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Baby Gourmet: Planning Healthy

More and more often, are you cooking different meals for your kids, yourself and your spouse?   What about your six-month old who is eating  simple purees? Or your eight-month old who is ready for something with a little more texture but still needs a simpler menu than the rest of the family?  

Planning healthy and delicious meals is complicated enough.  Making sure you aren't compromising taste or nutrition for all these age-appropriate meals gets downright tricky.  But what if you could make one meal for your family and just simply modify it as you go.  While you are cooking, you could easily create  one meal three ways:  great for adults; great for kids; and great for babies.

That is what Jennifer Broe, mother of two and founder & president of Baby Gourmet has provided in these recipes. There's one for breakfast and one for lunch or dinner.  Each recipe provides all the ingredients you will need for great meals for adults, kids, and babies.  Jen has laid out simple steps to prepare each recipe three ways.  Healthy. Delicious. Simple.  Just how it should be. 

Where the recipes come from - Jen's story
Jennifer Broe, Founder & President of Baby Gourmet

I never gave baby food much thought until about six years ago when I was attempting to feed a jar of  green beans to my daughter, Finlay.  The color resembled mud more than actual green vegetables (which should be a healthy, vibrant colour).  And if the colour and texture are somewhat nauseating, then the flavour – or lack thereof – can only be described as 'interesting.  This is the word I tell my kids to use if they don’t like something. 

I asked myself  "how can I possibly feed this to her, I would never eat it myself?" In good conscience, I put down the jar and decided from that moment on that I would commit my time to making her food from scratch.

Time is a factor in making meals for the whole family
That simple jar of food is what changed my life and led me to eventually  launch my own baby food company, Baby Gourmet.  With the opening of that first jar of green beans,  I remember thinking that baby food shouldn’t have to be this way.

I knew I couldn’t be the only parent who felt this way: frustrated with a lack of choice, yet also in need of convenience. As much as we may love the idea of always feeding our babies wholesome, homemade food, time is often a factor. That is why I know busy moms will really like the recipes for Quick Whole Wheat Pancakes with Banana and Cream Vegetable Beef & Barley Stew. They are quick and healthy ways to make a meal that will work for the entire family.

Thousands of recipes tested with moms
During my two years selling Baby Gourmet at the Farmer’s Market, I was approached by so many mothers who don't have time to cook gourmet baby food.  Who has time to roast a banana for 45 minutes when the rest of the family needs to eat too? 

I started developing recipes that could feed the entire family, including baby.  I took one recipe and simply modified it at various steps to create delicious baby food, toddler and kids' food, and a meal for mom and dad.  One meal. Three ways.

I’m always brainstorming interesting combinations that a mom might not think of making herself. Over the years, I have tested many recipes and  discovered that moms and babies enjoy traditional combinations with a twist.

Whether I am packaging my favourite recipes into Baby Gourmet pouches or sharing recipes with other moms, every day I am inspired to invent new meals that provide all moms with options for nutritious, homemade, organic  food that are also delicious.   Simply put, if the food doesn’t taste good, then it’s not good enough.

More recipes available at http://www.babygourmet.com/blog-categories/recipe

Quick Whole Wheat Pancakes with Banana Cream
Everyone loves pancakes…mom’s love them even more when they are quick and healthy! Kids not only love to eat the banana cream topping, but help make it too!

Serves 6 - 8
1 egg
1 ½ cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon melted butter or oil
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup unbleached all purpose flour
4 tablespoons wheat germ
1 teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Banana Cream Topping
2 ripe bananas, mashed (kids like to do this part)
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
Pinch of cinnamon
Maple syrup (optional)

instructions
In a medium bowl, combine flours, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a small bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until moistened.

Heat non-stick pan or prep griddle with cooking spray over medium heat. Use ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until lightly browned on each side. Keep warm in the oven until all the batter has been used up.
For topping stir bananas, Greek yogurt and cinnamon until smooth.

For BABY 6 months+: Serve banana cream topping as prepared in step 4

For BABY 10 months +: Cut up bite sized pieces of finished pancake and allow baby to dip into banana cream topping.

For the rest of the FAMILY: Top pancakes with banana cream and a drizzle of pure maple syrup. Serve.

Vegetable Beef & Barley Stew
Baby Gourmet’s #1 selling product at the Farmer’s Market, this recipe has been adapted to become one of baby’s all-time favorites.  It’s the perfect comfort food, a hearty meal the whole family will love!

Serves 6 - 8
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic, crushed
1 large onion, diced
4 celery stalks, sliced
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups mushrooms, peeled and sliced
6 cups chicken stock
½ cup pearl barley
4 small potatoes, ½” cubed (18 minis quartered)
4 oz stewing beef, ¼” cubes
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoon sea salt (to taste)
2 tablespoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
instructions
In a large saucepan heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.

Add celery, carrots and mushrooms, sauté another 10 minutes until cooked through.

Add chicken stock, barley, potatoes and beef. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer on low for 50 minutes.

For BABY 8 months+: Remove ½ cup of stew and pulse in mini processor until chunky consistency is reached. Cool and serve.

For KIDS: Add fresh parsley, remove servings from pot, cool and serve.

For the rest of the FAMILY: Season with salt and Montreal seasoning. Serve.
Tip* Adjust consistency and liquid content at step 4 to make suitable for younger baby.
 

Article originally published for Baby Gourmet