That’s right, I said it. My son does NOT need meat in his diet. In fact he is thriving on a balanced predominantly plant-based diet, in tandem with his breast milk/formula. We make nutrient dense homemade vegetarian baby food for Oskar and he loves it. It’s also getting mom and dad to eat a little more fruits and veggies too!
Here are some of his favorite meals: white ivory lentils with roasted garlic, herbs and olive oil, avocado mixed with couscous and spices, tumeric hummus with sautéed spinach and garlic, black beluga lentils with avocado and garlic, mango with just about anything, spinach mixed into just about anything; including fruits and berries, oatmeal with chia and seasonal fruit, and so on and so forth. Oskar (my son) gets all of the protein he needs and more fiber than the average kid. Needless to say, he is quite regular!
Let’s take a look at the mighty black lentil nutritional profile
Protein – 36%
Dietary Fiber – 63% (yes, we change a lot of diapers!)
Carbohydrates – 13% (low glycemic index since so much fiber!)
Iron – 37%
Folate – 90% (great for brain development)
Rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
My son is learning what real food tastes like, day in and out. As his mom I feel so good about what I feed him and I know that everything that he puts into his little mouth comes straight from the Earth, and was not raised with hormones, antibiotics and free of toxic pesticides (for the most part – we try our best).
I eat predominately plant-based myself, and since having Oskar, have severely reduced my sugar and salt intake as well, which is fantastic. I am learning how to enjoy foods in their simple state again – it is glorious! Eating this way has other perks too – it’s inexpensive for one. I stock up on bulk produce, grains and legumes about twice a month and make his meals, often at the same time as I’m making them for my husband and I.
It’s better for the planet to eat your greens. The meat and dairy industry are the largest culprits for greenhouse gas emissions which are destroying our Earth. Animal-based ingredients also suck up tons more water than plant-based ingredients do, and unfortunately we do not have an infinite amount of water available to us – you can read more on that here.
If you have any questions about feeding your baby a balanced, plant-based diet feel free to shoot me an email. I can share my experiences with you, but am not a doctor, nurse or dietician. However, our family pediatrician says Oskar is doing more than okay and is off the charts! I have so much fun feeding Oskar a variety of whole foods and I hope you do too!
Here is a simple recipe to jump-start you and your baby’s day!
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 cup frozen, pitted, sweet cherries
- 1/8 cup water
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until the consistency of soft serve ice cream
- Great for teething babies since the cold feels great on their gums!
