By Carrie Ruxton,
Registered Dietician
Weaning is a time for helping your baby to explore new tastes, as well as providing the right nutrients for growth. However, while more than eight in ten mums* favour home-cooked foods, many end up using jars due to time pressures and a need for more knowledge about nutrition and suitable recipes.

In their first year of life, babies are growing rapidly, both physically and mentally. This means that they need energy and protein, as well as essential vitamins and minerals, to feed their bodies and minds.

During weaning, babies rely mainly on breast or formula milk for calories so early weaning foods, from 6 months onwards, should be easy-to-digest, tasty, nutrient-rich and suitable to puree.

Nutritious turkey

Did you know...

• Protein is needed for normal growth and development of bones in children.

• Just 25g of turkey breast provides half of the recommended daily protein intake for a 7-9 month old baby.

• Other essential nutrients in turkey breast benefit all of the family. These are, niacin for a healthy nervous system, selenium for immune function, phosphorus for bones and vitamin B6 for the formation of healthy red blood cells.

• A 25g portion of turkey breast will provide, on average, 30-50% of your baby's daily requirements for niacin, selenium and vitamin B6. Source: Independent Research

Versatile turkey

Once your baby is eating a variety of foods, around 9-12 months, don't be afraid of providing mashed or lightly pureed versions of family meals.

Turkey isn't just for Christmas it can feed your family every week of the year as part of a varied and balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle. Packs of turkey breast and thigh are available in supermarkets as mince, diced pieces, steaks and strips so they can be included in many of your favourite family recipes. Try turkey mince in chilli con carne or spaghetti bolognaise or throw a handful of diced turkey into a stir fry or warming stew.

Don't forget...

Turkey is also great value for money and so convenient. Mince, steaks and diced turkey cook in only 10-15 minutes so no need to overdo it – cooked correctly turkey stays moist and tastes great.

Here are a couple of easy turkey recipes for you to try which will give your baby a nutritious meal...

Versatile turkey

Turkey with sweet potato and apple

 

Ingredients
4150g turkey breast, diced

½ onion, finely chopped

1 sweet potato, diced

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped

Olive oil for frying

Stock made with 250ml water and a baby stock cube (Boots supply them)
Method Method
1. Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the onion on a low heat until soft.
2. Add the sweet potato and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Then add the turkey and the apple and cook for a further 10 minutes.
3. Purée in a blender or with a wand, before serving.
4. The remainder of the mixture can be transferred to an icecube tray for freezing.



Turkey Patties

 

Ingredients
500g turkey thigh mince

1 slice of brown bread soaked in full cream milk

1 egg, beaten

½ small onion, finely chopped (optional)

1 clove garlic, chopped (optional)

50g flour

Olive oil for frying

Jar or sachet of smooth tomato sauce

Some cucumber slices
Method Method
1. Combine the turkey mince with the soaked bread, egg, onion and garlic and mix thoroughly.
If possible leave in fridge for a few hours to firm.
2. Heat the oil in a pan.
3. Form the mixture into little patties.
4. Pour the flour onto a plate and coat the patties. Then shallow fry, turning continuously, for 10 minutes or until cooked through.
5. Serve with a blob of tomato sauce and sliced cucumber.
6. The rest can be put in the fridge, frozen or served to the rest of the family







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