Apple radish porridge for babies/ 7-12 months old

Apple radish porridge for babies/ 7-12 months old

(Please continue exclusive breastfeeding and you should never feed a single drop of water to the baby till 06 months of age)

Apple radish porridge for babies/ 7-12 months old

Why should you include apple and radish in baby's diet?

Benefits of apple

• Helps in digestion, as it is rich in fiber
• Contains enzymes which prevent the cancer
• Improve intestinal health and prevents the gastritis
• Prevents anemia among babies
• Reduce weakness and tiredness among children
• Helps in vision
• Boost the brain development

Benefits of radish

• Aids in digestion
• Prevents urinary tract infection
• Protects kidneys of the baby
• Keeps the hydrated
• Boosts the immunity power of the babies and protects them from infections.

Preparation of articles

Articles needed are:

1. Cooking bowl-1
2. Cooking spoon-1
3. Feeding bowl-1 
4. Feeding spoon-1 
5. Big pan-1
6. Covering lids-3
7. Mixer grinder jar-1 (Only for baby)
8. Scrubber-1 

• Keep all articles separately for the baby and do not use for other purposes. (Rationale- To prevent bacterial contamination)

• Wash all articles with tap water and soap. Take drinking water in a big pan, put all the articles (except scrubber) and boil it for five minutes by covering with a lid. After 10 minutes, you can take it for cooking. Use this method at early morning and do not skip this method to prevent further infections for the baby.

• Mixer grinder jar is the best source of bacterial growth, so that mother should clean it well. Take the white paper, dish wash solution and 50 ml of water in the grinder, grind it for 1 minute and wash it very well (do it weekly) (Rationale- To remove food stain and dirt). Then, pour boiling water and cover it with lid for ten minutes (do it early morning every day) (Rationale- To kill bacteria completely). And keep it dry.

Preparation of apple and radish porridge

1. Sliced apple-10 pieces
2. Sliced radish- 10 pieces
3. Drinking water-100 ml

Method:

Wash hands with soap and water.
In a bowl, take the sliced pieces and water. Then, keep on low flame and cook it for 10 minutes. Keep it covered with a lid for another five minutes to cook it very well. Take cooked items in a jar and grind it by adding water as needed.

How to cool the porridge (Double cooling method): (Rationale- To prevent bacterial growth)

Take water in a big bowl and keep the cooking bowl in water. Stir it continuously. This step is crucial for rapid cooling to prevent bacterial growth. Feed the baby immediately, when the porridge is lukewarm.

Preferred feeding time: 7-8pm

The position of the baby:
Wash hands with soap and water.
I have tried many positions including sitting positions, but I am not able to feed the full amount of food.

Best position is- Make mother sit on a floor with supported back and stretched legs. Keep the baby on your legs and head of the baby facing towards your legs. So that you can get a control on face and arms of the baby. Keep the head of the baby slightly elevated.

How to feed the baby: Give a spoon of food and allow ample time for the baby to swallow it. If the baby does not open the mouth, give a mild pressure on one side of the cheek and give food. You can feed the full amount of food by keeping the baby engaged with toys. Avoid the third person with you otherwise, you and baby might be distracted.
It is essential to expel the gas from the stomach to prevent vomiting for the baby. After a few spoons of feeding, make the baby sit and gently pat on the back from bottom to top, till you hear the 'burp' sound.

To be noted: While feeding the baby, make sure that food should not spill over the nose and eyes. If it is spilled on the nose, gently wipe the food with a towel. If it is spilled on eyes, immediately wash the eyes until the baby is comfortable.

Aftercare of the baby: Keep the baby in the same position for at least 10 minutes in order to prevent projectile vomiting. Wash the face with clean water and dry with a towel.

Aftercare of the articles: After feeding, immediately wash the articles with the soapy solution and rinse it very well and, keep it for dry till the next feeding to prevent bacterial growth.

To be noted: 

• Watch the stools of the baby for any color change and you can see the level of digestion of food. 
• Do not compromise on cleaning and hygiene of the food, otherwise, you have to see the little one is suffering from infections.
• Continue breastfeeding along with solid foods.

Reliability of the information 

"We live in the midst of so many answers, suggestions, and options to one question itself. During my motherhood period, I found very difficult to opt the best do's for my baby, despite being a professional nurse. After a lot of readings, observations, brainstorming discussions with my colleagues who are nursing experts, health professionals, and experienced mothers, and I have opted the best things for my baby, implemented and succeeded to have a happy motherhood period without a single episode of fever, cold or diarrhea for the baby and sleepless night too. In spite of committing trials and errors during your parenting time, you can read, understand and implement it. If you have any queries or suggestions, a great welcome to my blog."

                                                                                  Mrs.Ponnambily Jobin

Capsicum carrot coconut scrambled/ thoran

Capsicum carrot coconut scrambled/ thoran

Capsicum carrot coconut scrambled/ thoran
Preparation time- 5 mins
Cooking time-  5 mins 
Total time- 10 mins

Ingredients :

1. Chopped carrot and capsicum- 100 gm
2. Finely chopped onion- 50 gm
3. Oil- 3 tsp
4. Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
5. Tumeric powder- 1 tsp
6. Green chili- 1 no.
7. Salt- as needed 
8. Coconut- 25 gm 
9. Curry leaves- as needed 

Method:

Step 1: Pour oil into a pan and warm it on medium flame. Add mustard seeds, after a few seconds, add chopped onion, curry leaves, turmeric powder, chili and stir it well.  Add carrot first and cook it covered for a few minutes. Then add coconut and capsicum, let it cooked as open till it gets warm and in between stir it well.

Suggestions

Diet for kids

• Reduce chili and capsicum, as it contributes to acidity

Antenatal diet

• Reduce chili and capsicum, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it is a major source of Iron and increases hemoglobin level

Diet for lactating mothers

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it is a major source of Iron and increases hemoglobin level

Postnatal diet

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it is a major source of Iron and increases hemoglobin level

Diet for diabetic persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure

Diet for hypertensive persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level (Its a precautionary measure)
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure (Its a precautionary measure)

Diet for cardiac persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil/coconut, as it increases cholesterol level (Its a precautionary measure)
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure (Its a precautionary measure)

Lunchbox- Dal rice, kovakka/ little gourd coconut scrambled, carrot omelet and lemon pickle

Lunchbox- Dal rice, kovakka/ little gourd coconut scrambled, carrot omelet and lemon pickle

Lunchbox- Dal rice, kovakka/ little gourd coconut scrambled, carrot omelet and lemon pickle
Preparation time- 10 mins
Cooking time-  20mins 
Total time- 30 mins

Ingredients for dal rice:

1. Raw rice-1 cup
2. Moong dal-1/2 cup 
3. Finely chopped onion- 50 gm
4. Oil- 2 tsp (Rice bran oil or ghee)
5. Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
6. Garlic and ginger chopped- 1 tsp each
7. Green chili-1
8. Red chili-1
9. Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
10. Salt- as needed 
11. Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
12. Curry leaves-as needed 

Method:

Step 1: Soak the raw rice and moong dal in water for 10 minutes. 

Step2: In a pressure cooker, pour oil and splutter mustard and cumin seeds. Put onion, ginger, garlic, green and red chili, and curry leaves and sort it well. Add turmeric powder too.

Step 3: After that put raw rice and moong dal, add (2 glass of water for 1 cup of rice) and allow it to boil till two whistles. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.  Before serving in a box, mix it well with salt. 

Ingredients for kovakka thoran/Littlegourd coconut scrambled:

1. Sliced kovakka-1 cup
2. Coconut- 1/4 cup
3. Finely chopped onion- 50 gm
4. Oil- 2 tsp
5. Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
6. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
7. Green chili- 1 no.
8. Salt- as needed 
9. Curry leaves-as needed 

Method:

Step 1: Pour oil into a pan and warm it on medium flame. Add mustard seeds, after a few seconds, add chopped onion, kovakka, coconut, curry leaves, turmeric powder, chili and salt, and stir it well. Add 3 tsp of water and cover with a lid, and let it cook for a few minutes. You stir in between well and make sure that it should not get burned.
Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.

Ingredients for carrot omelet:

1. Egg-1
2. Finely chopped carrot- 25 gm
3. Finely chopped onion- 25 gm
4. Oil- 2 tsp
5. Turmeric powder- 1 pinch
6. Green chili- sliced
7. Salt- as needed 
8. Curry leaves-as needed 

Method:

Step 1: Pour oil into a pan and warm it on medium flame. Take egg in a bowl, add chopped onion, carrot, curry leaves, turmeric powder, chili, and salt, and stir it well. 

Pour into pan, keep it cooked for a few minutes. After that flip to another side. Transfer it to a plate and allow it to cool.

To know the preparation of lemon pickle, please visit: Lemon pickle with preservation of Vitamin C

Tips and warnings

• Do not pack warm foods in the lunch box.
• Put all vegetables including onion and green chili in the water for 1 hour for dilution of pesticides. 
• For easy peeling of ginger, garlic, and onion, soak in water for a few minutes. 
• You can chop all vegetables and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge in the night for next day lunch. You can peel onion, garlic, ginger and keep it the fridge too. Do not slice it. 

Suggestions

Diet for kids

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil and salt also
• Suggested very limited intake of pickle

Antenatal diet

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it helps to increase hemoglobin level
• Suggested very limited intake of pickle

Diet for lactating mothers

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it helps to increase hemoglobin level 
• Suggested very limited intake of pickle, as it contains acidic vinegar and it may reach to the baby through breastmilk.

Postnatal diet

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure
• Add plenty of curry leaves, as it helps to increase hemoglobin level 

Diet for diabetic persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure

Diet for hypertensive persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level (Its a precautionary measure)
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure (Its a precautionary measure)
• Suggested very limited intake of pickle 

Diet for cardiac persons

• Reduce chili, as it contributes to acidity
• Reduce oil, as it increases cholesterol level (Its a precautionary measure)
• Reduce salt, as it increases blood pressure (Its a precautionary measure)