UNCOMMON and "EXOTIC" Baby Foods
Are you wondering about offering your baby Onions, Mushrooms, Peppers, Celery and maybe Lychees? Maybe you'd like to introduce Coconut to your baby or maybe some Star Fruit mixed into Yogurt? How should you prepare that fresh caught wild game for your baby and is it safe?
Why are these foods called "Uncommon" or "Exotic"?
Many parents ask us about certain foods that are not found on a typical "Solid Food Chart". More often than not, foods like onions, peppers, figs etc. are neglected on baby food charts as these foods are seldom eaten alone and are more often than not considered additions to meals! Also, most authorities in the U.S. are not keen to let parents know that they may indeed offer these types of foods to their babies. In the U.S. it is commonplace for advising only bland (and boring) baby foods!
You may be aware that our website is based in the United States and as such, we may not include many foods that are not commonly consumed in the United States. We know that the cultural variations in weaning foods are vast and we hope that this article may help you as you look to include other foods in baby's repertoire.
Information on offering your baby spices may be found here with our Spice It Up! article. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to spice up your baby's meals and stimulate and excite his taste buds!
Looking for information on how to introduce and incorporate Soy/Tofu in your baby's diet, What to do with Tofu has all the information you need; from preparation, storage and even recipes!
Let's start with the
"UN"COMMON FRUITS:
Coconut: Coconut allergy is very rare! The coconut is not in the tree nut family, it's actually a member of the palm family! Many in the U.S. would not think that coconut is a good food to offer a baby. When many think of Coconut, we think of the large round shelled coconut and the more hard/dry meat that is inside it. We think that there really is no way to prepare coconut "baby food" and offering a baby a dish of pureed coconut is really not an option.
There is more to the coconut than meets the casual eye however! Seldom do we in the U.S. (and even in North America) realise that many cultures use Coconut milk for example, almost every day in their meals. Coconut milk is very healthy and many cultures begin to offer infants coconut milk early on, around 6-8 months old! Most children in the U.S. will encounter coconut first in baked goods and it is rare that Coconut milk is regularly consumed or offered in the U.S. Coconut milk may be incorporated into a variety of rice and meat dishes if your pediatrician indicates this is fine for your baby. Learn about the "water coconut" and the jelly like meat it contains along with more information at Coconut Facts from Kate's Global Kitchen
Coconut oil is a great replacement for vegetable oils when cooking; unlike other oils such as Flax Oil, coconut oil will withstand high temperatures and not turn rancid. There is one caveat in that most coconut oil is processed, bleached and washed through with chemicals. If you decide to use this healthy oil, ensure that you purchase only virgin coconut oil! Coconut oil does contain a high amount of saturated fats however the type of saturated fat is not the "bad" kind. Coconut oil will also solidify so don't be alarmed when you find the coconut oil in your cupboard has turned solid!
Pomegranates, Passion Fruit, Figs and Dates, Lychees, Persimmons, and Star Fruit - Oh My!: Here are a few "uncommon fruits! These are all very low on the allergy list and any rare occurrence of a reaction has been traced to a cross-reactivity, typically with birch pollen. Pomegranates in particular may pose a choking hazard as the "edible" portion of the fruit is actually the seeds. Consider offering only the pomegranate juice to baby around 8 months old. Tony Tantillo recommends rolling a Pomegranate around to loosen the juice and then inserting a straw to let kids drink the juice for a new treat.
Lychees are very sweet, high in vitamin C and yummy too! While it is very rare, there have been a few incidences of dermatological reaction to lychees due to cross-reactivity. Lychees, Persimmons and Star Fruit may be peeled and offered when fully ripe to your baby around 8-10 months old. You may give them a gentle steaming if you wish, prior to serving them. With Persimmons, it is most common to find them being eaten puréed within baked goods.
Passion Fruit may be a bit acidic so consider offering it later on to your older infant; it is very yummy when fully ripened and serves in small dices. Figs and Dates are highly nutritious and not allergenic! The only issue with Figs and Dates is in their preparation and texture. You could mix very small bits of dates and scrapings of Fig into your older baby's cereals, yogurt, fruits and even meats. We don't think that puree of Date or purée of Fig would make for a nice "meal". Dates and Figs make for very yummy, naturally sweet snacks that older toddlers and children will love alone or in a nice trail mix.
Berries: Gooseberries and Chokecherries for example. Chokecherries may be very yummy however they may also be highly poisonous! It is the seeds that are poisonous and not the flesh itself. Be aware that there have been incidences of children who have been poisoned from eating chokecherries! As with other "true" berries as we call them (such as strawberry, raspberry, blackberry), you should offer berries when baby has reached 10-12 months old, depending on the history of family allergies! Blueberries and cranberries are the exception as they are not "true berries" in the sense they are not related to other berries and are not high on the allergen list! Learn more about Blueberries and Cranberries
"UN"COMMON VEGGIES:
Onions, Peppers, Mushrooms, Leeks and More
Most often we are asked about Onions, Mushrooms, Celery, Leeks and Peppers.
These veggies may be sautéed and added to your child's food between 8-10 months old. We do not recommend offering your baby an onion, mushroom, celery or a pepper puree rather we recommend that you add these wonderful veggies to food dishes. Should you decide to offer your baby onions, mushrooms, celery and peppers, please ensure that they are fully cooked, soft, and appropriately sized so as not to pose any choking hazard!
It is most important to cook mushrooms for your baby's food. Mushrooms as we all know are fungi and cooking helps ensure their safety!
These veggies do not pose a high allergy risk however there may be certain digestive issues in a sensitive or delicate tummy. We think that these veggies are best served in soups, casseroles, noodle/rice dishes. Our babies loved sautee'd mushrooms with sauteed spinach! This would be for the older baby (10 months +) due mostly to the spinach!
Leeks add a nice savory taste to any soup or main meal. As with onions and peppers, they are low on the allergy list and make for great seasonings and additions rather than served as a "meal" type food!
Parsnips are another very yummy veggie that have an almost sweet "fennel-ish" taste. Parsnips help flavour a broth and are very nice when roasted with olive oil. You may steam and puree parsnips for your infant, around 8-10 months old. Carrot and Parsnip Mash is very nice for older infants as is Parsnip, Rice, Apple and Chicken dinner!
Okra is one of those veggies that people either adore or despise. Most of us here happen to adore Okra (especially when deep fried - NOT healthy for young children however). Okra is one of those veggies that is rather difficult to work with and is limited in the ways to be prepare. Okra purée is probably not an option and offering very very small pieces of Okra from a soup may be more appropriate. If you know Okra, then you are aware that the skin tends to be tough and the seeds are not very tiny. This may pose a choking hazard so if you plan on offering your infant (best around 10 months+) Okra, ensure that you offer only small bites that your baby can easily manage! Learn more about Okra at Southern Food at about.com
Visit Tony Tantillo the Fresh Grocer to learn all about any fruit or veggie you might think of!
Wild Game
Yes, some of you are wondering when you might be able to feed your baby that fresh venison or duck that has come straight out of the wild. As with any "wild" meat, there is the outside chance that certain diseases may have affected the game. One should also be mindful of the possibility of harmful chemicals that may be found in wild game. Many new studies suggest that birds and fish in particular are having more highly elevated levels of PCB and Mercury contamination. Check your local Fish & Game department for any health bulletins and warnings that may be issued in your Forest area!
One of the best articles we have found thus far may be viewed here. This link points to a very short abstract of the article and unless you have a subscription, you will not be able to view the full article. Our own pediatricians recommend waiting until an infant has reached 18 months old or 24 months old to offer any type of wild game; that is game that has actually been caught from the forest. For example, offering your baby "wild game" such as duck that has been farmed and purchased from a grocer should be fine for any infant who is tolerating meat proteins. This link has wonderful information on food safety from "field to kitchen". If you are going to serve your older child wild game, ensure that it is thoroughly cooked, without any pink or raw areas at all! The internal temperature should be brought above 160F!
While we have provided the above information that we have researched, we always urge you to consult your pediatrician! There are many instances when generalities may not or will not apply to individual babies!
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