Issue #008, 1st January 2016

"Children make you want to start life over."
- Muhammad Ali

In this issue:

1) New Year, New Beginnings
2) Making Baby Food Tips
3) Recipe: Lentil and Carrot Soup

New Year, New Beginnings

It’s hard to believe we are already in 2016, when 2015 hardly felt like it lasted long enough! Here, in the northern hemisphere, January can feel quite bleak, as the winter weather weighs us down and the festivities of December have ended. And what a high to have to come down from, with weeks of excess and celebration!

But I always feel reinvigorated and inspired by the promise that a new year holds, thinking ahead about all that is has in store. The transition into a new year provides us with an opportunity to improve upon ourselves, renew old friendships, and challenge ourselves to do more outside of our comfort zone.

And when you have children, each passing year marks a new and exciting adventure for them, as they grow and develop into the people they were meant to be; it also marks another year older that we, as parents, have aged, and serves as a reminder that we are powerless against the passage of time, so enjoy every moment as it presents itself to you.

Much health and happiness to you all in 2016!

Making Baby Food Tips

• Accept the mess
  Once your baby starts to show signs of wanting to feed himself, especially with a spoon, it’s important to encourage independence, even if it means more mess at mealtimes. I used to dress my babies in full body aprons (smocks) and accept the mess in the name of development. After all, it’s just another phase that won’t last forever. ;-)
• Utilise nap times
  If you are lucky enough to have a baby who naps for a two-hour block during the day, make the most of that time to do some freezer cooking (assuming you don’t also need to rest yourself!). If your kids are anything like mine, it’s impossible to do any cooking in the kitchen with little ones constantly tugging at your feet and competing for your attention…
• Fibre and protein
  A diet high in fibre and lean protein will help keep your baby feeling fuller for longer, as the body works harder to digest these, reducing his need to snack as much in between meals. Sugary foods are easily digested, and their “empty calories” leave baby feeling hungry again before his next meal or snack is due.

January is Soup Month, and here is a lovely and warming soup recipe for baby that is so easy to make!

This recipe yields approximately 5-6 servings for baby.

Ingredients:
Olive oil for cooking
70g onion, peeled and finely chopped
175g carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
200g red lentils, rinsed
750ml vegetable stock

Directions:

Heat the oil in a lidded saucepan, and cook the onion and garlic for a few minutes until soft. Add the carrot and cook for a few more minutes.

Then add the lentils and vegetable stock to the pan. Bring to the boil, cover, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes, until lentils and carrots are soft.

Allow the soup mixture to cool sufficiently, and then using either a traditional blender or a handheld stick blender, puree to a smooth consistency.

Cool sufficiently before serving with pieces of toast or chunky bread.

Now time to get back to the little ones! Thanks for stopping by.

See you soon,
Wendy

Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this newsletter, and let me know what you think!

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