cooking for the whole family things that are suitable for baby

3KIDSNOMONEY

inspired by the Jamie Oliver programme and the need to start making some meals for my 7 month old i am after a bit of advice.

i am not a great cook and want to start cooking healthy things for the family that are suitable for a baby.

I need really basic instructions - i make shepherds pie but use a stock cube and don't think that these are suitable for babies.

Can babies have fish fingers - birds eye not home made.

Can babies have tinned tomatoes.

If anybody has any foolproof recipes that i could freeze and make for the whole family then i would be really grateful. at the minute i am using up the veg purees that are in the freezer and it is all getting a bit samey for my baby.

Also he has 4 bottles of 8oz formula a day - does anybody with a baby of a similar age have that amount of milk?

done all this before but it is a blur and i seemed to just struggle through and i really want to take this opportunity to try to make some good meals for the whole family.

thanks guys - sorry for the long post

Agutka

Hi 3KIDS,
I've started giving Joseph our meals (when we cook) and not worry unless something is very salty - you actually stop using as much just in case your baby decides he wants some NOW!
Bolognese is a good one, though very weird without salt - cook it without - oil, onions, mushrooms (though Joseph spits these out if too large), mince, garlic, herbs, tinned tomatoes. Then add salt to your own portions when serving. I've even frozen this pulverised with spaghetti. So he gets his portion of protein, carbs and you can sneak some veg in on the side.
Or Jamie's Fish Pie - someone gave a link in the Old Style forum when they discussed the show - very weird mix of carrot, celery and tomato
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/fish-pie
It was actually very nice - and made with frozen pollock, so very cheap. Ooh! I'm passing it on!! :rotfl:
I hope you can find some recipes you like cooking - get the kids to do it and put your feet up.

scottishchick27

I found Annabel Karmels book a godsend when DD was young.
I found this recipe for you. http://www.annabelkarmel.com/age-range/family/recipes/easter_lamb_shepherds_pie

Haven't tried this one myself as it has all been updated since my DD was a baby. I've found it so much easier getting her to eat meat and veg as she was introduced to it when she was younger. She loves cauliflower, brocolli, liver etc. All the things that I loathe.

Another one to try is macaroni cheese. Kids love it.

scottishchick27

Another place to look for recipes is something like weight watchers as the meals are "normally" good for you and not just low in fat. The recipes tell you to add salt and pepper to taste so at least you get a choice.

hayleyc_2

Have a look on the baby led weaning website. I think it's babyledweaning.com but if not then just google baby led weaning. There are loads of recipes on there and a forum. My son is almost 12 months now, but from 6 months we've nearly always fed him the same foods as we're having. We just make sure we don't add any salt. Also remember things like stock cubes and gravy granules are very salty. Things like macaroni cheese, cauliflower cheese, cottage pie, thai curries and risotto always go down well in our house. Me and DS don't eat meat but we do eat fish. He loves home made fishcakes, but isn't keen on fishfingers or fish on its own. I breastfeed so can't tell you how much milk he actually drinks but we never made any effort to cut down on milk. Until at least 12 months milk is still the most important thing for babies to eat, so don't worry if he doesn't actually eat much solids. As long as he's having fun and trying new textures and flavours that's the main thing.

Hayley

Felicity

One of my favourites is fish pie

... a good assortment of fish (salmon, cod etc but no shellfish) simmered in milk ... add chopped up veg such as leaks and courgettes whilst simmering, also frozen peas, sweetcorn and spinach but right at the end of the cooking time as these dont take much cooking.

Root veg takes too long to cook (to make it palitable for a baby) so avoid that, just use veg that doesnt take a long time to cook.

If you add enough veg, it should thicken the milk / fish mixture up well so no flour is needed. If you are at all unsure, just keep adding more peas until thick enough!!!!

Then cook some potatoes and mash.

You can also add sweet potato / carrots / butternut squash etc to the mash for variety.

You can add unsalted butter depending on your babies fat requirements to the mash. You could also add some tarragon or other herbs to taste. I also add garlic and this is great for the babies immunity system (although a baby smelling of garlic is a little odd), great for days when he is mixing with a lot of other babies and is likely to pick up every cough and cold there is around!

Simply top the fish mixture with the mash and put in the oven with a bit of cheese on if you like.

This freezes really well and we have it a lot!!!!!!!

Felicity

Another good one is humous.

Roast some garlic (in the skins) for 10 mins in the oven till soften a little then simply whizz up with some cooked chick peas adding olive oil until you get to the required consistency.

Again this freezes really well, can be eaten at room temperature (so on the go) and goes with lots of things such as veg, breadsticks etc.

Also, again its got lots of garlic in so good for fending off those awful winter bugs!

If I serve it for hubby and me I add some salt and pepper but it actually tastes really good without it!

raspberry_3

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0984786/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C10199769/c_2/2%7Ccat_10199769%7CClearance+nursery%7C10244452.htm

Jamie Oliver would be proud of you so it's brilliant that you want to cook more. Anything you make is better than processed meals or takeaway.

If you can - buy the book above which is half price at Argos. Annabel Karmel's meals are fantastic. She really got me cooking again for the whole family. DD is now 22 months old and we still eat lots of meals as a family from this book, they are not just 'baby' meals.

And yes, fish fingers are great. Cook a 1 potato in a small pan of water and mash it up with some mashed frozen veg and it makes a great meal for a little one.

sooz

I agree with the others, you get used to cooking without salt, & just adding your own at the table where necessary.

As for stock cubes, you can buy unsalted ones - Kallo does them *. Or make your own stock & freeze it, chicken stock is particularly easy to make after you've finished a roast.

Tinned tomatos are fine. I find the value brands often have no salt. With any other tinned veg, go for stuff in water rather than brine, or rinse well before use.

And if anything you've made is too spicy for baby, just stir in some yoghurt or creme fraiche into their portion.

*edit. Kallo certainly does organic low salt stock cubes, & low salt stock powder (which dissolves much more easily, & you can use less). I think they do a no salt version too. If you don't know where to look, it is quite hard to find. In the big supermarkets, it will be with the organic and/or foreign food sections, not other stock cubes. The easiest place to find it is in Holland & Barrett

RoxieW

Scoop the insides out of baked potatoes and mash it with cream cheese. Add peas and pancetta/bacon. For baby leave as is - for rest of family, scoop back into the potato skins:)

RoxieW

also omlette or spanish tortilla (ie omlette with slices of potatoe inside)