Do Not use honey to sweeten as it poses a risk of Botulism * in children under the age of one.
* Botulism ~ The meaning of Botulism is acute food poisoning that is caused by Botulinum Toxin produced in food by a Bacterial Clostridium (Clostridium Botulinum) and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis, disturbances of vision, swallowing, and speech, and a high mortality rate.
This rare but serious condition caused by the toxins from the bacteria called Clostridium Botulinum.
Three common forms of Botulism are:
Foodborne Botulism. The harmful bacteria thrive and produce the toxin in environments with little oxygen, such as in home-canned food. Wound Botulism. If these bacteria get into a cut, they can cause a dangerous infection that produces the toxin.
Here, we are mainly interested in this variety, the Infant Botulism. This most common form of Botulism begins after a Clostridium Botulinum bacterial spores grow in a baby's intestinal tract. It typically occurs in babies between the ages of 2 months and 8 months.
All types of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies.
Substitute barley malt syrup for karo syrup or sugar.
Homemade Infant Formula with Cows Milk
12 oz. evaporated milk
20 oz. purified water
2 tblsp granulated sugar Or 1 tblsp light corn syrup
Infant Vitamin D Drops, optional
Infant DHA Drops, optional
2 tsp nutritional yeast, optional
Combine the liquid ingredients in a quart size container. Add the sugar or corn syrup and shake or stir until fully dissolved. Feed immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers and use within three days.
Note: Do not use whole milk, 2% or skim milk. 13 oz. evaporated milk has more calories and nutrients than 13 oz. fresh milk due to its concentrated state. Also, Do Not use honey to sweeten the formula instead of the sugar or corn syrup. Honey is Never safe to give to a child under the age of one due to the risk of botulism.
If you want to make this a bit more healthy, you may want to consider adding one or two vitamin D drops and a teaspoon of nutritional yeast. This will boost the vitamin D content as well as the B vitamins and folate in your homemade formula. If you do use these additions, keep them in a separate batch and only feed that batch once a day.
Makes approx. 1 quart.
Homemade Formula for Babies with Goats Milk
8 oz. purified water
1 serving goat milk powder, according to the package
1/2 tsp. nutritional yeast
1 tsp brown rice syrup
2 tsp blackstrap molasses
1/2 tsp cod liver oil, optional
Infant Vitamin D Drops, optional
Infant DHA Drops, optional
Combine all ingredients in a quart sized container and mix until fully dissolved and incorporated. Refrigerate any unused formula immediately. Discard any unfinished bottles.
Note: The nutrition in goats milk is far different than cow’s milk. The additions in this recipe are necessary in order to boost the nutrition that your child will need. The nutritional yeast adds B vitamins and folate. The brown rice syrup and molasses give necessary carbs and iron. The cod liver oil is fed once a day adds vitamins A and D.
This recipe does not keep long. Discard any ununsed formula after 24 hours. Because of this short lifespan, it is usually best to make this formula recipe by the bottle verses a larger batch.
Homemade Rice Milk Baby Formula
1 c brown rice, cooked
4 c purified water
2 tblsp granulated sugar or 1 tblsp light corn syrup
Infant Vitamin D Drops, optional
Infant DHA Drops, optional
1 tsp nutritional yeast, optional
Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until the mixture has completely liquified. This will take at least five minutes, but may take longer depending on your blender. Refrigerate any leftovers and use within 48 hours.
Note: White rice may be used, but brown rice has more nutritional value. Again, do Not use honey to sweeten as it poses a risk of botulism in children under the age of one.
Homemade Baby Formula
2 cups of filtered water
2 tsp collagen protein
4 tblsp lactose
2 cups raw whole, grass-fed milk
2 tblsp heavy cream
1 capsule contents Lacto (optional, for lactose digestion support)
1/4 tsp acerola powder
1/4 tsp of infant probiotics
2 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
1/2 tsp of cod liver oil
1 tsp expeller pressed sunflower oil *
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp coconut oil
(optional) 1/4 teaspoon butter oil
Take 2 cups of filtered water pour about half the water into a pan and turn heat on medium.
Add 2 teaspoons of collagen protein and 4 tablespoons lactose to the warming water and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
While the collagen and lactose are dissolving, place 2 cups of raw whole milk in a clean, glass blender and add the remaining ingredients:
2 or more tblsp cream
1/4 tsp acerola powder (vitamin C)
1/4 tsp of bifidobacterium infantis
2 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
1/2 tsp of cod liver oil
1 tsp expeller pressed sunflower oil
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Then remove the pan from the heat and pour in the remaining half of the water to cool.
Next, add 2 teaspoons coconut oil and (optional) 1/4 teaspoon butter oil to the water to melt.
Add the water mixture to the blender ingredients and blend for about 3 seconds.
Pour the blended ingredients into glass jars and refrigerate.
Makes 72 ounces.
* Expeller-pressed is a method to make sunflower oil, which means sunflower oil is squeezed out of sunflower seeds only through physical extrusion method, and then remove some impurities, etc. Such method prevents high temperatures from damaging the nutrients in sunflower oil and retains more nutrients in sunflower oil.
The use of animal's milk for infant feeding is noted as far back as 2000 BC.
Throughout the ages and until the end of the 19th century, animal's milk was the most common source of artificial feeding. When an infant failed to thrive, pap and panada were used as supplements to animal's milk. The type of animal's milk used was dependent on the kind of animal that was available. Such as; goats, sheep, donkeys, camels, pigs, or horses. The most common and universally used milk for artificial feeding, however, was cow's milk. Pap, a semisolid food made of flour or bread crumbs cooked in water with or without milk. Panada, a preparation of various cereals or bread cooked in broth.
Since then, alternative milk sources have evolved to include the synthetic formulas of today.
In 1810, Nicholas Appert developed a technique to sterilize food in sealed containers. His development was followed by the invention of evaporated milk, which was patented in 1835 by William Newton. In 1853, Texan Gale Borden added sugar to the evaporated milk, canned the substance, and sold it as Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, which became a popular infant food. In 1885, John B. Myerling developed an unsweetened condensed milk, labeling it as evaporated milk. Myerling's product was also a popular choice for infant feeding and was highly recommended by pediatricians from the 1930s to the 1940s.
In 1929, the first Soy Formula became available and a vitamin fortification was developed which helped the issues for using the Soy Formula.
Pediatrition and National Nutrition Databases Suggest the Following:
Daily Recommended Intake for Toddlers 12-23 months
700-1,000 calories a day split between 3 meals and 2 snacks
Half of the daily calories should be from healthy fats
2/3 – 1 cup of vegetables daily
1/2 – 1 cup of fruit daily
1 3/4 – 3 ounces of grains daily
1 2/3 – 2 cups of dairy daily
2 ounces of protein daily
Daily Recommended Intake for Toddlers 2-4 years
1,000-1,400 calories a day for girls and 1,000-1,600 calories for boys split between 3 meals and 1-2 snacks
Healthy fats should be reduced to about 30% of total daily calories
1-2 cups of vegetables daily
1- 1 1/2 cups of fruit daily
3 – 5 ounces of grains daily
2 – 2 1/2 cups of dairy daily
2 – 5 ounces of protein daily
A Pancake For Baby
1 medium banana, with a few brown spots
1 large egg
2 tblsp flour (see notes)
1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Mash ingredients in a medium bowl, mash the banana until very smooth with only a few lumps.
Add in the flour, egg and cinnamon (if using).
Mix well with a fork or whisk, mix until everything is combined.
Cook in medium skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray or add a little butter if needed. Drop one tablespoon of batter on the skillet and let cook for 3-4 minutes or until the sides are starting to become firm and the bottoms are golden brown.
You will not see any bubbles like traditional pancakes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
Let cool slightly and serve.
For 6+ months
Makes 8-9 small pancakes
Will last in an air-tight container in the fridge up to 2 days or in the freeze for up to one month.
Notes on Flour: you can use whole wheat, white whole wheat, all-purpose or a one-for-one gluten-free mix for this recipe.
Best Iron Rich Foods for Babies
Fortunately, there are a ton of great iron-rich foods that are great for your baby as a puree or as a finger food if you are doing baby-led weaning.
Beef, Pork, Lamb: ground, pureed, served on the bone for baby-led weaning or made into meatballs
Dark Greens: great in a puree, smoothie or egg muffins
Lentils: can be added to any puree, or gently mashed and handed to baby as a finger food
Eggs: pureed, mashed, hardboiled, or scrambled
Chicken, Turkey: pureed and added to favorite puree, chopped or in strips for blw (baby-led weaning)
Quinoa: great as baby cereal, or made into a mini muffin
Beans, Lentils and Tofu: great option to add into a puree or gently mashed and handed to baby
Broccoli: can be pureed or offered as a finger food
Sweet Potatoes: can be pureed or offered as a finger food
Oats: can make your own oatmeal or use instant oatmeal baby cereal
Fortified Baby Cereal: easy store-bought option
Peach Blueberry Smoothie
1 C. frozen blueberries
4 C. frozen peaches
1 C. yogurt
2 C. milk
1 C. raw sugar you could use honey as well
2 C. ice
Wash hands and have kids wash theirs.
Dump all ingredients into blender.
Blend until mixed.
Pour into cups and enjoy!
Toddler Mac and Cheese with Peas
8 oz Elbow Macaroni
2 Tblsp Butter
2 Tblsp Flour (or Arrowroot flour for gluten free)
1 1/2 cup Whole Milk
1/2 cup Whole Milk Greek Yogurt
2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Frozen Peas (Thawed)
Boil noodles in large pot according to package (For Banza brand, boil for 8 minutes)
Drain pasta and set aside.
In the same pot, melt butter over medium-low heat and then whisk in flour, stirring until smooth. Cook for 1-2 minutes until it bubbles.
Add milk and stir continuously until it begins to thicken (about 2-4 minutes).
Add greek yogurt and stir until smooth, then stir in cheese and stir until combined and fully melted.
Remove from heat. Add back your drained elbow macaroni noodles and stir until combined, then stir in peas. If your peas are still partially frozen, heat over low heat until peas are warm.
Banana Oats Milkshake
Banana 1
Oats 1 tablespoon
Full fat milk 1.5 cups
Chop the bananas and add them in a mixer jar or blender.
Add in the oats and blend.
Now add the milk and blend again until the oats and bananas have combined well with the milk.
Transfer the milkshake in a glass and serve it to your baby.
For 15 months.
Carrot Apple Juice
Carrot 4
Apple 1
Ginger (Optional) 1/2 inch
Lemon (Optional) 1/2
For Juicer:
Wash and peel the carrots, ginger, and apples. Cut in small pieces according to the size of the juicer you’re using.
Put in the ingredients one by one to juice. Squeeze half a lemon into the jar.
For Blender/Mixer:
Wash and peel the carrots, ginger, and apples.
Blend until the carrot, ginger, and apple get smooth. Squeeze half a lemon into the lemon and mix.
Now put the pureed mixture into a muslin cloth over a container to get the juice.
Squeeze the mixture, and your juice is ready!
Use within 24-48 hours of making.
For 22 months.
Apple and Pear Pureé
1 lg eating apple peeled, cored and chopped
1 lg pear peeled, cored and chopped
Place the chopped fruits into a steam basket. Place basket, into a pan of water with a lid. Cook until the fruit is soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. Reserve about 2 tablespoon of the liquid to puree. Using a handheld mixer, blender or a food processor. Pureé the mixture to your desired texture.
Potato Corn and Carrot
7 oz water
1 medium carrot peeled and sliced (1/2 cup)
1 small weet potato peeled and chopped (1 cup)
1 potato peeled and chopped (1 1/3 cup)
1 tblsp butter
1 small leek trimmed and sliced
1/2 cup canned sweet corn
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)
Place the carrot, sweet potato and potato in a steamer basket. Place basket, into a pan of water with a lid. Cook until the veggies is soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. In the meantime, cook melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the for roughly 5 minutes over medium to low heat until soft. Remove the veggies, reserving the liquid. Add the steamed veggies to your mixing bown or your food processor, the leek, sweet corn, the cheese if you want it and 3 to 4 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Pureé the mixture to your liking using the handheld mixer, blender, or food processr.
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