Cuisinart & Family
April 30, 2007 |
If you want to raise your child
as a vegetarian, there are many inventive ways to create an interesting,
nutritious menu.
Just make sure you provide plenty of these key nutrients:
Protein is plentiful in foods like milk and cheese, nuts, beans, eggs,
and soy products. Certain grains, like rice, pasta, bread and cereal also have
protein.
Lots of Iron can be found in dark green veggies like spinach and kale, fortified
cereals, green beans, lentils and peas, and soy foods.
Sources of Vitamin B12 are fortified cereals, dairy and milk products - easy
considering both breastfed and bottle-fed babies automatically get a dose of vitamin
B12 from their milk.
In stages one and two, (six to nine
months of age), most babies are inherently vegetarian (especially if you are!),
as they eat exclusively eat fruits and vegetables supplemented with breastmilk
or formula.
Here are some easy, protein fortified vegetarian recipes for babies in stages
three and four:
Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1 cup of lentils
- 1 can of vegetable broth
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 can of tomato paste
- 1 tsp of Adobo
- 1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
- Handful of shredded parmesan cheese (optional)
Preparation:
Add oil to saucepan.
Sauté onion
in saucepan over medium heat.
When onion is clear, add lentils and stir for one minute.
Add water and chicken stock.
Build to a slow boil.
Reduce heat to simmer and cover. Cook for 45 minutes.
Add water if reduces too rapidly, or to thin.
Add chopped carrot and season to taste with Adobo. Stir.
Reduce for another 15 minutes or until carrots become very
soft.
Sprinkle with shredded parmesan.
Cool and serve.
Makes enough for the whole family!
Tofu & Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 4 oz soymilk
- 5 oz silken tofu
- 1/2 tomato, diced
- ½ tsp fresh basil, chopped
Can be prepared using Cuisinart
blender or Cuisinart Stand
Mixer with blender attachment.
Preparation:
Add oil to saucepan.
Sauté onion
in saucepan over medium heat.
When onion is clear, add tomato and basil and warm for 3 to 5 minutes.
Gradually stir in soymilk until heated through.
Remove saucepan from heat when warmed.
Blend tofu and cool.
Pour all ingredients
into blender and puree until smooth.
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