Finger food mania: Sweet potato cubes
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Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Your baby will like the bright orange color and sweet taste of these little morsels. Babies have a natural sweet tooth developed from drinking breast milk or formula, which are sweet. The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes make them a favorite among babies!
Directions:
1. Wash, peel and dice a sweet potato into small cubes about 1/2 inch in size.
2. Place the cubes in microwave safe dish, cover and cook them in the microwave on HIGH for 5 to 7 minutes. Let them stand for 5 minutes. You'll know they are done if you can mash them with a fork.
3. Add a little spice in her life: Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg or ground ginger on the sweet potato cubes before you cook them for a little extra flavor.
Storage: Covered container. Stays fresh 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, or up to two months in the freezer.
Age to introduce: About 9 months
Sweet potato facts
Perhaps the most nutritious vegetable on the planet, the sweet potato tops the charts of numerous studies ranking vegetables by nutrient content. Yes, the sweet potato ranks higher than broccoli, carrots and spinach.
Sweet potatoes, like all vegetables should be eaten regularly. Studies have shown that sweet potatoes contain essential nutrients that can reduce risk of cancers, especially colon and lung, decrease cholesterol, reduce risk of stroke and heart disease, and may improve the effectiveness of the immune system.
Sweet potatoes are often called "yams"; and are sold as yams in stores. However, the two are actually different vegetables. True yams are imported in the US from the Caribbean on a very limited basis. A yam has white to yellow flesh . Sweet potatoes are native to North America and have a vivid orange color and sweet, moist flesh.
Sweet Potatoes for the whole family
Not only is the sweet potato one of the healthiest foods you can eat, they taste delicious and are extremely versatile. They can be eaten raw or cooked -- baked, mashed, pureed or cubed. They are a great side dish to fish, meats and grains, and make wonderful desserts such as pies, cakes and breads.
Here are a few quick tips for packing more sweet potato punch into your family's diet:
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About the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby. Creators of products that include the So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun Placemats; Fresh Baby offers parents convenient and practical support in raising healthy children. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits! Fresh Baby products are available at many fine specialty stores and national chains including Target, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods Markets.
