No Salt for The Litlle Man

I don't usually provide salt in my son's diet, but sometimes I just couldn't prevent it especially if we're on a party or in a restaurant. It's ok naman, but if I prepare his food I always make sure it's a salt-free meal or snacks.

Salt, if not controlled, can damage my kiddo's immature kidney and may lead to urinary tract infection or UTI. It also may add risk to his blood pressure as he grow up as his palate will get used to salty foods. To prevent this, National Health Service in England provided the maximum recommended amount of salt for babies and children...

• up to 12 months – less than 1g salt a day (less than 0.4g sodium)
• 1 to 3 years – 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium) 
• 4 to 6 years – 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium) 
• 7 to 10 years – 5g salt a day (2g sodium)
• 11 years and over – 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium) 

With this guide, it will help us determine the amount of salt or sodium we give to our babies or children.  Below, is one of my salt-free recipes that I prepare to my little man. As we all know fish products and all seafoods are already high in sodium, therefore we may want to ommit salt in this type of food when we prepare for our little ones. 

Salt-Free Herbed Fish Fillet

Ingredients:

• 1/2 fillet, Sole Fish
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp lemon or calamansi juice
• 1/2 tsp extra light olive oil 

Direction:
Season fillet with italian seasoning and black pepper. Add in lemon or calamansi juice and let it stand for a minute or two to marinade;
Cook in extra light olive oil until both sides are golden brown.. Serve with fresh sliced cucumber and steamed carrots or guacamole.


A very delicious and healthy meal for the little man that I even added to my diet. My son finished this recipe which was prepared only for him. I also added rice in his meal to compliment the natural saltiness of the fish. I was so happy and proud seeing him finished everything in his plate... I mean not everything, there were few pieces of carrots and cucumber left because he was already full, his tummy was already big.

For more info about salt in babies you can check what the Dietitian for infants had to say in #18 at www.dietitian.com/infants.html. Mommy Made Goodness brand has also a good review on this matter. Check Salt for babies beyond at www.mommymadegoodness.com/

Avoca-nana Yoghurt

It's simply just avocado, banana, and yoghurt. Good for breakfast or afternoon snack for babies 6+ months.

Ingredients:
a slice of ripe avocado
1 small ripe banana
2 tbsp plain yoghurt
and a dash of cinnamon, optional

1. Mash banana and avocado with masher or a fork. This is for chunkier consistency, for babies 8 months up. You can also blend it for smooth consistency with immersion blender for young babies between 6-8 months.
2. Add yoghurt. Mix all together until well blended.
3. Add cinnamon for more flavoring, then serve.
5. Store the remaining food in the freezer with storage pods to use later.

Storage: 24 hours in the fridge; 4 weeks in the freezer
Makes: 1-2 servings

I made this recipe yesterday for Jabin's snack. In his plate he also had some happy puffs to go with it. He enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it in front of him.You can make this recipe in front of your baby and sing him a song, as this is an easy recipe to make.

Earlier today, as Jabin sit patiently in his high chair we played "if you're happy and you know it". While playing, I prepared the thawed avoca-nana yoghurt and added it with cereal and milk. We enjoyed our breakfast together. Enjoy yours too!

Broccoli and Carrot Puree

Broccoli and Carrot Puree

Broccoli is one of the first foods I’d like to introduce to my baby during his first 6 months. It’s rich in Vitamin C, good source of fiber, calcium and contains potassium, phosphorus, niacin, folic acid and a lot more. It’s really great for him, for his body, for his health. I also wanted him to be familiar with the taste as I have been on the process of teaching him to eat good veggies. However, I couldn’t introduce it to him at that age especially when he was formerly having gas pain, and broccoli is a gas-forming vegetable and I didn’t want him having trouble with that. It may also be a bit hard for a young infant to digest it, so I passed up on it.

Waited for him to turn 8 months or as soon as his digestion becomes mature. (The best time for broccoli to be introduced is around 8 to 10 months) He’s about to turn 9 months this week and I’m pretty sure he’s ready to get some of that broccoli love.

Since this is my baby’s first broccoli and he’s likely to develop allergies I again sticked with the 4-Day Wait Rule. I’ve decided to make broccoli and carrots puree than just broccoli alone. He has already tasted different foods in the past and I don’t want good food such as broccoli go to waste because of the risk that he may not like the taste. So I incorporate carrots as this is one of his faves, and the sweetness of it is a great combination to broccoli.

  

Broccoli and Carrot Puree

Ingredients:

• 1 stalk broccoli
• 1 large carrots

Procedure:

1. Wash broccoli and carrot in cold water for 2 minutes
2. Chop a cup of each and steam for 8-10 minutes or until very soft. Let it cool.
3. Transfer the vegetables to a glass measuring cup. Using an immersion blender, blend to a desired consistency and serve.
4. Store the remaining puree in the freezer storage pods to use later

Storage Time: 3 months in the freezer
Recipe Yields: 6-8 Servings