Today’s baby food recipe is delicious, easy to prepare and packed with important nutrients for your little one…
- Pumpkin is a rich source of beta-carotene, the wonderful antioxidant that gives pumpkin its rich orange colour.
- Apples are easy to digest and some sources now suggest that they may help protect the body against asthma.
- Bananas, with their abundant vitamins and minerals, are considered to be one of nature’s most perfect foods.
This is a trio that certainly packs a punch in terms of nutrition and is a wonderful meal for babies just starting solids!
Do ensure, however, that you have introduced the ingredients to your baby separately, before combining them in this recipe.
To Make Baby’s Pumpkin, Apple and Banana Puree You Will Need…
*4 oz (1/2 cup) fresh pumpkin, peeled and diced
1 apple, cored and diced (to peel or not to peel…?)
1 ripe banana
*You may also use canned pumpkin puree. If it contains pumpkin pie spice, it’s fine to use if your baby has previously enjoyed these spices. But do check that it doesn’t contain added sugar/sweeteners.
Steam the pumpkin and apple cubes until tender, or place them in a saucepan, just cover them with water and simmer until done. The pumpkin cubes will take a little longer than the apple, so start those off first.
Meanwhile, mash the banana.
Drain the pumpkin/apple mixture if necessary and cool for 10 mins.
Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth, adding back a little of the cooking water, or a little formula/breastmilk if the texture seems too thick.
Stir in the mashed banana and serve warm.
Tip: You can freeze the leftovers, but the banana does tend to discolour quite significantly. Since the banana doesn’t require cooking, we always freeze the pumpkin/apple mixture, then add the banana freshly mashed when we’re ready to serve it.
You can enhance the wonderful flavours in this dish with a little cinnamon or nutmeg.
Try some more recipes with these healthy ingredients…