Strawberry Baby Food Recipes

Easy, tasty strawberry recipes

Strawberry baby food is one of the easiest and definitely one of my top 10 most fun foods to make - and eat. Fresh strawberries will easily become your baby’s favorite fruit - but, yes there is a but. Strawberries can cause allergic reactions in some babies, so please consult your pediatrician before introducing strawberries to your baby especially if you have a family history of allergies.

When there are in season, you can buy a lot of fresh juicy strawberries very cheaply and go wild in the kitchen with easy strawberry baby food recipes and even recipes for the whole family.

Strawberry Baby Food Allergy

Unfortunately this lovely fruit can as you know, cause allergic reactions in some people. According to research done at one of Sweden's universities, the main culprit in strawberry allergy reactions is a protein called Fragaria allergen 1 or Fra a 1. The allergen in strawberry is very similar to the allergen found in Birch and usually babies who are allergic to strawberries are in some cases even allergic to birch tree pollen and/or apples.

White strawberries - There are many kinds of strawberries and these include some white varieties. These white species have shown to contain lower amounts of Fra a 1 and are not known to cause any sort of allergic reactions. But finding these white strawberries is no easy task.

Cooked red strawberries- Cooking strawberries could help destroy the allergen but some sensitive people may still get an allergic reaction even from cooked strawberries. Ok, some commercial baby foods meant for stage- 2 babies include strawberries right? Yes, but these strawberries are actually heat pasteurized.

According to Beech - Nut baby food "/.../ Cooked strawberries, on the other hand, usually do not. That's because heat pasteurization destroys the substance responsible for reactions. So Beech-Nut includes strawberries - pasteurized for safety and good tolerance - as one of our Beech-Nut Stage 2Â® ingredients. Babies are usually ready for Beech-Nut Stage 2 at about six months/.../"

Allergy symptoms

Strawberry allergy reaction symptoms may include :
Itchiness in and around the mouth, itchy throat, swelling, tummy pain and a runny nose.

The Nutritious Strawberry

Unprocessed fresh or frozen strawberries are so nutritious; they contain great amounts of vitamin C which is great for keeping that dreadful cold away.

strawberrys baby food

Vitamin C also helps babies absorb the iron from meats more effectively. Strawberries are also great antioxidant's and are also rich source of fiber and foliate.

When Can My Baby Eat Strawberry Baby Food?

Homemade strawberry baby food can be introduced to babies from 12 months of age. When you do introduce strawberry baby food, do it cautiously as strawberries are highly allergenic.

Strawberries were not recommended for babies under the age of one year in the past but more recent research points out that there really is no need in delaying the introduction of foods like strawberries in the hopes of preventing atopic diseases. Click here (if you are planning on introducing strawberry baby food to a baby under 12 months of age) if you would like to read a report that was released in 2008 by AAP. This report and the advise from your pediatrician may help you in deciding on your next step.

Tips for Buying and Storing Strawberries

Make sure you pick strawberries that look firm, healthy and free from soft spots

Strawberry baby food ripe strawberries have this beautiful luster and incredibly beautiful red - pinkish color

Strawberries can be stored in the crisper center of you fridge for up 2 to 3 days, though the earlier they are consumed the better.

Easy Strawberry Recipes

Warm Strawberry fruit compote

This yummy compote can be served as a delicious dessert or you can mix with a porridge or baby rice cereal to make a tasty breakfast for your sweet pea.

Ingredients:

150g fresh strawberries

1 fresh apricot

1 medium pear

1/4 cup water

Directions:

Wash, peel and chop the pear. To peel the apricot, place it in a small bowl of very hot water for 60 seconds and then very carefully peel the skin off before stoning and cutting it into four pieces.

Put the water in small a sauce pan and bring to the boil. Add in the strawberries, the pear and the apricot. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 3 - 4 minutes. When done, mash the fruits in their liquid with the back of a fork. Serve slightly warm, alone or with some Greek yoghurt.

Tip! You could puree the fruits if you desire a smooth or less chunky consistency.

Lactose- free whole-wheat Strawberry muffins

These lactose - free strawberry baby food muffins are packed full of wholesome goodness and they will easily make a perfect breakfast or snack for babies and toddlers.

Ingredients:

1 cup whole-wheat flour

11/2 cup White flour

1 cup oats

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 brown sugar

1/2 raisins

1 cup lactose free milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

450g fresh strawberries (each strawberry must be cut into 3 - 4 pieces)

Directions:

Combine all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. Now, in a separate bowl, beat the eggs lightly and add in the milk and vegetable oil. Pour the egg mixture into the dry mixture and mix well until combined. Put tablespoon full of the mixture into muffin baking cups and slightly press three to four cut strawberry pieces on top of each muffin. Bake for up to 20 minutes or until slightly browned at 190⁰ C. Enjoy!

Strawberry and Banana yogurt

Ingredients:

150g fresh strawberries

1 large banana

1 cup greek yoghurt

Directions:

Wash and cut off the top part of the strawberries. Puree together with banana and then mix in the yoghurt. Serve

For chunkier version, mash the banana with the back of fork and then puree the strawberries separately before mixing in the yoghurt.

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