Baby Veggie Mash Recipe

Making your own baby food is a great idea to ensure that your baby is getting as much food variety as possible. The following recipe is tried and tested, using easy-to-find root vegetables and is suitable for babies anytime they're ready from 4 months and onwards. Thin the recipe with the cooking water for younger babies, and leave soft lumps in the mash for babies around 8 months or older to encourage chewing.

Baby Veggie Mash

Ingredients:
3 parsnips
3 carrots
1 sweet potato or kumara, peeled
1 potato
a pinch of grated ginger root

Directions:
Scrub all ingredients clean, or peel and rinse clean. (Vegetable skins have lots
of nutrients, so if you can keep the skins on the tender veggies, it’s a good
idea to try.) Cut into large pieces.
Place the ingredients into a steamer over boiling water. Place a pinch of grated fresh ginger on top.
Steam vegetables until very tender. Mash or blend until desired consistency. Use some of the hot cooking liquid from the steamer pot if you need to thin the texture of the vegetable mash.
Place into clean ice cube trays & cover with plastic film. Place into freezer immediately to freeze.

Reheat in a serving bowl to hot and steaming as needed.

IMPORTANT:
When making your own baby food, it is critical that all your cooking utensils are scrupulously clean, and that you are working in a clean, uncluttered cooking environment. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling any of the cooked food. If you are using an ice cube tray to freeze your baby food in, use a heat-proof one that you can sterilise in boiling water before using.

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Some interesting facts about the ingredients in this recipe:

• Ginger has been used for centuries to calm colicky babies tummies.
• Cooked carrots are a source of vitamin A, potassium, and contain vitamin B6, copper, folic acid, and magnesium.
• Kumara are a source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and provide fibre and potassium.
• Parsnips are a good source of fibre, and a source of niacin, vitamin C and potassium.