Stage Two, Combinations and Adventure - Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Here you'll find delicious fruit and veggie combinations (also found in The Slow Cooker Baby Food Cookbook) that are designated as Stage Two.  These recipes are suitable for Stage One tiny foodies who already have eaten a variety of foods, and even some herbs and spices, and are progressing with gusto and for babies who are eight months and older.

On the Stage One page, we touched on the three- to four-day wait rule, which reminds us to introduce one new food at a time and then wait for three to four days to see if baby has a reaction to that food. If you’re introducing any new foods in Stage Two, you’ll once again want to follow this rule. This will help rule out any new food that may be giving baby digestive troubles or any type of allergic reaction. Once baby has tried a variety of foods, you can then begin to mix a few ingredients together, don't forget the herbs and spices, to make exciting combination meals. If your younger baby has had each food individually and has done well, feel free to serve him these combinations that are cooked together.

Now the food fun and taste exploration can truly begin!

If you haven’t already been adding extra flavor to your baby’s food with herbs and spices, try doing so now! Keep in mind that besides the flavor boost, these herbs and spices have health benefits, too. And if you have been using them, explore new varieties to please your baby’s palate. Beyond that, this is also the stage to start creating interesting food combinations and scrumptious meals from a variety of foods.

These recipes  can be made as stand-alone “meals” for your baby but may also be used in a variety of other “meal” foods as well. The Pumpkin and Apples recipe for example, can be a single meal or can be mixed into yogurt, oatmeal, another veggie or fruit, or a variety of meat purees and other foods. Please note that none of the recipes in this chapter contain foods that are considered to be allergenic. However, you should always work with your pediatrician to ensure that foods are appropriate for your baby!

Stage Two: Eight to Ten Months

Grains: rice, oatmeal, barley, kamut, flax, wheat, pasta, amaranth, quinoa

Fruits: apples, avocados, bananas, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, mango, kiwifruit, nectarines, pear, peaches, plums

Vegetables: asparagus, beets, broccoli, butternut or any winter squash, cauliflower, carrots, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes, peas, legumes (such as lentils, kidney beans, butter beans, etc.), parsnips, white potatoes, spinach, kale and other leafy greens, zucchini and summer squash

Dairy: yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese (no soft cheeses such as Brie until after twelve months)

Meats/Fish/Protein: eggs, chicken, beef, pork, salmon, cod, tofu

 

Stage Two Baby - Fruits & Veggies

Tasty Herbed Root Veggies Recipe

Herbed Roasted Root Veggies In The Slow Cooker I like to slow-cook this recipe using purple potatoes or sweet potatoes. Here I have used sweet potatoes, but you use the one that you prefer. Don’t let this cook to the […]

Root Veggie Trio with Apples and Fennel – Sides for Baby and Family

These lovely root veggies receive an extra depth of flavor and sweetness when you add in apples and fennel. While this is a great recipe for the slow cooker, you should also try roasting these together sometime! Slow Cooker Size: 4 to […]

Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes with Apples – Slow Cooker Baby Food Treasures

This is a “treasure” recipe; mash the sweet potatoes and leave the beans whole and let baby pick through the sweet potatoes to find the beans. Or mash the beans and add chunks of soft-cooked sweet potatoes. Either way you […]

Apples and Beets with Ginger

Purple/Pink Applesauce? Who wouldn’t like to eat purple applesauce? Your older baby will absolutely love this combination.  Let her dig in with her fingers and watch them turn red.  I know, it’s heart stopping to just envision the mess but […]