Did you know that your brain is 60% fat and that all brain cells are produced by time you are two?  This is one reason why people push whole milk - it has lots of fat.  This is a great recipe to get that great Omega 3 fatty acids needed for brain development from Chia seeds instead.  I call this recipe Brain Food!

Chia Seed and Banana Puree
Ingredients
2 bananas
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
1 cup almond milk or breast milk
1/2 cup barley
2 cups water

Soak chia seeds in almond or breast milk in fridge for 6-8 hours or until soft.
In a small pan, bring water to boil, add barley and cook for 20-30 minutes or until soft.   

Place banana, barley, chia seeds and any extra liquid in blender and puree to smooth texture.​

Split Pea and Sweet Potato Mash

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 1/2 cup split peas (green lentils)
1/4 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon pepper
3 cups low sodium vegetable stock
3 cups diced sweet potato
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Heat the olive oil in the bottom of a large pot over medium heat.  Add onions, paprika, cumin, and pepper and cook until onions are soft.  

Add the water, vegetable stock, sweet potatoes and lentils and bring to boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cover, leaving a small portion of the pot vented.

Cook for 30-40 minutes or until tender.  Serve warm.  For grown ups, add a dash of salt and is great with a dollup of vegan sour cream!

If you ever want to be depressed with the direction of our children's nutrition, just take a stroll down the cereal aisle at the grocery.  So many of the cereals are marketed to kids with fun cartoon pictures and chocked full of processed grains and added sugars and artificial colors.  Nip this horrible habit in the bud and start your baby on healthy foods at a young age.  Don't even go down the aisle with your child!  They only know what is taught to them.  Teach them the yummiest features of whole grains and real fruit.  This delicious breakfast meal gets your baby off to the right start of the day!  By the way, I think walnuts taste better in this recipe, but I substitute almonds since one of my children is allergic to walnuts.  If your baby allergic to all nuts, just exclude completely.

Banana Walnut Cereal

Ingredients
3 cups water
1 cup 8 grain cereal
2 small bananas
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Bring water to boil and add cereal and raisins.  Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  
Meanwhile, add banana and walnuts to food processor and blend until smooth.  When cereal is finished, stir in banana and walnut mixture and milk to desired texture.

This chart is so handy to print out and tape inside your spice cabinet!
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One of Phoebe Joyce's favorite purees is Pumpkin Pie Puree.  Halve a pumpkin and place both sides face down on lightly olive oiled baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for about 1 hour or until soft, depending on size of pumpkin.  Scoop out seeds and set aside for another baking treat! Scoop flesh of pumpkin into blender with the pumpkin pie spices in chart and voila.  A sugar free tasty pumpkin puree I promise your kids will love.  You can add a dollop of whipped coconut cream for bigger kids as a great treat too!