lemon or lime for 8 – 12 hours or overnight. Then drain and discard water.

2. Wash and chop leek into pieces (optional, make this dish more tasty)

3. Boil the black beans in a pot with 2 inches of water over the beans for 45 minutes to an hour until tender (watch out that the water doesn’t dry up, if so, add more water)

4. Add leek and boil for 2 minutes (optional)

5. Dish out the cooked beans from the water (tip: you can use the water for soup)

6. Add 5 teaspoons of formula milk powder and 5 teaspoons of vegetable oil

7. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritional Value:
Black beans are an excellent source of iron and manganese. Black beans are an excellent source of cholesterol-lowering fiber and high quality protein. Black beans are high in dietary fiber, folate, molybdenum, tryptophan, vitamin B1 (thiamin), complex carbohydrates, magnesium and phosphorus.

Black beans have also recently been reported to be an extremely good source of nutritional antioxidants. Gram for gram, black beans are found to have the most antioxidant activity in the bean family.

Black beans help protect against cancer, lower heart attack risk and are good for diabetic as it give you energy to burn while stabilizing blood sugar. When combined with a whole grain such as whole wheat pasta or brown rice, provide protein comparable to that of meat or dairy foods without the high calories or saturated fat found in these foods.

IMPORTANT Notes:
It is very important to boil the beans for at least 45 mins, as lectins is broken down in the cooking process. Otherwise, lectins may interfere with the absorption of the good proteins.

References:
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=2

http://www.americanbean.com/HealthNutrition/Home.htm
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The Magnificient Mung Beans/Grønne bønner/绿豆[lǜ dòu]


For babies from 7 months.

Directions:
1. Soak 1 cup of mung beans with water and a few drops of lemon or lime for 8 – 12 hours or overnight. Then drain and discard water.

2. Boil the mung beans in a pot with 2 inches of water over the beans for 45 minutes to an hour until tender (watch out that the water doesn’t dry up, if so, add more water)

3. Dish out the cooked beans from the water (tip: you can use the water for soup)

4. Add 5 teaspoons of formula milk powder and 5 teaspoons of vegetable oil

5. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

To serve:
1. De-frost 1 cube of mung bean in fridge or room temperature, then warm for 15-30 seconds in microwave

2. When cooled, mash in ¼ fresh banana to make it more sweet for baby (optional) and serve

Nutritional Value:
Mung beans are high in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Folate, Copper, Manganese, Protein, Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and complex carbohydrates

IMPORTANT Notes:
It is very important to boil the beans for at least 45 mins, as lectins is broken down in the cooking process. Otherwise, lectins may interfere with the absorption of the good proteins.

References:
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/natural-weight-loss-food-dry-beans-and-peas.htm
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The Underrated Sweet Potato/Sød Kartoffel/番薯[fān shǔ]


For babies from 6 months.

Directions:
1. Wash, peel and chop 600g of sweet potatoes into pieces

2. Steam for 15 minutes or until tender

3. Add 6 teaspoons of powder milk and 6 teaspoons of olive oil (optional but recommended)

4. Puree with fork (for babies from 7 months to teach them how to eat lumpy food) or with blender (for babies 6 months and younger)

OR

Bake whole sweet potatoes in oven at 200°C (400°F) for 45 minutes, then puree them.

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritional Value:
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and a very good source of vitamin C and manganese, a good source of vitamin B6, potassium, iron, copper, dietary fiber and manganese.

Sweet potato contains unique root storage proteins that have been observed to have significant antioxidant capacities. In one study, these proteins had about one-third the antioxidant activity of glutathione-one of the body's most impressive internally produced antioxidants.

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Additional information:

Sweet potato is superior to potato in terms of nutrients, but it is not readily available in Denmark and is very expensive. But if it is widely available where you live, it is a better choice than potato.

Some danes ask me if sweet potatoes are potatoes sweetened with sugar. The answer is no. Sweet potatoes are a type of root vegetable that look like potatoes, but the flesh inside is orange in colour and they are naturally sweet when cooked, steamed or baked. The picture above show how they look like. They can be purchased in Irma supermakets.
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The Remarkable Red Bean/Røde Bønner/红豆 [hóng dòu]


For Babies from 6 or 10 months – babies’ digestive tract are not mature enough to digest protein before 6 months, and after 6 months, babies need protein – plant source is better, as protein from meat may cause allergies if started too young. I serve it with banana as desert or snack to J).

Directions:
1. Cook 1 cup of red beans with 4 cups of water for 45 mins. to an hour until tender (watch out that the water doesn’t dry up, if so, add more water) or pressure-cook for 15 minutes under setting no. 2.

2. Dish out the cooked beans from the water (tip: you can use the water for baby to drink or as broil for soup)

3. Add 5 teaspoons of formula milk powder and 5 teaspoons of vegetable oil

4. Puree with blender

Storage:1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

To serve:
1. De-frost 1 cube of red bean in fridge or room temperature, then warm for 15-30 seconds in microwave

2. When cooled, mash in ¼ fresh banana to make it more sweet for baby (optional) and serve.

Tips:
1. If it is feshly made to be served on the same day, you can put it in the fridge so that it is cold, before adding banana and serving to baby. It tastes more like "ice-cream"

2. J doesn't have much problems with gassiness, but if your baby gets gassy, soak the beans for 8 - 12 hours before cooking will reduce the gassiness effect. Alternatively, you can do a quick hot soak to soften the beans. When cooking, use fresh water.

3. For kids, use mashed red beans in brownie and cookie recipes, replacing part of the fat ingredient with beans to add protein, fiber, texture and flavor while lowering fat, cholesterol and calories.

Nutrition Value:
Red bean is a rich source of protein, iron, folic acid, zinc, calcium, complex carbohydrates, vitamin B1 and vitamin B3.

Beans are a natural source of antioxidants and phytochemicals.

Beans rank very low on the list of foods that prompt allergic reactions.

The U.S. Government's Dietary Guidelines 2005 urge adults to consume three (3) cups of cooked dry beans a week.

IMPORTANT Notes:
1. For breast-feeding babies, do not serve red beans more than 1 time a day. Otherwise, baby will get protein overload.

2. Beans alone are not complete proteins, but combined with a grain are as complete as a meal. So it is important to eat beans with grain products like brown rice, corn, oats, barley, millet, quinoa, buckwheat or wheat (wheat may cause allergy for babies, thus introduce wheat when baby is older)

3. Many types of beans contain a class of proteins called lectins. These proteins have the ability to interfere with the cell membrane repair process that occurs as a part of digestion. If not destroyed by cooking, lectins can cause a severe form of food poisoning, with attendant nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Thus, dry beans CANNOT BE CONSUMED RAW. It is very important to cook the beans until tender for 45 mins to an hour, as in the process of cooking, the lectins is broken down.

Additional Comments:
Beans as a food source is believed to be originated from India (not all beans, but many of them), and was passed on to China, which has since become part of the traditional Chinese diet. Some beans such as kidney beans are also an integral part of South and Central America’s diet way back in history. Being a cross-cultural family, this is a good Chinese or the wider world tradition that I will be keeping and passing on to J.

References:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/legumeslentilsbabyfoodrecipes.htm

http://greenbabyguide.com/2008/05/20/eco-recipe-for-babies-and-adults-alike-cooking-dried-black-beans/

http://www.bellybytes.com/bytes/beans.shtml

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/protein-foods-for-baby.html
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Avocado & Banana Smoothie


For babies from 6 months

Directions:
1. Mash 1/4 avocado and 1/4 banana with fork

2. Add in 50 - 100ml cold ready-to-drink baby formula milk

This must be eaten feshly made or the avocado and banana will turn brown. Cannot freeze.

Tip:
Can add low fat yogurt a month down the road of weaning, when baby has been established on other vegetables and beans.
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Avocado & Banana


For babies from 5 months. My friend Judith taught me this. J began to find avocado tasteless after beginning on other solid food. Adding banana is like magic, now J can't wait to have more of it!!

Directions:
1. Mash 1/4 avocado and 1/4 banana with fork and serve

I love this desert, and this is also J's favorite desert. I made a portion for myself too, so while feeding J, I am feeding myself. We have a cosy time enjoying a meal together :-)

This must be eaten feshly made or the avocado and banana will turn brown. Cannot freeze.
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The Unbeatable Banana/Banan/香蕉[xiāng jiāo]


For babies from 4 months, but I prefer to introduce this after vegetables are established.

If there is only one single fruit I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the banana due to its high nutrition value, affordability, versatility and convenience.

Directions:
1. Mash 1/2 - 1 banana with fork and serve

Tip: This makes an excellent and super-convenient baby food, when you have to go out with baby. Thus, you don't have to rely on processed baby cereal, that still requires water to mix with.

Nutritional Value:
Banana is low in calories, sodium, fat, and contains a health amount fiber; fiber that assists in lowering the level of cholesterol in the body. High levels of potassium and a measurable amount of magnesium are also found within the nutritional content of the banana.

It contains a high level of vitamins and minerals that are found within each one. Vitamins A, a full range of the B vitamins, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, trace amounts of iron and zinc and Folic acid are all found in varying amounts in one banana. It contains complex carbohydrates, a good form of carbohydrates.

Most fruits do not contain significant quantities of vitamin B-6, but bananas are the major exception. There's more than one-third of the recommended daily intake in a single banana.

In addition to preventing and reducing the symptoms of dermatitis, vitamin b-6 is also involved in the synthesis of important enzymes and other molecules that process carbohydrates, transport oxygen to cells, and support healthy nervous system function. B-6 deficiency leads to skin disorders like eczema, as well as seizures and other nervous system malfunction.
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The Commendable Corn/Majs/玉米[yù mǐ]


I prefer to serve this from 6 months. Corns are naturally sweet, thus, I prefer to serve this after other vegetables such as broccoli have been established.

Directions:
1. Steam 1 packet of frozen corns (600 - 650g) for 10 - 15 minutes until tender

2. Add 6 teaspoons of milk powder and 6 teaspoons of olive oil (optional but recommended)

3. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritional Value:
Corn is rich in phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron and selenium. It also has small amounts of potassium. Corn has Vitamin B (Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Riboflavin, Folate). It has traces of Vitamin A and Vitamin E.
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The Precious Pea/Ærter/豌豆[wān dòu]


I prefer to serve this from 6 months, although some books says it can be served from 4 months. Peas are naturally sweet. Thus, on days when baby refuses to eat broccoli, this is a good alternative, full of vitamins as well.

Green vegetables are so important for its vitamins and minerals, and to create variety, I choose to introduce more than one type of green vegetables, and the green peas is another excellent choice.

Directions:
1. Steam 1 packet of frozen peas (600 - 650g) for 10 minutes until tender

2. Add 6 teaspoons of milk powder and 6 teaspoons of olive oil (optional but recommended)

3. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritonal Value:
Green peas are a good source of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, C, K, folic acid, iron, manganese and fiber.

Updates 30 October 2016 (5M2W)


Steam 1 cup of frozen green peas...

for 10 minutes or until tender.

Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil

Add 1 teaspoon of breastmilk or more to achieve the required consistency you desire

Puree with blender

30 October 2016 (5M2W): I introduced this to Baby FECS today.

Baby FECS finished about 1 saucer

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The Outstanding Oatmeal/Havregryn/麦片粥[mài piàn zhōu]


For babies from 6 months to avoid allergy to gluten.

If there is only one single grain I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the outstanding oatmeal as it is inexpensive in Denmark (even the organic ones), readily available, fast and convenience and highly nutritious.

Directions:
1. Cook 75ml of oatmeal with 200 ml of formula milk under weak heat (no. 4 on our electric stove) and stir until it is soft and tender.

2. Stir in 1 teaspoon olive oil

Tips:
This makes an excellent wholesome breakfast for adults too. You can cook it with low-fat fresh milk under low fire (no. 4 on my stove). Heat 250 ml of milk under low fire, and then add 4 TBS of oatmeal. Cover and let it simmer for 5 minutes.


Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritional Value:
Oats are an excellent source of soluble fibre, protein and the B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, B6 and vitamin E. They also provide iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus and zinc.

References:
http://www.eatmoreoats.com/

http://www.great-workout.com/nutrition/vegetables
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The Fantastic French Beans/Green beans/Haricots verts/四季豆[sì jì dòu]/青豆[qīng dòu]


My friend Anosha from my mother's group introduced me to Haricots verts. I prefer to serve this from 6 months, although some books says it can be served from 4 months.

Green vegetables are so important for its vitamins and minerals, and to create variety, I choose to introduce more than one type of green vegetables, and the green beans is an excellent choice.

Directions:
1. Steam 1 packet of frozen haricots verts (500 - 650g) for 10 minutes until tender

2. Add 6 teaspoons of milk powder and 6 teaspoons of olive oil (optional but recommended)

3. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks)

Nutritional value:
Green beans are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. Plus green beans are very good source of vitamin A (notably through their concentration of carotenoids including beta-carotene), dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and iron. And, green beans are a good source of magnesium, thiamin, riboflavin, copper, calcium, phosphorus, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and niacin.
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The Brilliant Broccoli/花椰菜[huā yē cài]/绿菜花[lǜ cài huā]



I prefer to serve this from 6 months, although some books says it can be served from 4 months.

If there is only one single vegetable I would choose to introduce to J, it would be the glorious broccoli due to its health benefits.

Directions:
1. Wash and cut 500g of broccoli into florets

2. Steam broccoli for 10 - 15 minutes or until tender

3. Add 5 teaspoons of breast milk/powder milk and 5 teaspoons of olive oil (optional but recommended)

4. Puree with blender

Storage:
1. Cool down, pour into ice cube tray and freeze.

2. Once frozen, knock the cubes out and store them in freezer bags (makes 2-3 ice cube trays, can store up to 8 weeks).

Tips:

If you use frozen broccoli, you only need to steam for 3-4 minutes.
Nutritional Value:
Broccoli contains Vitamins B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid), B6, B9 (Folate), Vitamin C, Vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

These vitamins and minerals aren't just found in tiny trace amounts either. For example, ounce for ounce, broccoli actually contains more Vitamin C than many citrus fruits, more calcium than an entire glass of milk, and a richer source of fiber than whole wheat bread.

Broccoli also contains isothiocyanates, which are a class of very potent anti-carcinogens. i.e. they fight and help prevent cancer.

Updated 22 October 2016:

Place 8 broccoli florets on a steaming rack or a normal bowl (this is the minimum amount that is required for a blender to work)

Steam for 10-15 minutes.
This is what I do: Bring to boil a pot of water, place bowl or rack with broccoli in it, cover and lower the heat slightly, but making sure that it is stil giving off steam

Now it is done :-)

Transfer to blender and add 50 ml of breast milk/formula milk

 
Blend briefly

until desired consistency is obtained. Since Baby C is still very young at 5 months, I made it very fine and creamy.

Transfer to a saucer and serve :-)


So excited to see how Baby C liked it. She didn't complain. She didn't turn her head away. She ate about 5-7 sccop.

But she certainly preferred to eat the spoon that we gave her, than the broccoli :-(


Here is a video of Baby C tasting broccoli:

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