Feeding Your Baby Tofu - Tasty Tofu Baby Food Ideas and Recipes.

Tofu for Baby Food Recipes - When Can Baby Have Tofu?

Age for Introducing Tofu: 8-10 months  

What is Tofu and Why Might it be Healthy for my Baby?

Tofu is a soybean curd; it's unfermented soy that has been in the diets of many cultures for several centuries. With a fact like that, who can doubt Tofu's benefits? Tofu is a great source of iron, protein and calcium.

As Tofu is a soy product, you should not offer it to an infant who has any allergy to soy.

Tofu has many uses and is great as a Baby Finger Foods for baby or as a substitute for meats.  Tofu (along with other protein sources such as meats) is typically begun around 8 months old.

Jump to Tofu Baby Meals to view some examples of how to serve your baby tofu.

There are 3 types of Tofu -

• Silken

• Soft

• Firm

The Firm has the highest amounts of iron and protein and the second highest of calcium. It's really misleading to be named "Firm' as it's not particularly firm as the word suggests.

When Can My Baby Have Tofu?

Tofu is a protein food that may be difficult for an immature tummy to digest.  Along with Meat and Egg Yolks and other more complex proteins, most pediatricians recommend offering tofu to the baby who is 8 months of age or older. As Tofu is a soy product, you should not offer it to an infant who has any allergy to soy.

Preparing, Storing and Serving Tofu to your baby

When you have opened the package of tofu, drain the water and blot the tofu dry with a paper towel. You can then slice it according to what you are going to use it for. If blending or mashing it, it is a good idea to slice it into small cubes.

Tofu may be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days. You must store it in a container of water that is airtight. The water should be changed daily or every 2 days at the least.

Tofu does freeze but it will turn more spongy in texture and oftentimes changes to a darkish caramel colour. Should you choose to freeze it, simply put it in a freezer bag and toss in the freezer or, put the whole container that it came in into the freezer. Thaw it on the counter - do not microwave thaw..
 

Ideas on how to serve Tofu for big and small alike are below:

  Cut soft or firm tofu into small bite-sized cubes and dust it with crushed cheerios, wheat germ or crushed graham crackers.  (cubes work best with Firm tofu but Soft works as well)

  Blend it up with a banana and wheat germ and serve by spoon. You may blend it with any type of fruit(s) like apples, strawberries, blueberries or pears.  **Clings to the spoon and is great for older babies who are learning how to self-feed with utensils.**

  Cube it and toss it into soups or broth (prior to seasoning) and give the cubes to baby. Use it as an alternative to meats in "adult" soups.

  Cube it and fry it gently in olive oil, add seasonings of your choice for either adults or babies.

  Mash tofu with cottage cheese, avocado or even mix with hummus. Add seasoning to make a sandwich spread or use as Baby Finger Foods.

  Create your own tofu burgers with mashed tofu, bread crumbs (or baby cereal for baby.), chopped onion (or veggie puree appropriate for your baby's age.) and your favorite seasonings.

  Use the silken tofu and add fruits, yogurt, and fruit juice to create a Baby Fruit Smoothie.

Resources and Learning More:

Soy - The "Bad"

Soy Discussion on wholesomebabyfood Blog

Soyonline - The Truth about Soy
Soyonline - Soy and Baby's Health
Mercola - Why You Should Avoid Soy

Soy - The "Good"
FDA - Health Claims for Soy - also contains information about "the bad".
Dr. Greene - Is Soy Healthy for Your Family?

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