[Beech Nut’s Mango Mint Slushy. Get the recipe here.]
About two seconds after my baby started eating solids, I couldn't wait to start introducing new tastes to her— especially superfoods. After all, this is the time to get her hooked on healthy flavors, right? Before she can escape the clutches of the highchair and run down the hall screaming at the sight of broccoli?
About two seconds after my baby started eating solids, I couldn't wait to start introducing new tastes to her— especially superfoods. After all, this is the time to get her hooked on healthy flavors, right? Before she can escape the clutches of the highchair and run down the hall screaming at the sight of broccoli?
Superfoods are all the rage, and as soon as your baby is ready to eat pureed fruits and veggies, she’s also ready to try some nutritious kale, spinach, and squash. You know, the favorite foods of childhood!
OK, let's be real—even though a lot of superfoods are tasty (hey blueberries, we're looking at you!), and they all pack a dense nutritional punch, it can be tough to get your baby or toddler interested in them. That's where Beech-Nut comes in: they have a variety of baby foods that can help introduce your little one to some seriously good-for-them meals, and even a line of organic purees! My baby's favorite is pretty much anything mixed with pear, so Beech-Nut Naturals Just Pineapple, Pear & Avocado is a favorite in our house.
We're taking it beyond the pouch and jar though! Here are five super simple recipes to get your older baby chowing down on superfoods with the help of Beech-Nut baby foods.
- Tropical Smoothie — Add one jar of Beech-Nut Naturals Just Pineapple, Pear & Avocado to a blender, add half a banana, half a cup of ice, and a splash of water, prepared formula, or breastmilk. Feel free to add more liquid until desired consistency is reached, and either spoon-feed to your baby, or let her happily suck it out of a straw. My 16-month-old is obsessed with straws right now, so it's a good opportunity to get her to try new foods.
- Fortified Yogurt — Mix in one Beech-Nut Naturals Just Apple & Kale to plain, full-fat Greek yogurt, another superfood full of protein and calcium.
- Mac-n-Cheese Plus — Once your baby starts chomping his little gums together, he's ready to start some soft solids like macaroni and cheese. This is also a fantastic trick to get some veggies into his diet, if he's already developed a taste for sweeter fruits, or even for older kids. Just stir any veggie blend baby food like a jar of Beech-Nut Naturals Just Spinach, Zucchini & Peas into your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe before serving. We won't tell if your go-to mac-n-cheese recipe comes out of a box either, plus you can feel good about adding that superfood punch.
- Fall-Inspired Quinoa — This is great way to introduce your older baby to textures while getting some awesome nutrition into his system. Just add a jar of Beech-Nut Naturals Beets, Pear & Pomegranate to prepared quinoa, and watch all the adorable faces he makes as he experiments with pushing the quinoa around with his tongue and gums.
- Savory Scrambled Egg — Just add a dollop or two from a jar of Beech-Nut Naturals Just Sweet Corn & Green Beans to a beaten egg, and scramble in a hot pan as usual. Be sure to let it cool off before serving to baby, and maybe make another larger portion for yourself. That stuff is too good to let your kid have all the fun of eating it.
