6 months onwards

Root vegetables have a naturally sweet taste so are perfect for makin puree baby food. They puree to a smooth baby food and are unlikely to cause an allergy. Orange colored vegetables like carrot, sweet potato and pumpkin are rich in beta-carotene – the vegetable source of vitamin-A which is important for growth, fighting infection, healthy skin and hair.

Carrot Puree (1 cup) Preparation Time: 15 min | Cooking Time: 10 min

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene the plant form of vitamin A and make excellent weaning food because of their naturally sweet taste. In the first few weeks of weaning make sure that the carrots are cooked for quite a long time so that they are soft enough to puree to a smooth consistency.

Carrots: 250g peeled and chopped carrot

Method:
• Cook the peeled and chopped carrots in boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
• Drain the carrots and place in a blender (Mixer), adding some of the water from the cooking liquid, then puree until very smooth. You can also add your breast milk or formula milk instead of water.
• The amount of liquid you add really depends on your baby, you may need to add a little more if he/she finds the puree difficult to swallow.
• Add salt for taste and serve lukewarm.

Sweet Potato Puree (1 cup)

Ingredients:
• 250g of peeled and chopped sweet potato
• 50ml of Breast Milk (Preferably) or Formula milk

Method:
• Cook the Peeled and Chopped Sweet potatoes in boiling water for 15 min
• Place the cooked Sweet potatoes in a mixer and gradually add the breast milk or Formula milk and process it to make fine puree.

Butternut Squash (Kalyana Ooosanikai) Puree (1 cup)

Ingredients:
• 250g of Butternut Squash.
• 50ml of Breast Milk (Preferably) or Formula milk

Method:
• Cook Butternut Squash in boiling water for 20 – 30 min
• Place the cooked Butternut Squash in a mixer and gradually add the breast milk or Formula milk and process it to make fine puree
• You can use water left over from cooking instead of milk or formula.

This method of cooking also works with any of the other root vegetables eg: potatoes. Cooking times will differ depending on which vegetable you choose.