Making healthy food that also tastes good for your precious baby can be nerve-wracking because sometimes the food that tastes good is low in nutrients but the food that is rich in nutrients can make you throw up. These are a few easy healthy food recipes made from ingredients that can be locally sourced and are affordable. They are also a mom's best-kept secrets to healthy chubby babies that are not given up easily (I wonder why). Making different food recipes should not cost an arm and a leg, especially in the present economy when prices of baby food have skyrocketed. Making your own also has the advantage of being made from high-quality ingredients and in a controlled environment with minimal exposure to germs. It is possible to make baby food in Nigeria at home. We have your baby and finances in mind that is why we compiled these nutritious recipes, especially for new moms.
Pap and egg custard
This is an easy-to-make weight-gaining food for your baby. The pap in this recipe is made from corn and is also known as akamu or ogi. Pap and egg custard is rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals and fat, especially Omega-3 fatty acid that is required for a baby's brain development. It is a great addition to your baby's meal plan.
Procedure to make pap:
- Soak corn that has been removed from the cob for 2 days (drain the water every day to prevent it from having a sour smell). This fermentation process removes anti-nutrients in the corn and improves its nutritional value.
- Drain after the second day and blend into a paste.
- Add water to the paste and sieve the chaff out.
- Allow sitting for a while and sediment after which you drain the water and dry out the starch that settles in the bottom.
Ingredients for pap and egg custard:
- 1-2 tablespoons of dried pap
- One egg yolk
- 3/4 cup of milk
- A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Preparation:
- Put the ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth
- Pour into a pot and cook under low heat while stirring until it becomes a paste
- Remove from heat, pour into a bowl and sweeten with date syrup (optional).
Unripe banana meal
Banana is rich in healthy Vitamins B6, C and B2. In addition, the antacid present in bananas prevents your baby from having ulcers.
Ingredients:
- Grated or blended unripe banana
- Crayfish
- 1/4 onions
- Salt
- Palm oil
- Vegetables of your choice
Preparation:
- Scoop the banana paste with your fingers and wrap them in little pieces of vegetables and put them in a pot
- Pour hot water into the pot and set on heat (there is the option of using stock from boiled brisket bones to add calcium to the meal)
- Add the salt, onions and crayfish to the mix
- When it boils add your palm oil and cook under low heat for a little while and remove from heat.
- Dish into a plate and allow to cool before feeding your baby.
Coconut milk Moi-Moi
The main ingredient in this healthy food recipe is beans and it is a rich source of carbohydrate, protein, iron, calcium, Vitamin B and fibre.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of beans
- Crayfish
- 1/2 onion bulb
- 3 bell peppers( tatashe)
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk (to soften the moi-moi)
- Salt
- Vegetable oil
Preparation:
- Soak the beans in water for an hour
- Drain and pour into a blender, pulse until the skins are off (alternatively, gently scrub the beans on a grater to peel the skin off)
- Pour out and wash out the skins
- Put the beans in a blender alongside the other ingredients and blend until it becomes a smooth paste
- Pour into moi-moi bowls or wrap in leaves
- Boil for about 45 minutes to one hour
- Allow cooling before feeding your baby.
Traditional Nigerian food staples are very versatile and can be made into a variety of meals. Feeding your baby should not be all about fancy foods rather, mix and match nutritionally balanced food and widen your baby's choices.
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